Do you think moral degradation will be a great issue if all humans were suddenly Atheists now?

Question

Please play along, I've been thinking about this for quite some time.

Just imagine that everyone suddenly doesn't believe in God.
(Kind ones, ignorant ones, selfish ones etc.)

Do you believe that there will be a moral degradation without the fear of God? Or do you believe things are going to be better?
Please share your thoughts!


Oh and I've just been told (again) that I'm actually an Agnostic, not Atheist.
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouanatheistagnosticorabelieverquiz/outcome.php

OMFSM!
The link says I'm a believer! Darn...
=/

Deborah...

We're living in a real world where there are many immoral people who are willing to kill because of their belief in God.

I'm sorry for not telling you sooner that this is one of the things I'd like you to think about.

Answer 1

I think we would be at pretty much the same place we are. I think some people at first might need to learn the real reasons for certain basic morality but it wouldn't be long before they realized that consequences and outcomes are teachers without the need for authoritarian morality rules. I think the kind ones are kind in their religion because they are kind people and would in the end be kind without it. The bad people are bad and selfish even with religion. Look at Pope Innocent VIII, he was supposedly one of the holiest men alive and the voice of God on earth. He murdered thousands of innocent people in part for daring to question the authority of the church and in part for the wealth their confiscated property bought. At his death he had three young boys used to transfuse him in an attempt to stay alive although it killed all three. He had a mistress and numerous children while preaching such behavior for others was morally wrong. I don't think religion is a good predictor of morality, it is a psychological comfort for people and I think that would be way more of a hurdle to overcome.

Answer 2

Although it is a fact that in the US prison system the majority of inmates are Christian. But really, pointing this out, does it give any realization or cause for improvement? Realizing and understanding that morals are subjective and defined as societal construct is what should be stressed. After this, people will be able to make sound judgements and opinions on it. Getting rid of political and forced religion although ideal, is something that needs to be done through education not erradication. Even if we were to suppress it by government sanctions, people would still practice it and we cannot stop people from thinking. Religion should remain a personal thing within the confines of ones home, not imposing it on others as a moral authority which is the essence of the confusion.

Answer 3

It might actually be a problem.

Since millions of people would NOT be killed in war or for religious reasons, and so much energy could be put towards the curing of terrible disease and poverty, the population would start to rise at an alarming rate, and since over population is a significant issue, I can see this leading to trouble.

Instead, why don't all of you religious fanatics just duke it out and cull the population to where we only have one religious choice, then with a theocratic dictatorship we can solve all the problems (oh wait, this was attempted in 1944 and it failed).

Never mind.

Answer 4

Moral "degradation" will always be an issue according to the values of whichever umbrella groups you're asking to make the evaluation. Atheism has no relation to those values, aside from a lack of belief in deities.

Answer 5

Yes, it will finally be an issue. Up until now, it hasn't really been an issue, because people think that just blindly following religious dictates is enough.

If we were suddenly all atheists, we'd actually have to think about what morality means. The moral degradation caused by centuries of religious rule will be the first issue that the atheists would address.

Religion, itself, is the cause of much moral degradation, so that would be reduced if we were all atheists. The rest would still be there, but we would be better able to deal with it. Instead of just following rules blindly, we'd actually think for ourselves.

Answer 6

I don't think things would really get any worse. I think the majority of people are good and moral irrespective of their beliefs, and that they could keep the bad guys in check.

EDIT: Followed the link, apparently I'm a believer too. Hmm. Oh, you have to take outcome off to actually take a quiz...Ahh, that's better, back to atheism!

Answer 7

You're kidding me right?

You think that the people who actually abide by the rules of God are the ones who are causing the problems in our society?

You really think that if there was no religion you'd be in Utopia?

Have you seen Lord of the Flies, or Mad Max? Do you think that's an illusion too?

Honestly, were do you atheist people get your intelligence? It's evident it's not from God. How scary. Thank God for God.

Answer 8

Not at all. In fact if you take your morals from the bible that's no guarantee of sound morality either, especially when you consider the amount of cruelty, death and torture in it.

Morals are subjective anyway. You shouldn't learn them from a 2000 year old book, you should learn them from your parents. Most people I know who don't consider themselves Christians or religious in any way are fine, moral people.

Answer 9

Short term, it is possible.

Long term - No. Morality from a book, instilled in one because of fear, is fallible and flawed.

You give humanity the responsibility for their own morality, and things will be very different, and for the better.

Answer 10

I think that things would be better. There are plenty of controls in place to deal with idiots who would run amok.

mooseback333: less than 1% of the US prison population is atheist, it isn't 5%