Atheists and morality

[B. de Corbin]

According to Conservopedia:

Not possessing a religious basis for morality, which can provide a basis for objective morality, atheists are fundamentally incapable of having a coherent system of morality.

From there, the antics increase. Atheists are blamed for:

1. mass murder (the commies were atheists)
2. lack of empathy
3. scam charities
4. porn
5. child porn
6. pedophilia
7. slavery
8. an increase in bestiality in Europe
9. drug addiction
10. abortion
11. incest
12. cannibalism
13. hypocritical "social justice."

Holy Pazzolly! Atheists are just so bad!

And it's all because we lack the eye in the sky, threat of posthumous punishment, and a magic rule book.

Personally, I think this is about as loony tunes as anything I've ever heard, but the article is well researched and has a buttload of references, so it must be true... although I honestly can't remember doing any of those things on the list (except, maybe, #9 on Fridays).

Whadda you think? Are atheists ravaging beasts without morals, or is it possible that atheists get there morals from somewhere else?

If so, where?

[anunitu]

Re: Atheists and morality

I had watched a program on brain science. In this program they studied the so called sociopath person,and from study found differences in brain structure. They decided that certain parts of the brain allowed empathy and concern for others,but if this area is damaged then some people acted with no concern if they hurt others or went against legal restraints.

I don't remember the program or on what channel I viewed it,but perhaps someone might know about these studies.

The thing I got from the program was it appears Morality is a function of a normal brains control of our actions.(they did not mention God as a factor BTW)

- - - Updated - - -

Ok found this

Title for the above"
The Neural Mechanisms of Moral Cognition: A Multiple-Aspect Approach to Moral Judgment and Decision-Making

[Denarius]

Re: Atheists and morality

Cultural relativism, and postmodernism/nihilism in general, leads to degeneracy and apathy. However Judeo-Christianity is hardly better, given how it necessitates globalism and promotes slave morality... which is the ultimate cause of all those problems.

Atheism and secularism are only a problem because of Christianity eroding national identity and real traditionalism. No matter how much cuckservapedia denies it, they are just as much a part of the problem.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Atheists and morality

The thing I got from the program was it appears Morality is a function of a normal brains control of our actions.(they did not mention God as a factor BTW)

LOL - so either atheists are brain damaged, or they have moral reasoning as part of normal brain functioning?

[Heka]

LOL - so either atheists are brain damaged, or they have moral reasoning as part of normal brain functioning?

I'd be pretty convinced that not treating other people like shit would be built into our brain, because it's necessary for survival of the race to feel empathy for, and like our fellow human. We don't breed 30 young a year and the ones we do have are fragile for too long, being able to care is a natural part of survival.

[Medusa]

Re: Atheists and morality

Imagine the kind of person I could be if I were just a good Christian.

Imagine all the people I could kill and blame on everyone else but me.

Imagine. Imagine. Imagine.

And here I am, a lonely atheist. Killing no one. Paying taxes. Feeding the stray cats.

evil me. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil me.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Atheists and morality

And here I am, a lonely atheist. Killing no one. Paying taxes. Feeding the stray cats.

evil me. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil me.

So, lacking a "fixed moral center" (as they say), why are you like that?

For myself, the answer is "Why would I want to?" I don't want to hurt anybody - I feel bad when I hurt people, and being kind to stray cats feels good. That's that empathy thing...

[anunitu]

Re: Atheists and morality

Funny thing,in my view,more so called religious folks seem to have a lack of empathy towards anyone they deem "Not Special",as in not part of their elite group. I suppose I could be mistaken,but I am inclined to not wear my rose colored glasses a lot anymore.

[Heka]

Funny thing,in my view,more so called religious folks seem to have a lack of empathy towards anyone they deem "Not Special",as in not part of their elite group. I suppose I could be mistaken,but I am inclined to not wear my rose colored glasses a lot anymore.

And yet they are still the most empathetic, "oh I do my community service" types

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Atheists and morality

Well, avoiding sweeping generalizations, I'd say that anybody, with any set of beliefs, can choose to be a jerk, a hypocrite, and/or a jerky hypocrite, or kind, compassionate, gentle, emphatic, or anything else that a human is capable of being.

IMHO - a set of beliefs (or lack of beliefs) may make one better, worse, or have no effect - depending on the predilections of the individual.

[Dumuzi]

Re: Atheists and morality

Many forget that we are all humans. An Atheist is just like a Hindu is just like a Jew. I think all humans have 'goodness' hardwired into us or at least it's the default setup. I do not believe we are born evil.

So even if one is born into 'x' religion, they are still able to recognize universal values of 'goodness'. There are exceptions, of course, and humans are known for committing very evil acts, but even the most evil of acts are almost always justified with some greater good type of justification. Not that I agree with it, just pointing it out.

So saying Atheists are immoral by nature is both factually wrong and also quite bad.

With that said, and this is not what's being said there, I have yet to see a good argument about objective morality coming from an atheist point of view. That is NOT saying that atheists are immoral, it's a whole other discussion.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Atheists and morality

With that said, and this is not what's being said there, I have yet to see a good argument about objective morality coming from an atheist point of view. That is NOT saying that atheists are immoral, it's a whole other discussion.

I'd be willing to give it a try, but I'm not sure what you're looking for, exactly. Do you want an atheist to argue that "all morality is subjective"?

If so, I'm not sure I can do that because I'm not sure I believe it, except in the abstract sense that a person, without an exterior authority, could - in theory - argue that any statement (like "It is good to torture your small children to death, then eat them") is equal to any other moral statement. I call this "abstract" because this rarely, if ever, happens except in accedemic exercises that never carry over into actual practice.

Or are you looking for an atheist to argue no "morality is objective"?

I can't do that either because I am pretty sure that there is some point beyond which a sane person does not go, so, somewhere, I accept that some sort of objective morality exists.

The best I can do is suggest that some of what we call "morality" is subjective, while some is objective. It's a mixed bag.

Maybe you need to find a less thoughful atheist

[Dumuzi]

Re: Atheists and morality

Maybe you need to find a less thoughful atheist

Haha

I'm saying that if someone is really an atheist then they cannot make an argument to support objective morality. According to atheism all morality is subjective.

And again, I'm gonna repeat myself, because this gets confused, I'm NOT saying atheists are immoral or bad people because of their atheism!

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Atheists and morality

I'm saying that if someone is really an atheist then they cannot make an argument to support objective morality. According to atheism all morality is subjective.

That I can deal with - as a humanistic atheist, I would say that the objective morality come from the concept of "compassion," where moral decisions are based on the needs of actual humans (not abstract "humanity," but on real individuals). That's how this one atheist would do it, understanding that atheists aren't necessarily going to agree on much, except that they fail to believe in a literal entity-diety.

And again, I'm gonna repeat myself, because this gets confused, I'm NOT saying atheists are immoral or bad people because of their atheism!

Absolutely! We said nearly identical things, if you look back at the post I made just before yours. I totally agree with what you've said (well, except that I'd add that people not only have an inclination toward good, they also have a competing inclination to act horribly selfish. It's the pull between these inclinations that require us to discuss morals, IMHO).

[thalassa]

Re: Atheists and morality

I'm saying that if someone is really an atheist then they cannot make an argument to support objective morality. According to atheism all morality is subjective.

I have yet to see anyone effectively, with any actual evidence, argue in support of objective morality, regardless of their theistic bent (or lack thereof). They can try, but I've yet to see one that is not a logical fallacy minefield.