It is just a disbelief of a God. That is all; nothing less, nothing more. Any belief or opinion an atheist may have differs with the individual. Yet an individual’s opinions or beliefs are molded by the society in which they live in or the atmosphere they were raised in. So how do you know the society or home life you lived in was a good one, a moral one? Aren't your own opinions influenced by your surroundings and not due to your own individual opinions? What makes your opinions better than another’s? How can you criticize another’s individual beliefs or opinions, if you can’t see past your nose when it comes to your own opinions?
2007-11-30 17:14:04 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't ask you that.
2007-11-30 17:18:49 · update #1
Tony it is? So how do you know you are moral? Who told you so, your mother?
2007-11-30 17:23:40 · update #2
Captain Atheism:
Ah the typical avoidance answer from yet another atheist. Moving on.
2007-11-30 17:24:31 · update #3
Good point Punch, thumbs up. Why not think about morality?
2007-11-30 17:30:13 · update #4
Email you for what? To have the privilege of reading a one-sided viewpoint, from someone who thinks they are ALWAYS right. I think not. I rather email an open minded theist.
2007-11-30 17:32:40 · update #5
Buddies? I don't know anybody on Y!A so who are you talking about.
2007-11-30 17:48:43 · update #6
Your opinion is not your own. Your opinion is the collective opinion of your parents, your siblings, and others.
2007-11-30 17:51:07 · update #7
Archimed:
Someone willing to answer the question. Thanks, thumbs up and much respect.
2007-11-30 17:52:34 · update #8
Atheism is adaptable.
An individuals beliefs are influenced by their society, whether their beliefs are in God or in the lack of God. We are as likely to be moral as theists. The only way to ensure morality is by continually examining yourself and your society. and questioning whether the commonly held beliefs are moral or not.
The price of morality is continued vigilance, to borrow and alter a quote.
2007-12-01 06:42:36 · answer #1 · answered by bardoi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not a moral code.
You said it yourself, it is a disbelief of god, and nothing more.
So your question is really rather pointless.
It's like asking "How can you bake an apple pie if you don't own a dog?"
Most atheists have the same or better morals as any Christian does. Lack of a belief in any god has nothing to do with that, obviously. It's all sociology.
Edit - Avoidance? I just schooled you, son. Email me any time and I'll be happy to do it again.
Edit- I don't need to think I'm always right. I can prove it. I know, I know... you don't want any of this. All your buddies are afraid to talk to me, too. :)
2007-11-30 17:21:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everything is based out of experience.
I was raised in a conservative Christian home.
I very moral home as the Church would define it.
However, as I got older I saw that the church told me things like how I should live, but didn't tell me why.
I needed to know WHY I shouldn't engage in premarital sex. (as an example)
As it turned out, there really was no solid answer. Just a bunch of different opinions about God's intentions.
Ever get a gut feeling that something just isn't moral?
I got that "this isn't moral" gut feeling ALOT of time while reading about things God did to his people in the Old Testament.
My experiences have been in a life of seeking answers, in which I have found God to be come up short.
He comes up short because when I asked my parents things about God when I was a child, they didn't know.
THEY NEVER ASKED.
They told me God was responsible, or God has a higher plan I can't understand.
I asked.
That's what makes my opinions better, more reasonable, more intelligent.
I look for answers.
If I can't find answer immediately, I don't just attribute it to God.
The day I stopped believing in God was the day I realized I can live a better life than God tells me to.
2007-11-30 17:42:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like you said, it is simply a disbelief in any deity. It has nothing to do really with ethics or morals.
However, believing in a book that has a deity smiting hundreds of thousands for being Egyptian for instance does not seem to be a good place to base any ethics on, either.
My opinion is no better than anyone else's, but I a proud to say it is my own, and not something forced down my throat by my parents.
2007-11-30 17:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by Captain Cod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's, for the sake of argument, accept your initial premises. So my beliefs are a product of the society I live in and the social structure of the family I was raised in. Well, unless you grow up in a fish tank, those influences are going to be comprised of many beliefs, including Christianity. So you are saying the Christian influence has in part molded my atheism. Well done. I knew one of you would get it one day.
2007-11-30 17:36:34 · answer #5 · answered by russj 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you think your morals and ethics aren't influenced by your surroundings you're not paying attention.
WATCH OUT FOR THAT BUS!!!!!
2007-11-30 17:21:57 · answer #6 · answered by Tony AM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's really simple. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don't try to make morals more confusing then they really are.
2007-11-30 17:27:57 · answer #7 · answered by punch 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we are not entitled to our own facts.
2007-11-30 17:18:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋