that one is only moral because one fears hell / desires heaven?
2007-11-26 11:39:57 · 20 answers · asked by James 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheists have morals. They get them from the moral giver. One cannot be a moral giver unless they created the world.
2007-11-26 11:43:50 · answer #1 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
No
We are all given the ability to tell right from wrong regardless of our eternal reward. The most backward people in the world who have no information of heaven or hell still know that killing others would be a bad thing. They know how the bad things people do affect them and their loved ones and would choose to not inflict that pain on others. You don't have to be atheist to have no morals. There are too many people in this world that choose to try and change what others believe to be moral. Look at the things that are recorded as sins in the Old Testament. Touching a woman during her monthly menstruation was an unclean act, most women today would be upset if their husbands sent them away for a week every month. But it was morally right to do this back then. Morals are the internal compass of what we have been taught to believe is right and wrong. The catholic priests fear hell/ desire heaven, but they still molest young boys. Is that your idea of a moral person?
2007-11-26 11:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by Bad Crab 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
I am not saying Atheists do not adhere to morals, I personally say that Atheists deny the source of morality and thereby must practice relative morality.
Atheist morality is relative to the situation at hand, relative to the manner in which a person is raised, relative to one's culture, etc. etc. That what is moral for one is not necessarily moral for another...this is relative morality.
To believers of God, what is Right is Right, not because we say so, but because it is inherently Right as established by God, and applies to everyone. Same goes for what is wrong.
Sometimes doing what is right will cause personal pain and anguish or distress to the person who chooses to do what is Right, and not what is convenient...this is evident in our daily lives. Testifying at the trial of a mob boss, or drug czar, turning oneself in to the authorities even if they knew nothing of the crime. Handing a found suitcase of cash over to the police. Etc. Intervening during the commission of a violent crime..it is the right thing to do even though it may jeopardize the life of the one who is helping their fellow man/woman.
For those who believe in God, we are to do what is right because we believe it is more important to obey God than to save ourselves some earthly pain and suffering.
An atheist has no "reason" to choose to do what is Right if it will inevitably cause them pain and suffering...unless they believe that it is inherently Right to do so...which would attest to a Divine morality that is unchanging.
Therefore, if they adhere to any morality, it must be relative, or else they are no longer atheists.
Take Care and God Bless.
2007-11-26 12:13:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who claim Atheists have no morals are ignorant. Atheists have their own morals for the good of humanity and life. Just because they choose not to follow "god"s teaching doesn't mean they are less moral.
2007-11-26 11:44:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am atheist and I DO NOT have any morals personally, really! Because morals are purely man made. For example, what is wrong with killing? Isn't it the law of nature for the strong to dominate over the weak? Morals are all created from perceptions. But, please, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't go out and kill somebody just because of that. But really, what IS good or bad?
2007-11-26 11:44:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
There are many athiests that have good morals in terms of doing good deeds. I am sure that their motivations for doing good may range from being a good citizen to it makes them feel good.
However, a true Christian is motivated to do good deeds from a Love of God. A heart that Loves God does those good deeds because they are a fruit of his/her love of the creator. A true love of God manifests in a love for their fellow creatures made in the image and likeness of God.
Totus Tuus Maria
2007-11-26 11:54:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Morals are a product of survival. It was a great advantage to trust other members of our group. Working together helped us survive. In order to be cohesive as a group we must have some rules or morals. They are not objective, they are evolving and changing as we discover better methods to keep our group cohesive.
2007-11-26 11:53:36 · answer #7 · answered by Magus 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
who says athiests have no morals? that just shows how imperialist organized religion is. if you need the belief of a diety to be moral, even though i do neither, then you are week and your existence is pointless.
2007-11-28 11:55:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm terrified to think that the only thing keeping people from slaughtering octogenarians is the idea that there is a god.
Steve N: Like making someone else's wife cheat with you? Or bashing some babies against rocks? Yay Bible morals!
2007-11-26 11:43:25 · answer #9 · answered by 雅威的烤面包机 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
And therefore isn't really moral. Yes.
2007-11-26 11:44:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋