Atheists and Morals

[thyme4change]

I was listening to NPR and they were talking about the history of atheism. One early american theory was that all religions should be tolerated, but atheism should not. The reasoning was that because atheists didn't believe in a god of any sort, they had nothing to swear on, and therefore couldn't be trusted to tell the truth in court.

In your experience, are athesists less moral or less principled than religious folks?

[Deleted]

Nope. I am an Atheist and I do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.

[cael]

Speaking as an atheist, I don't think I'm less moral than religious people. I believe in basic decency, human rights, and common sense.

[cael]

Apr 25, 2012 10:57:35 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

Nope. I am an Atheist and I do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.

[Deleted]

[Green Eyed Lady]

I'm a "religious folks" who has several atheist acquaintences. They are all good people except for one. He's an asswipe and would be an asswipe regardless of what he did or did not believe in.

[femmefatale]

Apr 25, 2012 11:10:42 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I'm a "religious folks" who has several atheist acquaintences. They are all good people except for one. He's an asswipe and would be an asswipe regardless of what he did or did not believe in.

Can I guess? ;D

Hi GEL.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Hi, Femme! I doubt you need to guess!

[mmhmm]

I'm the opposite, GEL ... an atheist with lots of religious friends. I know some great people on both sides of that issue, as you do, I'm sure. If somebody is going to be a jerk, they're going to be a jerk. Religion, or lack of same, doesn't seem to slow them down one bit!

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2012 13:15:59 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I'm the opposite, GEL ... an atheist with lots of religious friends. I know some great people on both sides of that issue, as you do, I'm sure. If somebody is going to be a jerk, they're going to be a jerk. Religion, or lack of same, doesn't seem to slow them down one bit!

[Deleted]

People are people pretty much across the board because we all have the same human flaws and tendencies.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Apr 25, 2012 13:15:59 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I'm the opposite, GEL ... an atheist with lots of religious friends. I know some great people on both sides of that issue, as you do, I'm sure. If somebody is going to be a jerk, they're going to be a jerk. Religion, or lack of same, doesn't seem to slow them down one bit!

"Religious" jerks are certainly as prevalent as in any other group of people. You are right. I don't think nastiness and incivililty has a group.

There's a difference between an athiest and a radical atheist just as there is a difference between a Christian and a radical Christian (who is probably not a Christian at all). I don't care for either.

[mmhmm]

I couldn't agree more. Radical anything is difficult for me to take, too, GEL. To me, one's spiritual beliefs are very personal and should be left that way, and respected.

[lexxy703]

I do what I feel is the right thing to do because I am a good person not because the Bible made a list of things I shalt not do. IRL I don't discuss my religious views with very many people. In general I don't do anything that would make someone point & say she's an atheist.

[femmefatale]

Apr 25, 2012 13:06:54 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Hi, Femme! I doubt you need to guess!

I thought so. At least we both agree. ;D

[Deleted]

Too bad about Tosh, I miss his sharp mind, but that is another matter.

No, there is no correlation whatsoever between morality and religiosity, one way or the other.

Secular humanists are amongst the most moral people I know, and not just showy “do the right thing” for the sake of appearances type of moral, but from a fundamental sense right and wrong.

There are people who would kill you for a twenty or if you look at them the wrong way, and yet, come Sunday mornings they can always be found at their place of worship paying hypocritical lip service to some deity. Whatever gets you through the night, I suppose.

[lexxy703]

So very well put Robert.

[Deleted]

Ya, more k for you.

[Deleted]

There is a common thread sown throughout all mankind.

Choice. Good doings or not.

Faith is personal, yet shared by many who believe a particular faith. I do believe one's faith should have bearing on their deeds toward mankind if that be the case, but anyone can be a good moral person with or without faith in any god.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Isn't it great that we all get to think and say, how and what we feel!

Morals relate to actions.. I guess it could be argued that without the fear of God, someone might choose to act immoral. I'm not saying that it's fact, just a thought on the topic..

I have a couple questions for the Atheist on the thread that are openly sharing their beliefs here.. What created the universe? Where did everything , planets, stars, space, ect come from?

Science, which was at the heart of Atheism, has proven that Dark Matter and Energy comprise almost all of the universe. This is of course what we know so far, as it always is with science. However, I would be willing to bet that all of this is coming from one source, an origin.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy

Also, science wasn't always the heart of Atheism...

[Deleted]

I guess it could be argued that without the fear of God, someone might choose to act immoral.

Aham, the above is assuming one believes in God in the first place. To fear God is to revere him in worship, is it not? But then again, you did say might..

Tell me. Is, not believing, equaled to not fearing God, would you say? You know, could one be committing the sin of omission here and not realize it or for that matter not even much care about it either? So long as the behavior is good, and being good, being good enough?..

Just asking and sayin'..

[Green Eyed Lady]

I dunno, Aham. I try to do the right thing, not out of fear of God but out of love for Him. Who's to say what motivates people to do the right thing....to be good people? I can't pretend to see into the mind of an atheist just as I'm sure they can't pretend to see into the my mind. The only thing I know for a fact is that there are good people on both "sides" and there are bad people on both "sides".

[Deleted]

I have a couple questions for the Atheist on the thread that are openly sharing their beliefs here.. What created the universe? Where did everything , planets, stars, space, ect come from?

No one knows for sure, and I think that my lack of belief in an "Almighty Creator" allows me to consider many theories instead of accepting one by default.

[cael]

I don't think the universe arising from some primordial form of matter or whatever is any less believable than that a sentient force no one can prove exists created it. I'll believe any of it, when I see it! (and scientific fact for me is 'seeing it')

[femmefatale]

Apr 26, 2012 9:39:14 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I dunno, Aham. I try to do the right thing, not out of fear of God but out of love for Him. Who's to say what motivates people to do the right thing....to be good people? I can't pretend to see into the mind of an atheist just as I'm sure they can't pretend to see into the my mind. The only thing I know for a fact is that there are good people on both "sides" and there are bad people on both "sides".

so friggin>>>>>

[Deleted]

I will pray for you all...

[Green Eyed Lady]

Apr 26, 2012 9:49:52 GMT -5 cael said:

I don't think the universe arising from some primordial form of matter or whatever is any less believable than that a sentient force no one can prove exists created it. I'll believe any of it, when I see it! (and scientific fact for me is 'seeing it')

I don't think you can "see" it happening since it's already been done!

[Green Eyed Lady]

I think it's a good thing to say "I don't know" if you don't know, cael. It leaves your mind and heart open to all the possibilities.

[cael]

Oh yeah! Seeing as in seeing a god or seeing scientific proof otherwise

[Deleted]

Apr 26, 2012 9:54:35 GMT -5 @smuttenchops said:

I will pray for you all...

Thanks, doc!