Where do atheists get their morality?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Coded-Dude

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
2,637
Reaction score
10
Location
Okiehoma
Since the subject came up and this thread was linked......I'll throw in my two cents.

I give much respect to religion for its efforts to instill positive morals into mankind, but to think morality is exclusive to religion or that without religion we wouldn't know right from wrong is a bit preposterous(IMHO). Cohen lays it out pretty well in plain and simple terms. It is a somewhat long read, but well worth it if you are seriously interested in what an atheist or agnostic viewpoint on the subject is. I would quote or highlight some of his better points, but I believe it's necessary to read the whole thing in order to understand the philosophy behind it.

Morality Without God - by Chapman Cohen
 

blazeitornot

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jul 1, 2015
Messages
185
Reaction score
0
Location
OKC
Where they actually get it is from the divine spark put in them by the Creator whether they acknowledge it or not.
What they credit for it varies from person to person - in days gone by many an atheist admitted openly that they basically adopted Christian morality but without any belief in a deity. Nowadays, since pride is one of the overweening sins/characteristics of us as a people, it varies widely but many arrogantly attribute their system of beliefs to themselves - as if they just invented all of their core beliefs. There are very few people whose belief system is their own creation - most still have some kind of a watered down Judeo-Christian base of beliefs.
Pretty much. I'm an atheist and I can see that Western societies were tamed by the bible a long time ago. Atheists pretend to be good people because they obey some of the 10 commandments(laws) and say it's their conscience.
 

farmerbyron

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
5,289
Reaction score
152
Location
Tuttle
Most of those "rules" have to do with interactions with other people. If your behavior does not adversely effect another, it is likely a moral behavior. Likewise if your behavior harms another, it is likely to be an immoral behavior. Just my 2 cents.
 

Coded-Dude

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
2,637
Reaction score
10
Location
Okiehoma
faith in, and the worship of a supreme being(or supreme beings) != atheism. although as stated, depending on your definition, there are striking similarities between religion an the practice of atheism.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom