The Myths and Realities of Atheist Morality: A Closer Look
How does this same question keep getting asked in different ways? It’s genius. Quora pays money to people who ask questions depending on the response rate. And there’s always plenty of semi-intelligent atheists willing to rise to the bait. Cleverness should be rewarded. Good job.
No, they are not. My experiences with them for seven years showed me that most atheists have their own inbuilt moral compass and plenty of empathy. Those who have no moral values or empathy have personality disorders such as sociopathy or narcissistic personality disorder. A person with a personality disorder may be an atheist or a religious believer.
The fact that atheists are very much underrepresented in prison populations suggests that atheists are on the whole far more law-abiding than religious people. This suggests that they don’t believe some sky pixy can forgive them and wash their sins away. Instead, they rely on their own moral guidelines, often based on ethical standards that are far stronger than any religious morals.
Do Atheists Really Lack Moral and Values?
The only people I have encountered during my lifetime who “really lack morals and values” are the people who call themselves “Christians.” They say that they believe in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and then go ahead and ignore everything he taught. They spread hatred, racism, violence, misogyny, and turn their backs on the poor and needy, especially if they don’t look like them. That is the Christian “morals and ethics” that I see every time I read a news story.
Every time someone tries to do some good in this world, whether it is protesting some injustice, calling warring nations to account, or demanding equal justice for all, you can be sure it is Christians who are at the front lines with their screaming abuse, baseball bats ready to smash the trouble-makers. Christians have no right to talk about morals and ethics and to pass judgment on those who don’t believe as they do.
Atheist Ethical Standards vs. Religious Morality
Atheists usually follow a strong ethical standard, much stronger than any Christian morals. You forget their morals are based on a book that demands raping girls and women, beating people, murdering people for such trivial things as wearing two fabrics at the same time, and demanding religious violence against people not your own, etc. etc. etc. Why would anyone think that book is a high standard of morals is beyond me. It makes zero sense.
Atheists rely on their own ethical standards, which are often more impartial and based on logic, reason, and human well-being. The Bible, on the other hand, is filled with controversial and often nonsensical commandments. This does not detract from the fact that atheists can and do have strong moral compasses, just like religious individuals.
Conclusion
Morals and values are not unique to religious believers, far from it. Atheists, like any other group, can and do represent a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. It is important to recognize that moral values are not defined by religion but by individual beliefs, experiences, and environments.