Atheists and Morality.

[2nd PLT]

This is something I have always wondered, ever since I learned about atheists.
How do you decide what is right and wrong?
Does it have to do with the laws of the nation you are in?
Or is it not wanting to see people hurt?
And do you always follow your standards of good the the letter?(That question is to everyone, both atheists and theists)
I am genuinely curious, and I figured I could get my question answered here.

P.S. I am not a christian, and no I don't always follow my own rules of good.
EDIT:I know you don't need religion to have morals, I'm just wondering how it works.
EDIT2:I think I see a lot of people confusing Morals for Values, or vice versa.
In my opinion, Morals are what you believe are right and wrong, and Values are what you would personally do.
By the way, I don't get my morals from a book, I get mine from just life and my experiences in general.

[Karsol]

Technically, my own religion has no rules for morality, so I generally try to make the people around me happy...even if it means beating one them to the floor in a violent rage over an insult.

[The Rice Islands]

Part of my reason for being atheist is the belief that while some humans require ethical guidance from a religious institution, there are those of us that can remain objective when neccesary and do not have malicious instincts and prejudices. When faced with a moral dillema, I go with my gut.

[Sarkhaan]

Personally, I find "do no harm" works quite well. If it is ambiguous, then I pick what I would like to have done for me if the situation was reversed. If that fails, then there is a lot to ponder, and many sides to consider.

Yes, I stick to my morals fairly strictly, unless I have good reason to do otherwise.

[Collective Systems]

You don't need God to figure out that killing, stealing, assaulting, etc. is bad.

[Sith Korriban]

My morality is somewhat shaped by law, but not fully. Mainly it's just a question of 'will what I am doing hurt someone?' If yes, then it's likely to be immoral.

It's flexible though, and context-driven. I wouldn't normally steal, as that causes 1) prices to be raised by stores, thereby meaning others have a harder time buying, 2) tighter security that could prevent trust and/or leeway in someone else's special circumstances, and 3) if I were to get in trouble, that would cause various consequences for myself, my family and my friends. However, in an emergency, if a store was closed due to say a massive home-wrecking storm plus floods, I'd take whatever myself and those around me needed. (But no more than that.)

Personally, I find "do no harm" works quite well. If it is ambiguous, then I pick what I would like to have done for me if the situation was reversed. If that fails, then there is a lot to ponder, and many sides to consider.

Yes, I stick to my morals fairly strictly, unless I have good reason to do otherwise.

This is a good summary.

[East Fancainia]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

[Collective Systems]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

Yeah, I mean, I fuck anything with a (female) hole, but that doesn't mean I'm a bad person... just horny... all the time. That "cause no harm" example basically sums things up.

[IHaveNoImagination]

I find that most atheists have better morals than theists - http://www.holysmoke.org/icr-pri.htm
http://www.adherents.com/adh_dem.html

[2nd PLT]

You don't need God to figure out that killing, stealing, assaulting, etc. is bad.

See that is the thing though. If there is nothing but the law and society saying that is bad, does that mean the reason you don't do those things is because you follow the law and society? Or is it because you just don't feel like it? That is what I'm trying to figure out.

It seems like a lot of you think the same way I do, I just go with my gut when presented with a moral dilemma, the only difference is that I think that is what god wanted...And of course I believe in Karma. So 2 differences. Although in most situations I will do what I feel like, good or bad. So I even out to neutral.

[Sarkhaan]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

10 commandments say nothing about masturbation. And no, most atheists don't follow at least 5 of the 10 commandments...specifically, the first 5 (I am your God, no God before me, idolatry, lord's name in vain, keep Sabbath holy).

[Dr Who not Daleks]

Morality is a social construct and is based off of your culture, not your religion. The morals of religion are the result of the morals of the culture that created the religion. As social creatures it is in our best interest to be nice to others. Look at any social creature, they all work together for the common good. It is wired into our brains to generally be "good". "Bad" people are often the result of a mental condition or some other extenuating circumstances.

Just be good for goodness' sake.

[East Fancainia]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

10 commandments say nothing about masturbation. And no, most atheists don't follow at least 5 of the 10 commandments...specifically, the first 5 (I am your God, no God before me, idolatry, lord's name in vain, keep Sabbath holy).

Eh, I'm atheist what do you expect. I really shouldn't know any of them.

[Sarkhaan]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

10 commandments say nothing about masturbation. And no, most atheists don't follow at least 5 of the 10 commandments...specifically, the first 5 (I am your God, no God before me, idolatry, lord's name in vain, keep Sabbath holy).

Eh, I'm atheist what do you expect. I really shouldn't know any of them.

Everyone should sort of know them...particularly if they reference them. Cultural knowledge is a good thing. Given how frequently they are cited in Western culture, it's a good thing to know.

[The Christian Reich]

Technically, my own religion has no rules for morality, so I generally try to make the people around me happy...even if it means beating one them to the floor in a violent rage over an insult.

I know the old gods liked to phuck...

[East Fancainia]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

10 commandments say nothing about masturbation. And no, most atheists don't follow at least 5 of the 10 commandments...specifically, the first 5 (I am your God, no God before me, idolatry, lord's name in vain, keep Sabbath holy).

Eh, I'm atheist what do you expect. I really shouldn't know any of them.

Everyone should sort of know them...particularly if they reference them. Cultural knowledge is a good thing. Given how frequently they are cited in Western culture, it's a good thing to know.

I know like two, Don't place idols before me, and obey your parents, along with something about greed. Can't remember though.

[2nd PLT]

Morality is a social construct and is based off of your culture, not your religion. The morals of religion are the result of the morals of the culture that created the religion. As social creatures it is in our best interest to be nice to others. Look at any social creature, they all work together for the common good. It is wired into our brains to generally be "good". "Bad" people are often the result of a mental condition or some other extenuating circumstances.

Just be good for goodness' sake.

That is a very intelligent argument, but I don't trust any nation that is less than a month old, or that has the default flag.(You don't. I'm just saying in general.) Which leads me to believe that you are someone's puppet, or you forgot your password.

I always considered Morality to be a religious construct(Based on "I do good because I don't want god to punish me, or i want a reward" which I always found sickening), and what defined where you were on the morality scale (However you measure it) was how you would act in an anarchic setting.

[Sarkhaan]

...Seriously...well...We do what WE think is right, we don't adhere to any set of rules. Some of us, do in fact go out and do drugs, and fuck everything they see. Some of us, chose to follow the ten commandments (minus self pleasurement, and a few other things), but yeah, we do what we want

10 commandments say nothing about masturbation. And no, most atheists don't follow at least 5 of the 10 commandments...specifically, the first 5 (I am your God, no God before me, idolatry, lord's name in vain, keep Sabbath holy).

Eh, I'm atheist what do you expect. I really shouldn't know any of them.

Everyone should sort of know them...particularly if they reference them. Cultural knowledge is a good thing. Given how frequently they are cited in Western culture, it's a good thing to know.

I know like two, Don't place idols before me, and obey your parents, along with something about greed. Can't remember though.

divisions depend upon specific religions, but they are thus:
I am your God
You shall have no God before me
You shall have no idols
You shall not take the Lord's name in vain
Keep the Sabbath holy
Honor father and mother
Thou shalt not murder/kill (depending upon translation)
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's possessions

Yeah, it's 12. Each groups them differently. The "thou shalt not"'s are the ones that most people agree with, by and large.

[Dr Who not Daleks]

You trusting me or not does not make my points less valid I understand the month thing though.

The morals in religion are similar to the advice given in cautionary tales. They impart information to the young. Religion says don't kill or you will go to hell, little red riding hood says don't talk to strangers or you will be eaten.

[Parnassus]

This is something I have always wondered, ever since I learned about atheists.
How do you decide what is right and wrong?
Does it have to do with the laws of the nation you are in?
Or is it not wanting to see people hurt?
And do you always follow your standards of good the the letter?(That question is to everyone, both atheists and theists)
I am genuinely curious, and I figured I could get my question answered here.

P.S. I am not a christian, and no I don't always follow my own rules of good.

I'm curious why you think/assume that morals have anything to do with believing in deities? It seems an odd assumption for someone who isn't Christian.

You also seem to be assuming that morals are universal in nature when its fairly clear that societal views on what is moral vary from group to group. Even within a single religion (hell, within a single church) members clearly have varying ideas on what constitutes moral behavior - it has nothing to do with religious belief. Each societal group creates and passes down its own set of morals. Atheists learn those morals the same way anyone else does. Societies impart those values on their members.

It was moral to own other people for much of history.
It was moral, even honorable, to commit suicide in the face of dishonor in some cultures (but clearly not in modern western cultures).
ad infinitum...

[Doitzel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill

This guy knows his shit.

[2nd PLT]

You trusting me or not does not make my points less valid I understand the month thing though.

The morals in religion are similar to the advice given in cautionary tales. They impart information to the young. Religion says don't kill or you will go to hell, little red riding hood says don't talk to strangers or you will be eaten.

I never meant to say that your points were less valid just because I didn't trust you. Sorry if I gave that impression.
PS:Religions do allow killing, yet at the same time say that and condemn it, which is why I have my own set of beliefs.
And if I remember right...Red Riding Hood was stalked until the wolf found out where she was going, then he set up an ambush for her...So the moral is obviously "Stalking and Ambushes work!" But then again, I am a stickler for details.

[2nd PLT]

This is something I have always wondered, ever since I learned about atheists.
How do you decide what is right and wrong?
Does it have to do with the laws of the nation you are in?
Or is it not wanting to see people hurt?
And do you always follow your standards of good the the letter?(That question is to everyone, both atheists and theists)
I am genuinely curious, and I figured I could get my question answered here.

P.S. I am not a christian, and no I don't always follow my own rules of good.

I'm curious why you think/assume that morals have anything to do with believing in deities? It seems an odd assumption for someone who isn't Christian.

You also seem to be assuming that morals are universal in nature when its fairly clear that societal views on what is moral vary from group to group. Even within a single religion (hell, within a single church) members clearly have varying ideas on what constitutes moral behavior - it has nothing to do with religious belief. Each societal group creates and passes down its own set of morals. Atheists learn those morals the same way anyone else does. Societies impart those values on their members.

It was moral to own other people for much of history.
It was moral, even honorable, to commit suicide in the face of dishonor in some cultures (but clearly not in modern western cultures).
ad infinitum...

I addressed why I thought this way in a later post.

I always considered Morality to be a religious construct(Based on "I do good because I don't want god to punish me, or i want a reward" which I always found sickening), and what defined where you were on the morality scale (However you measure it) was how you would act in an anarchic setting.

There.

[Tubbsalot]

I take happiness as a universal good and sadness as a universal bad, and my entire system of ethics derives from that.

Actually let's just go with happiness being good, since there's the problem of sadness making some people happy and blah blah.

[Boreal Tundra UN Admin]

How do you decide what is right and wrong?

Same way you do, based on the ethics of the social group we interact in.

Does it have to do with the laws of the nation you are in?

Of course, that's what those laws are based on as well.

Or is it not wanting to see people hurt?

Part of my socioethical background is empathy so, for me, yes to some extent.

And do you always follow your standards of good the the letter?

Since they are not written nor concrete, this is a meaningless phrase.

no I don't always follow my own rules of good.

Are you sure? Could it be more accurate to say you don't follow others rules of good when in conflict with your own?