I can't believe I'm in the religion category, but, *deep breath* here goes:
I've heard a few people on Y!A saying that and atheist can't have morals because they have no God or fear of hell. Is this a common point of view? How do you feel about this idea?
2007-12-01 13:31:40 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is a theoretical point of view, that logically since atheists don't acknowledge a higher source of morality, they can't have any.
In real life, of course, atheists do have ethics and morals. I haven't really been convinced by any atheist's explanation of where morality comes from. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that most atheists are decent people, and some are very good people. That is observable.
I think most Christians have enough common sense to notice this also.
2007-12-01 13:39:13 · answer #1 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone thinks they are basically good, i.e. moral. I've read that even criminals plotting their next crime think themselves basically good.
Most people behave the way they behave because that is how they feel like behaving. One person feels good to be generous and another person feels good to have successfully cheated. Both of them base their actions on how they feel. By themselves, feelings are a very poor foundation for morality. If morality is just doing what feels best, then everyone is moral.
If we set our own rules and then judge our own behavior, then we'll always find ourselves to be good. It doesn't feel good to judge ourselves as immoral so we don't. That is because our human ability to rationalize will always come to our rescue. Therefore morality has to include a higher moral authority than ourselves, a moral authority to whom we have an obligation to obey. And that can only be God.
It is not that God sets the rules and tells us what is right; we already know what is right. God is the moral authority that sees through our self justifications.
2007-12-01 21:35:45 · answer #2 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a believer. I believe and think atheist have morals. But morals don't save you from mans deplorable state since the fall. Only Christ can do that. Morals don't wipe away the penalty of sin. Morals don't reconcile you with God
Morals do help our society though. I will say that.
However Christ is real. He loves you, and if you would like to experience Him. Ask for Him to come into your life. Simply do this. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth audibly http://home.swbell.net/cshann/index0.html
2007-12-01 13:38:41 · answer #3 · answered by Axiom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Garbage. My husband is an atheist and he is one of the kindest , most generous people I know of heart, spirit and mind. If I could find a Christian half as good that would be miraculous indeed. I have lovely family members who are Christians but my husband's spirit is above all.
Many blessings
2007-12-01 13:36:34 · answer #4 · answered by Yogini 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does not have much to do with a disbelief in god, it has to do with the fact that we don't have some one else to tell us what is right or wrong - be it god or your local tent preacher. Theists have to have some one or thing tell them what is right or wrong and since we atheists don't therefore we cannot possible understand right from wrong. It is their lack of rational intelligent thought processes that is confusing you.
2007-12-01 13:37:29 · answer #5 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know how common that notion is, but try to ask from theists....for me, it's unfair because moral life is inherent to human person no matter if he is a believer or not...
2007-12-01 13:42:23 · answer #6 · answered by junjun 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It,s almost mandatory. If they did not lay some kind of judgment on them then how could they hold themselves above them. I find it sad and pity full. Not just sad and not just pity full but sad and pity full. Moral,s are simply a code by witch to live and require no deity to have.
2007-12-01 13:39:46 · answer #7 · answered by revtobadblack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
even religious people do not follow their gods set of morals. half dont even know what they are. but they are still going through life and know right from wrong. we have a natural set of moral values. i dont know they find it impossible to believe.
2007-12-01 13:39:39 · answer #8 · answered by Little Miss WONDERFUL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's very common. and they're right we can't because morals are obtained from a supreme creator. we just know right from wrong and live life as best we can.
2007-12-01 13:35:51 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. R PhD in Revolution 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, you catch us atheist in the mens room at the airport all the time, and truck rest stops to, and the oval office>
Get a life
2007-12-01 13:36:02 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋