Does belief or non belief in an afterlife affect moral decision making?

Question

For example, would not believing in an afterlife make an atheist treat killing with greater moral seriousness than someone who thought that killing was simply delivering a person to another plane of existence?

Does belief in an afterlife make people behave better or worse in this one?

((((mon pingouin aimé))))

Answer 1

Yes and no.

On the one hand, for many people the reality of death is still a deep-rooted fear regardless of views on the afterlife, so death, killing, and especially murder, often plays a serious role on the human conscience and psyche.

On the other hand, others who focus so much on the afterlife may desensitize themselves to the value and importance of bodily existence in the here and now. For example, on the three part documentary on History International titled "Children of Abraham," one Muslim, when asked about so-called "martyrs" who take the lives of children in the process of killing Jews and Christians, answered that the death of a child is a good thing because the child goes straight to an intermediate state of bliss.

I would say, in the overall scheme of things, beliefs in an afterlife make people behave in worse ways than better. I think it is best, and I say this as a Christian, we focus more on the here and now than the now and after. Instead of looking ONLY for God's justice in the future, look ALSO for and work to bring God's justice now as a foreshadow of the future by having, as Albert Schweitzer would say, "reverence for life," loving each other, and helping each other as brothers and sisters, and as I learned from the documentary I mentioned, children of Abraham!

Answer 2

As an atheist I have no idea about how theists get through the reality of life with most of their brain finding out how to deal with the wishes of a non-existent, invisible, imaginary sky thingy.
Five years ago I was in a psyche hospital for 3.5 weeks with other Vietnam Vets coming to terms with our deeds of almost 40 years ago.
My own observations (none of them official) were that atheists handle 'guilt' much better than theists.

Unless there's a war happening there is no ongoing reason to kill people - many would argue that even war is no excuse but that's another subject – psychopaths on the other hand don't need any reason to kill or maim anyone other than the instant sense gratification thingy that requires feeding.
Psychopaths are not usually Christians although most would be fundies and or xians.
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Answer 3

As far as I can tell believing in an afterlife or not has no effect on people morally.

If it did there would only be atheists in jail - there isn't. Also i tend to find that every single believer thinks they're getting into heaven regardless of what they do in life

Our morals come from the society we are raised in and a genetic imperative to not harm each other (because it's bad for the group and whats bad for the group is bad for us individually)

People do realise that there tend to be consequences for immoral actions whilst people are still alive right? Otherwise why bother sending criminals to jail at all - if they're going to get their just reward in the afterlife

Answer 4

If you believe there will be consequences for your actions, after this life is over, it should have more affect on you than, if you have no such consequences. We have a lot of problems in this world, that need addressing. We have a lot of people who live comfortable lives, and screen out these problems as not of their concern. These people may claim to be religious. If people believed that they would be reincarnated back into this world, or similar world, with the likelihood that they would have to face these problems, they avoided, more directly and personally, they might decide to work at addressing the problems of the world in this life. If people believe this is the only reality, the one in this universe, that counted, They might try to master its difficult points, or problems, so as to not have severe troubles in a future life. A lot of beliefs in afterlife, want an altered reality or escape from this reality at death. I don't see this, as working as well, morally.

Answer 5

i think its all about how your parents raise you NOT what you believe happens or not happens in the afterlife. if you NEED a god or an afterlife to tell you that killing, raping, murdering, etc is bad...you have problems. at least thats my personal belief. look at the KKK? or the NAZI??? muslim terrorists? im pretty sure they have a afterlife belief and they sure did/do some crazy crimes.

Answer 6

As a Christian I must say yes but when I look at things in the natural I believe that regardless of one religious beliefs that will make decisions base on their own personal judgment.

Answer 7

I think that a lot of "religious" people aren't quite as "religious" as they like to think they are. Christians supposedly believe that all good people go to an idyllic paradise when they die--but they're horribly stricken and saddened nevertheless when anyone "young" or "innocent" dies, or when a great number of people die in a catastrophe. What's there to be sad about, if all these people are going on to a better place? Shouldn't Christians be happy for them?

Answer 8

I believe in a life after death and it doesn't really effect my moral decision making. Though of course I don't believe in a eternal hell either.

Answer 9

i think. nowadays, some people know and believe after life. so, they starting to make things correct for all the wrong things they have done before but no one of us is a perfect man here in this world.

if they believe, they do but if they don't , they still continue of what they are doing now..

Answer 10

Logically it sounds as if it should be that way, but aren't believers often criticized for objecting to euthanasia and abortion?