Godless morality

[Sophus]

Humans forge rules. That's why they differ in different cultures. In truth, rules don't actually exist.

[Tom62]

Atheism is nothing more than a disbelieve in God(s). Atheists are just as moral as theists, the only difference is that atheists leave the supernatural out of the equation. For the rest I see no major differences other than that religion occasionally forces people to do immoral or irrational things.

[curiosityandthecat]

Atheists tend to come from theist societies. We may hold the same moral tenants as theists simply because we have been raised with the same norms, under the same system of law, etc., but we deny the existence of the creator of the, as an example, Ten Commandments that most Western societies' law is based around. It doesn't change the fact that some of those laws are good.

Check out the Humanist Manifesto for more.

[spoiler:3srylo9p]FIRST: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.

    SECOND: Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process.

    THIRD: Holding an organic view of life, humanists find that the traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected.

    FOURTH: Humanism recognizes that man's religious culture and civilization, as clearly depicted by anthropology and history, are the product of a gradual development due to his interaction with his natural environment and with his social heritage. The individual born into a particular culture is largely molded by that culture.

    FIFTH: Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values. Obviously humanism does not deny the possibility of realities as yet undiscovered, but it does insist that the way to determine the existence and value of any and all realities is by means of intelligent inquiry and by the assessment of their relations to human needs. Religion must formulate its hopes and plans in the light of the scientific spirit and method.

    SIXTH: We are convinced that the time has passed for theism, deism, modernism, and the several varieties of "new thought".

    SEVENTH: Religion consists of those actions, purposes, and experiences which are humanly significant. Nothing human is alien to the religious. It includes labor, art, science, philosophy, love, friendship, recreation â€" all that is in its degree expressive of intelligently satisfying human living. The distinction between the sacred and the secular can no longer be maintained.

    EIGHTH: Religious Humanism considers the complete realization of human personality to be the end of man's life and seeks its development and fulfillment in the here and now. This is the explanation of the humanist's social passion.

    NINTH: In the place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the humanist finds his religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.

    TENTH: It follows that there will be no uniquely religious emotions and attitudes of the kind hitherto associated with belief in the supernatural.

    ELEVENTH: Man will learn to face the crises of life in terms of his knowledge of their naturalness and probability. Reasonable and manly attitudes will be fostered by education and supported by custom. We assume that humanism will take the path of social and mental hygiene and discourage sentimental and unreal hopes and wishful thinking.

    TWELFTH: Believing that religion must work increasingly for joy in living, religious humanists aim to foster the creative in man and to encourage achievements that add to the satisfactions of life.

    THIRTEENTH: Religious humanism maintains that all associations and institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life. The intelligent evaluation, transformation, control, and direction of such associations and institutions with a view to the enhancement of human life is the purpose and program of humanism. Certainly religious institutions, their ritualistic forms, ecclesiastical methods, and communal activities must be reconstituted as rapidly as experience allows, in order to function effectively in the modern world.

    FOURTEENTH: The humanists are firmly convinced that existing acquisitive and profit-motivated society has shown itself to be inadequate and that a radical change in methods, controls, and motives must be instituted. A socialized and cooperative economic order must be established to the end that the equitable distribution of the means of life be possible. The goal of humanism is a free and universal society in which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common good. Humanists demand a shared life in a shared world.

    FIFTEENTH AND LAST: We assert that humanism will: (a) affirm life rather than deny it; (b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from them; and (c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few. By this positive morale and intention humanism will be guided, and from this perspective and alignment the techniques and efforts of humanism will flow.[/spoiler:3srylo9p]

[SSY]

Atheists are just as moral as theists, the only difference is that atheists leave the supernatural out of the equation.

I think i disagree with that point. A theist ( if they are to be beleived ) only follows the commandments in order to get a free pass into heaven, where an atheist behaves in a civil manner through having an empathetic view of other people. In my view, this makes the theist in question "less morale" than our subject atheist.

My morals just follow "treat others as you wish to be treated", can't really go too far wrong with that.

[Kylyssa]

Human beings are born with empathy because we are social animals.  Even babies will start crying if another child starts crying.  We feel love so we act from love and empathy sometimes.  My thoughts on the matter of where our morality comes from can be found in the link in my signature.

[Kyuuketsuki]

Personally I'd say that this is based on a false assumption i.e. that there is an ultimate arbiter for what is right and wrong. That's where that question always seems to proceed from, yet if there is no such arbiter then it can't be right and we (science and/or psychologists) need to find another explanation.

It's also worth noting that many observation of animal groups shows distinct behaviours implying there are hierarchies and rules and acceptable/non-acceptable behaviours ... if that is not enough to demonstrate that we have the same only more sophisticated I don't know what is.

Ultimately of course we can also take the tack that yes, it may well imply barnyard behaviour (a favourite theist contention) but there is absolutely no reason to engage in such behaviour if it makes no sense and if we wish to aspire to better.

Kyu

[Asmodean]

Atheism has no rules or guidelines because it's a personal life philosophy as opposed to mass brainwashing which is organised religion. Atheism being what it is, too little unites the atheists for them to need a common set of rules.

[Kyuuketsuki]

Atheism has no rules or guidelines because it's a personal life philosophy as opposed to mass brainwashing which is organised religion. Atheism being what it is, too little unites the atheists for them to need a common set of rules.

I wouldn't say it's a philosophy at all, just a label

Kyu

[chuff]

Humanity comes up with and has come up with morals for our own benefit.

[MariaEvri]

really when askin what rules/morals atheists have is the same thing as asking what rules/morals a-bigfootists have.

[BadPoison]

really when askin what rules/morals atheists have is the same thing as asking what rules/morals a-bigfootists have.

Or asking what rules a spelunker has.

[wazzz]

really when askin what rules/morals atheists have is the same thing as asking what rules/morals a-bigfootists have.

yea i know even though it's a simple Question but simples ones makes the base for what we are through  

but i guess it's pretty important question and sounds silly  
any way thanx to every one who participated in this subject . ur  opinions  were much useful  as always  

[Kyuuketsuki]

Humanity comes up with and has come up with morals for our own benefit.

Yes, morals are ethics based ideas that have socially evolved to make society work better.

Kyu

[Wechtlein Uns]

The GOLDEN RULE: "Those who have the gold, get shot."  

[wazzz]

The GOLDEN RULE: "Those who have the gold, get shot."  :pop:  :pop: