What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

[chinu]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

 

[Heyo]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

Speaking only for myself, I don't fear anything. I respect the law and I can calculate the possible repercussions of my actions.
I have a set of values that prevent me from doing bad things.
And it seems that those methods work better than fear of divine retribution. Theists are over represented in the prison population.

 

[exchemist]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

This makes the assumption that what stops people doing bad things is fear of punishment. I think this is false.

In my experience, most people avoid bad behaviour because they generally don't want to be unkind, because they don't want to be disliked, or because they don't want to inflict damage on themselves and their family and social network.

Fear of punishment never enters most people's heads, I am sure.

 

[viole]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

Do you need fear of retribution to avoid doing all those things? If yes, I propose you keep believing.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Mock Turtle]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

Like others have said, for some of us fear is not something that generally enters into one's mind for how one might behave, and it's more about the consequences of one's actions - upon oneself and others. Most people recognise that criminal actions have consequences but so many also think they will get away with such, having religious beliefs or not. For those without any sort of religious belief, the options might be - is this the kind of world I want to inhabit - if my behaviour was to be the norm? Such that if one does behave differently from what one feels to be the appropriate way, then a corrective guilt might arise so as to ensure such doesn't happen in the future. Fear often drives deviousness, especially if one is intelligent, and a built-in belief as to how one should behave is much better for solid moral behaviour than any set of rules - in my view. With such rules being worked out for oneself, and many being rather obvious.

Not much point in external threats - as you listed - when one doesn't tend to believe in such.

 

[Erebus]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

I don't.

It's not the fear of divine punishment that keeps me from beating up old ladies and stealing their purse. It's the bone-deep revulsion I feel at the thought of doing something so cruel to a person who never did me any harm.

 

[chinu]

I don't.

It's not the fear of divine punishment that keeps me from beating up old ladies and stealing their purse. It's the bone-deep revulsion I feel at the thought of doing something so cruel to a person who never did me any harm.

But what causes bone-deep revulsion ? Signal form brain ? If so, why brain behaves so ?

 

[ChristineM]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

No fear needed, my answer is personal morality.

Having unfortunately been subjected to religious morality several times in my life i think my own morally has the edge.

 

[Nimos]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

I think fear as a motivator is very narrowed. Causing harm to others, might get you into problem with the law, so going to jail is not really something that a person like, but even if that is true, it is a very weak motivator, for not doing something. First of all, because your chances of getting away with a crime is reasonable high. So personally I would say that a motivator, such as feeling guilt or being ashamed of having harmed another person is far better at avoiding bad actions. The fact that you potentially could ruin your own life, if you caused unnecessary harm to others.
For instance, the mere thought of me going around and hurting others and then having to face my family afterwards and living with knowing what I have done, would really decrease my quality of life, I know that they would think less of me for behaving like that. Furthermore, it is much more satisfying to be thanked or appreciated by others, than harming them. I think everyone, knows the feeling when they know they have done something to help someone else, because it gives you a feeling of having improved someone else life and made them happy.

So fear of something is not a prime mover for me to do anything really. And I really don't hope for religious people, that the only reason they don't go around doing these things is because of God, because in that case, they should definitely keep on believing. But when that is said, I also have to point out, that I don't believe that is the case, at least not for the majority of people, as much as it is a bad or misguided excuse, trying to argue that God is the only explanation for why we are morally good, as they somehow believe that it is a good punchline against atheists.

 

[chinu]

I respect the law

Of course, you/everybody have to. Have no other choice. Do you ?

and I can calculate the possible repercussions of my actions.

Again I have to say.. Of course, you/everybody have to. Have no other choice. Do you ?

I have a set of values that prevent me from doing bad things.

But, am sure that behind your set of values, there's some kind of fear involved.

Do you care to tell your set of values ? let me examine.

And it seems that those methods work better than fear of divine retribution. Theists are over represented in the prison population.

Do you care to explain methods please ?

 

[chinu]

No fear needed, my answer is personal morality.

Personal morality ?

For example ?

 

[chinu]

Do you need fear of retribution to avoid doing all those things? If yes, I propose you keep believing.

Why NOT propose the whole world ? even more better it will be doing so

 

[Erebus]

But what causes bone-deep revulsion ? Signal form brain ? If so, why brain behaves so ?

There are people who are far more knowledgeable than me when it comes to the roots of human morality.

My crude understanding is that cooperation proved a useful survival trait for our ancestors. Over time, this developed into an instinct to not needlessly harm others.

 

[ChristineM]

Personal morality ?

For example ?

Example, not exploding a bomb where it may kill people, note most terrorism is carried out in the name of religion.

Want more?

 

[Altfish]

Theists, believe that if they will do something wrong like; violence, robbery, bluff, fraud etc. Definitely in return they will receive some kind of punishment, or sufferings in their current birth, or next birth, or hell, or somewhere else.

Resulted, by fearing this they avoid doing bad actions.

My question is.. What fears atheists, that they avoid doing bad actions ?

Kindly note: by asking this question I DO-NOT claim any kind of next birth, or hell etc.

It is a frightening admission that if you didn't believe in god; you would be murdering, stealing, raping and generally running wild.

Atheists meanwhile, need no big daddy to threaten them to know what is right and what is wrong. We fear no-one but follow our own moral code.

 

[Aupmanyav]

It is not fear which pulls me away from evil deeds, it is the sense of responsibility to my family, my society, my country, which stops me. What theists do in fear, we do it as part of our responsibility.

Yeah, Chinu, you may say that we have no option. We have been brought up in nice families, we were trained to be kind to others - Samskaras. In India, it is the sense of 'dharma' which guides are Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism - 'never shy away from your duties and engage in righteous action'). It is considered more basic than worship or belief of any God.

 

[ChristineM]

Why NOT propose the whole world ? even more better it will be doing so

Have you checked the religious affiliation among prisoners in the US?

It seems there are more religious inmates than atheist inmates compared to the general population. Perhaps fear of retribution has a negative effect. Maybe its religious people thinking 'god is on my side so i can ...steal, rape, kill...with impunity.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Example, not exploding a bomb where it may kill people, note most terrorism is carried out in the name of religion.

Want more?

I'm fairly sure most terrorism is carried out for political causes.

 

[rational experiences]

I believe the question is what sort of ethics do atheist who propose changes to what theists state are Holy terms, as a consequence of their actions?

Seeing science has invented nuclear powers that are so destructive. And experiment upon a natural atmosphere that is bio supportive.

As a question do you use/own a conscious review before you theorise for these forms of destructive causes? As a human living as a human in the same equal states as all other humans?

For the atheist/theist is of a similar ideal, to tell stories asides from existing naturally.

What separates you from us to believe in the harm of life that is lived in an equal status? For a human it is the Holy Water that baptises our life and of our spirit! As a theist status for self purpose, living and remaining alive.

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 10:47 - Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

 

[ChristineM]

I'm fairly sure most terrorism is carried out for political causes.

Check it out. There may be political motivation for sure, motivation to further religious ideals on the political front.

I think the last purely political terror group i heard of was the red brigade. There may be more but nothing on a par with religious groups