Are Christians More Moral Than Atheists?

[SalixIncendium]

Inspired by a quote from DNB claiming Christians are more moral than atheists.

What do you all think?

Neither group is objectively more moral than the other. It depends on what individual Christian and what individual atheist we're talking about.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Christians have no morals. Sorry.

If you're telling us that you've never met a Christian with moral values, you need to get out more.

 

[mangalavara]

Neither group is objectively more moral than the other. It depends on what individual Christian and what individual atheist we're talking about.

I would give you a winner frube for this, but the physical distance is too great. If only there were a digital version of a winner frube.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

There are a couple of significant statistical differences when it comes to volunteer work and charitable giving which are related to religious belief and in a few other areas.

Less God, Less Giving?

Religion and generosity feed each other in fascinating ways

www.philanthropyroundtable.org

Keep in mind that when those regular church attenders do volunteer work or donate to charity, a significant portion of it is going to the upkeep and proselytizing efforts of their own church or denomination.

Their church might meet the current requirements for recognition as a "charity," but I wouldn't say that this sort of "charitable" activity helps people beyond their personal social club.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Neither group is objectively more moral than the other. It depends on what individual Christian and what individual atheist we're talking about.

... to an extent.

One unique feature of Christianity, though: many denominations cultivate a feeling of desparation in their members. "The Second Coming is at hand!" "True believers are alone in a world ruled by Satan!"

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and IMO many Christians are convinced by their church that they're always in desperate times, so they always feel justified in compromising their morals.

 

[Sand Dancer]

There are a couple of significant statistical differences when it comes to volunteer work and charitable giving which are related to religious belief and in a few other areas.

Less God, Less Giving?

Religion and generosity feed each other in fascinating ways

www.philanthropyroundtable.org

The work usually benefits the specific church or denomination. They certainly wouldn't be as charitable if the group that needed help were seen as "sinner." Plus the charity often is given after a sermon. There are absolute conditions put on this "help."

 

[Valjean]

So basically your claim is that all atheists are on level 5 on Kohlberg? Got any evidence for that?

People provided with moral crutches and encouraged to use them have less need, and often less inclination, to make independent moral choices or even think about morality, than those provided with no moral rule book to lean on, who are forced to think about their actions and develop a personal moral philosophy.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

People provided with moral crutches and encouraged to use them have less need, and often less inclination, to make independent moral choices or even think about morality, than those provided with no moral rule book to lean on, who are forced to think about their actions and develop a personal moral philosophy.

Well, yes. Some of them. Some of them join a social sub-culture of an in effect in-group of rational people and develop their own moral code of being in effect rational.
You have to remember that not all moral codes are in books. So of them are shared through communication in an in-group. Learn your sociology of human groups.
And learn that not all moral codes are in books as you use the term.

The problem is that you can be level 3 on Kohlberg and an atheist.
Your assumptions is that all atheists are generally of an universal kind of cognition that they can be authentic as per level 5 on Kohlberg. That is not the case in practice and we have at least one atheist here, who can't do that. And we have some kind of in-group behavior for some of the atheists
The problem is that no humans is outside nature and nurture and that includes atheists.

So here is the joke. We are all humans and can be observed for our behavior and that includes you and I. And the general biology, sociology and psychology applies to us all and not just everybody else than you.
So you in effect should start observing all the atheists here and learn that they are not the same for morality in effect.

 

[PearlSeeker]

The truth is that Christians aren't any more moral than atheists. Christians lie, steal, cheat, get drunk, take drugs, commit adultery, divorce, remarry, lust, and have sex before marriage just like non-Christians.

In my environment (Catholic) Christians are generally less likely (than atheists) to do the things you mentioned.

 

[Twilight Hue]

There are a couple of significant statistical differences when it comes to volunteer work and charitable giving which are related to religious belief and in a few other areas.

Less God, Less Giving?

Religion and generosity feed each other in fascinating ways

www.philanthropyroundtable.org

I wonder if that includes donations to the church itself through their own programs?

 

[mindlight]

Inspired by a quote from @DNB claiming Christians are more moral than atheists.

What do you all think?

Yes Christians are generally more moral because the most important moral activity we engage in relates to God, how we speak of Him and How we honor Him. An atheist by definition does not engage in this activity or only speaks and does negatives regarding God. So with that handicap as a beginning point it is far harder for an atheist to act in a more moral fashion than a Christian.

Also there are the mechanics of redemption to consider. A Christian who is redeemed by Christs sacrifice has that purity animating his deeds and words almost regardless of what he says or does. Any thing an atheist does by contrast is tainted by an fallibility and sinfulness that he has no mechanism to cope with. So all his deeds are filthy rags before the Lord.

Also most atheists who regard themselves as morally superior are arrogant and self righteous and do not understand that these are among the worst of all moral failings.

 

[Valjean]

Yes Christians are generally more moral because the most important moral activity we engage in relates to God, how we speak of Him and How we honor Him. An atheist by definition does not engage in this activity or only speaks and does negatives regarding God. So with that handicap as a beginning point it is far harder for an atheist to act in a more moral fashion than a Christian.

That doesn't follow.
Why would thinking of, speaking of, or "relating to" God support moral activity? Even a casual look at history would undermine this claim.

How does not relating to God impede moral activity, and why would it be hard for an atheist to act in a moral fashion?

You religious, with your traditions and book of rules, have no need even to think about your actions and their effects. You have no need to think about morality at all. You just go along to get along. You do what everyone else is doing, and think what everyone else is thinking, and cite your rule book when any questions arise.

Also there are the mechanics of redemption to consider. A Christian who is redeemed by Christs sacrifice has that purity animating his deeds and words almost regardless of what he says or does. Any thing an atheist does by contrast is tainted by an fallibility and sinfulness that he has no mechanism to cope with. So all his deeds are filthy rags before the Lord.

But this is folklore; it's just Christian mythology. You're reasoning from from unfounded premises.

Also most atheists who regard themselves as morally superior are arrogant and self righteous and do not understand that these are among the worst of all moral failings.

And an ad hom to top it all off. Lovely...

 

[Vee]

Inspired by a quote from @DNB claiming Christians are more moral than atheists.

What do you all think?

Its hard to generalize. For me there are two types of people who claim to be Christian - the ones who practice bible principles and make a real effort to follow the moral grounds established by Christian values, and those who have no idea what the bible says, couldn't care less and are downright hypocrites giving moral lessons to others when their own behavior is shameful.
People who truly follow the bible should have very high moral values, but I don't believe there are many of those around anymore.
As for atheists, I know many who are amazing, kind people and others who are absolute jerks. I'm not sure being a non believer has anything to do with it. It comes down to personality and education.

 

[ppp]

Inspired by a quote from @DNB claiming Christians are more moral than atheists.

What do you all think?

I think that the more seriously a Christian takes the tenets of their religion, the less moral they are. The cherry pickers are the most moral of them all. Unfortunately, the cherry pickers act as cover for the ones who are serious about the tenets of their religion.

This is, of course, the case or most other religions.