As an atheist, what is your relationship with guilt and past misdeeds?

[.Frame.]

This is a subject that interests me, because religions all have ways of responding to misdeeds (sin, karma, forgiveness, etc). It seems to be quite universal among religions. Atheists, on the other hand, are unlikely to find much comfort in the majority of these ideas, so I'm curious as to how you (yes, you, as an individual) deal with guilt and how (if at all) you use past misdeeds to overcome the less desirable aspects of your nature.

Do you take a formal approach to it, or a philosophical one, for example, or simply a practical one?

 

[Revoltingest]

If I don't like something I did, then I avoid making the same mistake again.

 

[bobhikes]

This is a subject that interests me, because religions all have ways of responding to misdeeds (sin, karma, forgiveness, etc). It seems to be quite universal among religions. Atheists, on the other hand, are unlikely to find much comfort in the majority of these ideas, so I'm curious as to how you (yes, you, as an individual) deal with guilt and how (if at all) you use past misdeeds to overcome the less desirable aspects of your nature.

Do you take a formal approach to it, or a philosophical one, for example, or simply a practical one?

Actually it was after I left religion that I shed my guilt and found my peace.

Like Revoltingest said most eloquently

I learn from my mistakes and try not to make them again. I forgive myself. I focus on Today.

 

[jarofthoughts]

This is a subject that interests me, because religions all have ways of responding to misdeeds (sin, karma, forgiveness, etc). It seems to be quite universal among religions. Atheists, on the other hand, are unlikely to find much comfort in the majority of these ideas, so I'm curious as to how you (yes, you, as an individual) deal with guilt and how (if at all) you use past misdeeds to overcome the less desirable aspects of your nature.

Do you take a formal approach to it, or a philosophical one, for example, or simply a practical one?

I'm very practical about it.
If I make a mistake, I try to learn from it and avoid doing that mistake again.
If I hurt someone, I apologize and try to make up for it.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

This is a subject that interests me, because religions all have ways of responding to misdeeds (sin, karma, forgiveness, etc). It seems to be quite universal among religions. Atheists, on the other hand, are unlikely to find much comfort in the majority of these ideas, so I'm curious as to how you (yes, you, as an individual) deal with guilt and how (if at all) you use past misdeeds to overcome the less desirable aspects of your nature.

Do you take a formal approach to it, or a philosophical one, for example, or simply a practical one?

As an atheist, I can give no opinion on these matters, as atheism has nothing to do with morality.

As myself, however, I deal with it practically: I screw up, I make amends.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I usually ignore my regrets and move on.

 

[Caladan]

As an atheist, what is your relationship with guilt and past misdeeds?

In retrospect I think I could do a lot more damage.
So in general I think there is still room for improvement.

 

[Herr Heinrich]

I know I am not an atheist, but my morality does not stem from religion. I am not actually religious, just spiritual. Anyways, when I make a mistake I try to learn from it. I see mistakes as being potential learning experiences I did not learn from. I am also driven by compassion and empathy when it comes to my fellow human-animals. I try to not hurt people's feelings, and if I do I fix it. Basically, it is very practical.

 

[Time Bandit]

If I don't like something I did, then I avoid making the same mistake again.

Exactly.....does the OP think that guilt is only for Athiests?

 

[.Frame.]

Exactly.....does the OP think that guilt is only for Athiests?

Oh, no. Really not. I think everyone (with a conscience) has felt guilt or regret at one point or another. I was just interested in people's responses to it, and suspected that I'd get more diverse (and therefore interesting) results if I asked the question of atheists rather than religious people (who, I assumed, are more likely to follow the teachings of their given religion on such matters, rather than respond to guilt in a uniquely personal way, although perhaps I've been a little unfair in that assumption).

 

[Time Bandit]

Oh, no. Really not. I think everyone (with a conscience) has felt guilt or regret at one point or another. I was just interested in people's responses to it, and suspected that I'd get more diverse (and therefore interesting) results if I asked the question of atheists rather than religious people (who, I assumed, are more likely to follow the teachings of their given religion on such matters, rather than respond to guilt in a uniquely personal way, although perhaps I've been a little unfair in that assumption).

OK, was just curious your explanation makes sense.

 

[HonestJoe]

... suspected that I'd get more diverse (and therefore interesting) results if I asked the question of atheists rather than religious people (who, I assumed, are more likely to follow the teachings of their given religion on such matters, rather than respond to guilt in a uniquely personal way, although perhaps I've been a little unfair in that assumption).

Probably unfair. I suspect this is one of the many things where religous individuals actually respond in pretty much the same way as non-religous individuals. The only difference is how we explain and justify our instincts.

 

[lunakilo]

This is a subject that interests me, because religions all have ways of responding to misdeeds (sin, karma, forgiveness, etc). It seems to be quite universal among religions. Atheists, on the other hand, are unlikely to find much comfort in the majority of these ideas, so I'm curious as to how you (yes, you, as an individual) deal with guilt and how (if at all) you use past misdeeds to overcome the less desirable aspects of your nature.

Do you take a formal approach to it, or a philosophical one, for example, or simply a practical one?

I will just parrot what everybody els is saying.
I try to learn from my mistakes so that I make fewer mistakes in the future.
If possible I try to repair damage I have done.

But I think there was another question in the OP that I didn't see an answer to.
Sometimes when you make a mistake and for example hurt somebody you can try to make up for it and maybe that person will forgive you.
Somtimes though you just mess up and there is no way to fix it. Then what?
You try not to do the same thing again, but how do you handle the guilt?

A religious person might go pray to his or her god(s) for forgiveness og feel that the mistake was ment to happen for some obscure reason that only the gods know; and then feel better for not being such a horrible person after all.

Do you find comfort somehow?
If so what do you tell yourself?

 

[lunakilo]

A religious person might go pray to his or her god(s) for forgiveness og feel that the mistake was ment to happen for some obscure reason that only the gods know; and then feel better for not being such a horrible person after all.

Do you find comfort somehow?
If so what do you tell yourself?

To answer my own question...

Personally I take comfort in the fact that I didn't mean any harm, but sometimes **** happens.
I am no worse than most other people on the planet Earth, and probably better than some.
So even if I don't win any medals for being the nicest person alive, I am probably not all that evil

 

[Dirty Penguin]

As an atheist, what is your relationship with guilt and past misdeeds?

I have no guilt. As far as misdeeds there are things would like to do over but all in all I'm satisfied with my life...

 

[dust1n]

Guilt is an internal thing. When it arises, I try to examine as thoroughly as possible its nature, and then address it in my head. I guess I haven't done anything personally hurtful enough in my life to have had to address such a strong guilt head on. Mental anguish seems a little bit healthy sometimes, if its just preparing you for the road anyways.

 

[.Frame.]

I know I raised the topic, but I might just chip in a brief thought on the matter myself:

I guess the thing with guilt is that it shows you care, that it shows that as stupid as you've gotten and unkind as you've been, it still matters to you on some level that you might be doing harm, it's living evidence that you have a conscience, that you are fundamentally a good person, and so even the worst guilt is a kind of blessing in that respect.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I know I raised the topic, but I might just chip in a brief thought on the matter myself:

I guess the thing with guilt is that it shows you care, that it shows that as stupid as you've gotten and unkind as you've been, it still matters to you on some level that you might be doing harm, it's living evidence that you have a conscience, that you are fundamentally a good person, and so even the worst guilt is a kind of blessing in that respect.

And as an Atheist I have no idea what you're going on about.

 

[lunakilo]

And as an Atheist I have no idea what you're going on about.

And as an atheist I do.

What does you not having any guilt have to do with you being an atheist?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

As an atheist, I feel a lot of shame on a daily basis. But then I usually just bin the tissues, close my laptop, wash my hands and go and play my Playstation; and by that time I feel a lot better.

Yeah, that's right. I went there.