Some theists will assert they couldn’t be good without god. To which I can only be weary and, quite frankly, a bit scared. The bible says nothing ill of rape or slavery– need I say more? Judging by the fact that many believers do not rape and enslave, it is safe to assume that they are more governed by the rule of law than that of a deity. This simply illustrates hows atheists can be good without god.
I have a hard time comprehending how the fear of something judging you has anything to do with morals. How is fear ethical? How can belief in a god and the afterlife be the only thing keeping one from murdering and stealing? Why aren’t these believers raping and enslaving everyone they see? Surely, some people are better with belief, but its not the belief itself. I would gather its more of a belief in belief, as Daniel Dennett puts it. The notion of a belief makes people feel warm and fuzzy. With sparkles in your eyes and a light shining down on you, how could you not be good? Hmm. This, of course, excludes when God’s followers aren’t killing and harassing in his name. So I wonder if one’s really “good” with belief in god. Isn’t that just a conscience and the fear of law within? Isn’t god just an add-on? For what ever purpose necessary, god is not the driving force – and should not be.
I certainly do not mean to imply that believers aren’t good but that many aren’t good due to their belief, but that little voice in their heads called a conscience. We treat people a certain way because that is how we would like to live: in a society where people are kind. Its common sense to me, that murder is wrong. It is also common sense to me that slavery, rape, and torture are wrong. Do I have a better sense of morals than God? Perhaps I am the messiah my people are still waiting for! ;)
If belief enables one to be a better person, its perfectly expected in society. I can’t wait for the day when the same is expected for nonbelievers; where everyone is honest about being good for goodness sake.
