Christians: How can some of you say that atheists can't have morals if...?

Question

...we're all children of God, and we were all born in God's image (mentally)? Wouldn't that mean that God gave atheists a conscience, just like everyone else? Atheists don't think it makes sense for a god to exist, how does that make them bad people if they were also made in the image of God?

If it is true, that we are all made in God's image, wouldn't that mean that YOU are going against the teachings of the Bible for saying that atheists are unable to have morals?

As an atheist, I am curious.

Answer 1

If you ask an atheist what an atheist is, they most usually give you the Dictionary definition.

Someone who does not believe in God or gods. This definition does not in any way map out any particular frame for morality. Morality as much as requires a framework within to reliably function. It is certainly true to say that it is even IMPOSSIBLE for even anyone to always be wrong. Therefore to say even anyone "can't" have morals would be in error. However, morality requires a system in the human mind in which to function, or Else it is otherwise rather easily compromised. Christians, with and along with the very most of the overwhelming majority of people who think in ways including some sort of spiritual acknowledging, are most often not really laying claim to that atheists can not have morality in instances, or even quite frequently( mind you, most people even think that no one on Earth is perfect). They are mostly saying atheism lacks a framework in which morality can be reliable or of a certain integrity, because it has no standard or framework by which to do so, as well it lacks the freedom of and for considerations required by the continuance in morality. They say atheists are immoral people, not because they can not be right, but because it is thought among them that atheists place themselves in the circumstances their morality can not be reliably trustworthy or adequately sustained. Since atheism has such a definition that lacks any sort of official standard/s other than such very general distinctions, atheists have very little the tactical advantage to argue their point. Secular ethics tend to only include what matters for which they were designed, and thusly have limited function in overall dynamics and application. Most people with religious or spiritual views would see it as a requirement to see that there are matters greater over all distinctions to be able to adequately encompass them in reasoning in understanding how things ought adequately relate. Atheism provides no such standard to morality. Often you would find more favor with people if you would at least make it known among them you believe in at least that there is some sort of " A Higher Power", by which matters in your thinking can be unified into a framework by association to it in your thinking. It being best being such "A Higher Power" does not particularly prescribe to the limitations of any particular mental imagery. The flying spaghetti monster will certainly not serve for such "A Higher Power" as is his noodleness is indeed the limits of a mental imagery/picture. You will indeed find associating things in a singular framework in relationship to a singular concept it all relates to in encompassing to aid your thinking at times, as well as communicated such matters to and with others.

Answer 2

Hmm, I think you are misunderstanding what the Christian community is saying. Yes, we are all created in God's image and we all know God in our heart of hearts. Following that, we are all going to intuitively know that there are morals and stuff like that.



Atheists have morals. Everyone has morals. Like we all know that murder is wrong. What the Christian is asking you, is how can you JUSTIFY the existence of such morals if A) there is no god, or B) we're all primordial slime?



As for Atheists choosing to be atheists to ignore morals? Well, this IS in a sense true. Ask yourself this: Why do non-Christians accept some standard of morality (i.e don't hurt the little children) and ignore other standards (such as sexual immorality)?



Yes, I realize you're not trying to pick a fight. There's nothing wrong with asking people to make sense of logical fallacies for you.

Answer 3

Research shows that the reason humans struggle with emotion to find equitable solutions is pinpointed the region of the brain called the insular cortex, or insula, which is also the seat of emotional reactions.



The fact that the brain has such a robust response to unfairness shows that sensing unfairness is a basic evolved capacity.



The emotional response to unfairness pushes people from extreme inequity and drives them to be fair. This observation shows our basic impulse to be fair isn't a complicated thing that we learn.



It therefore fully illustrates that all humans have morals controlled by the brain and that Christians are entirely wrong to try and claim morals as their own!!!!



But Christians found a way round it!



Government statistics show that christians are vastly over represented in prisons for sexual, violent and fraudulent crime whilst year on year government figures show atheists make up only 2% of the prison population!



The Catholic church is paying millions in compensation for the sex/pedophile crimes of their priests alone!



Christians are vastly over represented in the divorce courts!



Christians invented the concept of sin and then the idea that you could sin, ask forgiveness, get pardoned and start with a clean sheet!



So no surprise that they are so expert at it is it‽



A Christian is a man that feels repentance on Sunday for what he did on Saturday and is going to do on Monday. - Thomas Russell Ybarra

Answer 4

I am baptised as a Roman Catholic, read the bible and practice my faith daily.



I have never heard anyone via proxy say atheists cant have morals because they don’t believe in God.

If you have been told this by a christian, I advise you to stay clear of the raving lunatic. As more than likely that christian is being prejudice towards your belief he/she will be prejudice towards others.



Definitely not a catholic thing and more than likely not a correct christian approach.



God does exists in my life, in me and that is what I am trying to reach and once I do, I may be able to achieve enlightenment.



Even if you Atheists are right and God does not exist, I still do not care as I follow the God that Jesus preached as it isn’t such a bad thing (You know, all that love and peace and stuff JC used to go on about. All the good stuff), as I have faith and belief in my fellow man to do good and not evil. (Some people have the Devil inside them....boooooooo, like you christian friend it seems)



So if you don’t believe in God, that’s fine by me and many other Catholics would say the same, if you believe in another God, that’s fine by me as many other Catholics would say, just as long as your God or no God preaches love.



The bible is used for reference, good story’s and some not so good (All written by man by the way and not God as you may think)



So don’t worry too much about the religious fanatic, just stay clear and follow your own path and (sorry for the quote) do unto others as you wish done to you :)



ciao

Answer 5

I'm curious! You just said that we're all made in God's image. Doesn't that mean that you believe God exists?



To answer your question, yes, atheists can have morals. Yet, they don't believe that they will need to give an account to God, the Judge. As Jesus, said, "why do you call me good?" (Luke 18:9) What is good and what is evil? How to we know that anything is ever truly evil? If nothing is evil, then how is anything good? Who determines this? As a Christian, I whole-heatedly believe that Jehova God determines what is truly good and what is truly evil, that we are not as good as we think, that we will have to give an account before God, and that Jesus willingly paid our debt to the consequences of our sin.

Answer 6

Sounds to me like you're trying to pick a fight. I believe (like most Christians) that atheists can have morals, I just don't believe we'll agree on what all of those morals should be.

Answer 7

It's a good thing I'm not God,



because I would never have chosen ME.







People who knew me back before I found God, referred to me as a 'junk yard dog'.

I was vicious.

That AND a sex addict.





If you had asked me then, what I thought of myself, I would have told you that I was a sweetheart. Passionate about life. My main focus was surviving it. Sure, I had a temper. I'd keep it in check until you pi$$ed me off.



God loved me dearly.... unconditionally then. Enough to die in my place.



He doesn't love me any more now. His love for me never changed. I changed because of the knowledge of his love for me - and my love for him has caused me to want to please him - and make him proud of me.



I know that atheists are precious to God even though they are oblivious. They're so busy judging him they don't see his lovingkindness in everything he's ever done. They read his word with contempt. There will be no one to rescue them because they refuse to understand.



Mercy and judgement met together on the cross. The judgement we all deserve.... Jesus stepping in to take our place.



If you don't understand it, then ask him. He's happy to show those who really want to know what the truth is. Seek it. Seek the truth with all you are - and you will find the truth



of l - o - v - e that is behind it all. Your very soul depends on it.

Answer 8

Atheists have morals. The problem is that they have no rational reason to live a moral lifestyle. Those atheists who live moral lives are superstitious in thinking that the outcome of their actions matter after the cessation of their personal lives. As a result, the atheist who makes moral decisions must concede that his behavior is motivated by fear as a product of social conditioning or that he is either hopelessly irrational or that he is an animal lacking anything but the illusion of freewill. The problem is amplified when one considers that without freewill, there is no reason not to strive for either power at all costs (for pleasure/psychological security), theistic beliefs (wishful thinking), or an oblivious apathy (akin to death itself).



Atheists deny the reality of God and thereby act against the natural laws. They are God's physical image but do not share the ability to understand the mind of a superior being for the atheists arrogantly fancy themselves the greatest beings imaginable. Atheism differs on the subject of morality from theism only in the regard that atheists cannot reasonably proclaim absolute morals. Morality is relative to the atheist. Where morality is relative anything is permissible assuming that it furthers one's personal goals.



@Stimpy, Free thought frightens the indoctrinated atheists as much as the indoctrinated theists. It's absurd that anyone can think that he can hold a conviction in common with many others without first being exposed to a system of indoctrination. The indoctrination (social learning) inevitably guides his modes of thinking.

Answer 9

Anyone can have morals. It's a ridiculous claim. Some people, regardless of their religious (or lack thereof) background can choose to follow and obey a moral code. Christians like myself often argue that the fact they lack divine inspiration makes them amoral.

Which CAN be true, but NEVER necessarily IS.

Answer 10

I see no reason that they can say that atheists have no morals. According to Christianity, we have all eaten from fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.



That being said, it is difficult to get to absolute morality via atheism. Though the absolute morality versus relative morality would form another debate as to which is better.

Answer 11

christians claim Atheists don't have good Morals because the Fact that Atheists do have good morals scares them, because it shows no godling is Involved in having morals

Answer 12

Morals are morals.

Morals of morality is another story, there are those who tear down, and those who build up.

People trying to give proof of something they are not
People trying to disprove something they can not
People who truly follow Jesus Christ
Evidence is not proof.

The books were written by men, there are errors
There are fruits of Spirit in all walks of life, some more than others.

LOL, Divided, goats from sheep, even atheists fit that, "WE ALL FIT THAT".

Answer 13

Scarlet, Scarlet, Scarlet ......

If we proceed along the lines of your reasoning, then Satan is also a child of God.

Does that mean we should welcome him?

Does that mean he is just a poor misunderstood soul?

Or perhaps, he despised the beautiful start God gave him and rebelled.

Those who have become atheists, usually do so because they see hypocrisy in many religions.

Seeing the hypocrisy is great.

Concluding there is no God is not benefitting from the great start God gave us, e.g. a brain and reasoning power.

Sure, an atheist can have morals ......but why, if it's all chance with no purpose?

Answer 14

This was just asked...



Question isn't if you have morals, its where do you base them from. You obviously have morals if your not out there killing, raping, and maiming people, so what are those morals based off of? For Christians, these moral laws are outlined in the Bible.

Answer 15

Yeah, Christians don't follow EVERY rule in the bible (i.e. judging people, stoning disobedient children, etc.)

Answer 16

Freethought frightens those inculcated with religious dogma.



The fool hath said in his heart, "I know there is a God, and just one God. I know his name, I know his mind and his plans for me. I know where we came from and what happens after we die. I know if I merely believe in God I shall live forever in paradise. And all I have to do is pray to God, and all my wishes will come true."

http://nomeekmessiah.com

Prologue

Answer 17

Well I never said any of that, so that is my answer.

Answer 18

do you believe in your Father? then stop complaining



btw, God gave everyone a sense of right and wrong, morals