Do atheists/agnostics feel guilt about the things they do wrong? Do they have morals?

Question

This may be a silly question, but why do good if you believe in nothing? Serious question.

Answer 1

I'm not atheist, but I think that they feel, and I believe as well, that there is a difference between morality and religion.

Just because they choose not to acknowledge a higher being, doesn't mean that they don't have a basic understanding of right from wrong.

It seems a bit ridiculous that I would get thumbs down because I'm not atheist. However, I am tolerant of what other people believe even though I may not believe likewise.

Answer 2

I'm an atheist and this IS a silly question. How old are you? What makes you think that I have to believe in some ludicrous fairy tale to do something right. I know the difference between right and wrong. It's easy to figure out. Of course I have morals. They just aren't the same as yours. If i do something wrong, of course I feel guilty about it. I do good because I am a good and descent person. I treat others the way I would like to be treated. Simple as that.

Answer 3

I am agnostic and my brother is atheist. We both feel guilt and have morals. Who doesn't? I do good things because I want to. I like to be generous and kind. By the way, just because I'm agnostic doesn't mean I believe in nothing. Thank you and I hope I helped!

Answer 4

why would you invent every medieval torture device, kill for blasphemy, kill someone simply because they didnt beleive exactly what you believe, and your deacons and pators rape little boys but they obviously believe in Christianity, DO you and your preists have morals, or do you go by the ol' "if it dosent say not to do it in the bible then its ok" mantra, why do you need to talk to an imaginary friend (jesus) to have morals?, why do you think the morals of 2000 years ago are still pertinent today? just because we dont believe in a hoax dosent mean we dont have morals, Im willing to bet my morals are not only more pertinent to today, but in use far more on a daily basis, when was the last time you took the trash out for your elderly neighbor? held a door open, cleaned up trash that wasnt yours, said hello to someone you would never see again? Do christains feel guilty when the lives of their own young get destroyed by the fact that the church guy wanted to play hide the wiener? Christains make me sick, go to europe, visit a torture museum and you will change your tune, you will find that christains and all of christianity is and are the most vile, evil, destructive, unmalliable, rediculous and just plain stupid force on the face of the planet. How do you (not you specifically, but your religion over the centuries in general) do such evil if you beleive in god? serious question.

Answer 5

That is what makes religion such a damaging thing. They start children when they are small and rot their minds with the idea that they can't do good simply for the feeling of it. The idea that they can't refrain from murdering and committing crimes unless they believe a higher power will punish them. I am an atheist and I think that is abusive. What an awful thing to poison innocent minds with. The idea we are all evil to begin with comes from religion. The idea we are all born innocent is the way of the atheist. So to answer your question, atheists have more morals than the average religious person because they have to make their decision to do good with out fear of punishment. Imagine being free of that fear. Imagine how much more good you could do in the world with out all that weight hanging over your head! Now go and do the right thing. :)

Answer 6

Atheism isn't the belief of nothing, it's the disbelief of a god. Agnosticism is simply not knowing. a = not, gnost = knowledge. I'm a casual agnostic who has studied the religions of the world and have learned that everybody has guilt, religious or not. Guilt is part of being human, not being religious.

Do i feel guilt, of course. morals, yes, i do have some morals.

Answer 7

That's a good and fair question. As for myself, I was raised with morals and in the church. Just because a person does not believe in the "hereafter" and aren't afraid of the consequences, , does not mean that they feel they can do whatever they want in life. You still have to live with yourself. I don't think it's a normal behavior to want to do evil anyway. I can still feel guilty about my the things I have done, but it's because I let myself down or feel that I let someone else down.

Answer 8

needless to say you have no very own guilt for issues your grandparents did. fairly some issues went incorrect in German society that extra approximately the Holocaust, issues which at the instant are not uniquely German, and could take place in the different society. you're in a special place that a non-German would not have. while somebody minimizes or denies the Holocaust, maximum folk can say "sure, the Nazis did exterminate tens of millions of harmless human beings". in basic terms a German can say "sure, my own grandparents instructed me what they and their society did". This incorporates lots greater weight. It additionally establishes your man or woman honesty, and your information of the importance of retaining the memory as a skill of coaching something of the international that even the better of countries can fall into depravity and turn their extreme coaching, mind, company, performance, and so on., to evil purposes. not something can opposite the evil that the Nazis dedicated, yet their descendants can use the memory of it for the solid, and which could rework German historic guilt into genuine redemption, and set a solid occasion for others. lots of in the present day's Jews are starting to be previous the Holocaust, yet some have not. I definitely do not understand what might take place if, once you come upon Jews who start to returned away, you have been to declare "i won't be able to journey the Holocaust from the perspective of the sufferers, yet I share your revulsion for what my grandparents did to yours". it may help them. in the event that they nonetheless condemn you, you will comprehend greater useful how their grandparents felt while Germans did lots worse than be rude. One considerable area of what went incorrect in German society grew to become into that many Germans mentioned "that is none of my organisation" and grew to become any incorrect way. There seems to be a factor of this on your question. although, the undeniable fact which you're right here asking skill which you will additionally experience that there is a few thing to think of roughly. So if there is an inner warfare happening interior you, i think of you're starting to be the flexibility to entice your man or woman conclusions, and that i wish you all the main suitable.

Answer 9

We have a conscience and empathy for others, and we are able to use our reason to figure out what activities are likely to benefit the societies we are members of.

For people with no conscience and those who are not intelligent enough to control their behavior, then religion might be a necessary thing for them. That is why I don't think religion is obsolete. Some people can only do the right thing if there is a reward/punishment system set up -- similar to the way you would discipline a child.

Answer 10

For one there are consequences that you have to face if you do wrong. I also wouldn't want to hurt somebody else for my own selfish needs. People make the mistake in thinking that religion is the only thing stopping people from doing bad things. If this was the case, every religious person would never do anything wrong. Religion is NOT the root of morality.