Atheists; what do you base your morals on?

[catfish]

Beat me, whip me, make me write bad checks!

[Whateverist]

These commandments are not based on any dictates from a deity but rather how I would wish to be treated by others. This is called "the social contract". The existence of lack thereof of any god would thus have no impact on my behaviors toward others because my sense of empathy and reciprocity remain constant.

As a theist, you are free to believe that God gave me this conscience and sense of empathy and fair play if you wish. Others might suggest that evolution has taken its course, that humans being a community animal codependent on one another for survival would not have survived otherwise.

In my experience here you are much more likely to be told that your 'so called' morals are just a wild fluke of nature. By failing to align your morals with something timeless and objective you won't be entitled to take umbrage with those who treat you in ways you wouldn't treat them. You will have to give up feelings of contempt, outrage and superiority too. I'm pretty sure you will still be entitled to take someone to court. But were you to confront the person directly they might say "who cares what you think?" Whereas if you'd built them up on a more solid, moral foundation you could be sure they would always cower before your damning gaze and beg your forgiveness. Genkause will have to say if I've phrased this just right or not.

For the record, your morals seem just fine to me. I'm just trying to warn you of the direction from which you are more likely to be attacked for holding such a subjectively based system.

[WithoutShame]

On a simple basis- gut feeling as they call it. Things feel right and wrong. Doing certain things make me feel nice, doing other things make me feel bad. Dead simple. The thought of killing is horrific.

But on a more detailed level, the golden rule. I can't do something to someone else if I know if I were in there position it would hurt me, emotionally or physically. Killing is the biggest and most obvious no-no. Are there exceptions? Yeah, definitely. But not many. Killing in self defense would make me feel guilty even! Even if the person was totally at fault for me killing them.

[Zen Badger]

I don't have any morals.

That way I can shoot young girls who want an education......

Wait.....

[KichigaiNeko]

I don't have any morals.

That way I can shoot young girls who want an education......

Wait.....

Honey ...STOP confusing the illiterate!

[DeistPaladin]

For the record, your morals seem just fine to me. I'm just trying to warn you of the direction from which you are more likely to be attacked for holding such a subjectively based system.

Thanks and I definitely got what you were saying. I've noticed all the same things you have. Islamo-Christians can preach the right, do the wrong and still feel morally superior.

It reminds me of how you can have serial adulterers in the GOP (Giuliani, McCain, Gingrich, et al) puff up their chests about "family values" and "defending traditional marriage". You can point out to Christians that they're hypocrites and they respond "yeah, but we're all sinners".

It's not REALLY about morality. It's about feeling superior to an outside group.

[KichigaiNeko]

Basically Yes Deist. Religion and Politics give certain individuals the imagined "right" to feel "superior" to their fellow 'men/women' it's all about the human NEED (desperate as it is) to "feel" one up on one's competitors.

Nothing more...so fuck you religion!

[sarcasticface]

I usually can think about how something would effect people around me. Obviously not all your decisions should be based off of other people, but I I've found that putting myself in other peoples shoes covers a lot of whats right or wrong in my life. Experience helps too.

[Angrboda]

I usually can think about how something would effect people around me. Obviously not all your decisions should be based off of other people, but I I've found that putting myself in other peoples shoes covers a lot of whats right or wrong in my life. Experience helps too.

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes."

Jack Handey

[The Grand Nudger]

The messages from my tea leaves and entrails - but also sometimes things that people write on bathroom walls. Same as a theist does.