Does being atheist lead to a destructive lifestyle?

[RickK]

Morality doesn't come from religion.

Morals have changed dramatically in Western cultures in the past 1000 years (slavery, women's rights, etc.).

Has one word of the Bible changed in that same period?

Morality comes from the same people that make up gods.

We have morals because we want to be part of a safe, supportive society. You don't learn how to do that from a book filled with divinely-inspired rape, genocide, animal sacrifice and slavery. You learn it by living with people, caring about them, and receiving care in return.


And any atheist can tell you (better than a religious person) how lucky we are to be alive. An educated, science-literate person can tell you how incredibly improbable your existence is - how very precious. So don't waste it being stupid and nasty to others. Don't waste it on religiously-driven guilt or hatred. Get out there and help people, love people, eat good food, play sports, have lots of sex, and make the most of this amazing and fleeting thing we know as life.

[Question Everything]

Atheists I know, including myself, are consummately moral. We are because it is human nature, especially for free thinking individuals to far and away exceed moral norms. I struggle every time i hear someone equate morals to atheism. We don't believe in god, but that does not mean we sacrifice decency.

We also have some degree of faith in the human factor. People are not inherently evil. Nor are we. We prefer to live our lives in the fullest without wasting time on what we do not believe exists.

[Rick in the Santa hat]

"Does being atheist lead to a destructive lifestyle?"
No.

"And does being religious lead to disillusionment?"
I think it does, in many cases.

"I mean atheists can have morals, but why have morality when you're atheist? We're all gonna die and become nonexistent anyways. So who cares."
I care. The rest of society cares. You and everyone else isn't dead yet.

[lexG]

Not believing there is any supernatural supreme being leads you to lead your life the way you see fit in you own conscience.

[Salvador]

We atheists have morals because we do not like hurting others and like the advantages of being functional members of society

[Caboose]

If I did whatever I wanted, my one life would suck severely, for one.

[Everard J]

"but why have morality when you're atheist?"
There are two things I love.
My life.
My freedom.

Without my freedom my life would have little use-purpose.
Without my life, freedom wouldn't exist.

"so our brain keeps us behaved to lead away from destruction."
Actually it's our desires that do that.

"its just the corporations who take advantage of us, pollute the earth, and who waste all of earth's resources."
I'll bet you aren't even aware you just changed subjects completely.
How are those drugs going for you now?
Still blowing too much smoke?
~