How Do Atheists Decide What Is Good And What Is Bad?

[goodlife]

Is it conscience or upbringing.( Romans 2:14)

[jim360]

Sadly true, joko. But while being religious does not mean being good, and being good does not mean being religious, being both good and religious does not mean that you are motivated by fear.

[naomi24]

//we would be surprised if the WT translators could do it honestly//

... and with good reason. The evidence is glaringly apparent.

As far as fear motivating acts of kindness, I think in many instances it does - but I know several people who appear to be motivated to do 'good' by the thought of stacking up Brownie points with a view to collecting enough to earn eternal life - forgetting of course that their God is reputed to know the secrets of all hearts. ;o)

[goodlife]

Before Jesus died, a man approached him to ask a question, addressing him with the words “Good Teacher.” Jesus replied: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God.” (Mark 10:17, 18)

You see the evidence, the man was using the words “Good Teacher” as a flattering title. Jesus modestly directed such glory to his heavenly Father, who is good in the supreme sense.

And Jesus was also affirming a profound truth. Jehovah alone is the standard for what is good conscience. Only he has the sovereign right to determine what is good and what is bad. You can see that with Adam and Eve, learnt the hard way.

[LazyGun]

"They only learn the hard way" - Well, if you believe the myth, I suppose that is true. An equally true interpretation of the events is that god is a petty tyrant, eager to keep worshippers ignorant; And when they show any sign of independent thought they get punished. Does not sound especially good or majestic to me.

And you recount the story of jesus on the cross talking to some bloke as evidence. Maybe it is to you, but it hardly counts as any kind of proper evidence. It is your faith and your belief, is all.

Global society would probably be much better off overall if everyone practiced altruism and co-operation and remembered the golden rule....

[goodlife]

No,having a good clean conscience need to worry about being found out, or exposed, by other, or learnt the hard way.

[LazyGun]

@goodlife - Sorry, but your last post does not make any grammatical sense. Try again?

[goodlife]

When Jesus question, and it presents grammatical difficulties. Moreover, it would seem out of place for Jesus to ask you compare the amount of his love to the amount of love that others might have.( Luke 22:24-27)

[LazyGun]

@goodlife. Again, your post makes no grammatical sense. Try again?

[Old_Geezer]

Atheists may ask me, and I'll do my best to guide them :-)

[goodlife]

That why It’s hard to explain your faith to people who don’t respect the Bible.

[Old_Geezer]

No doubt. So is an explanation worthwhile given it's based on faith on accounts someone else has claimed, faith those being conversed with do not have and do not see why anyone should ? I'd have thought it would be something personal one kept to oneself.

[beso]

goodlife can tell us that it is good to massacre more than thirty tribes because that is what the Hebrews did under the guidance of Joshua that the land occupied by these people was "promised" to them by God.

It is ethical to your stone children to death for being disobedient because parents have the right to demand the compliance of their children.

It is fine to kill homosexuals because their behaviour is abominable in the eyes of God.

Women must be told to shut up and listen to their husbands, fathers and priests because women should be silent.

The religious have no morality.

[goodlife]

OG: If you know your bible you are well aware that the disciples did not keep anything to themselves. As Jesus commanded they were to preach the Good News to all the Nations.

Beso: What a lot of rubbish! Either you believe the Bible or you don't. If you don't believe why keep referring to it, especially as you have it all wrong.

[LazyGun]

@goodlife. There you go yet again. You claim to have a licence to go preach the words of your book of myth, but such preachings fail the credibility test.

And beso is right to point out the inconsistencies and some of the downright unpleasant aspects of the bible, otherwise you faithheads would have us all believe it is all just sweetness and light - it most certainly is not that.

I think your OP has been answered well enough.... Atheists do not need the teachings of a deity in order to distinguish between good and bad.

[vulcan42]

goodlife, why shouldn't I refer to something I don't believe? I don't believe in fairies but used to read fairy stories to my children. Am I a good parent interacting with my children or a bad one because I'm telling them about something I don't believe in?

[goodlife]

What a shame because more you can get to know about our universe, the more, that there is a Creator God, who designed the universe for a purpose, gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.

[chrisgel]

Goodlife --- What do YOU know about the universe?

[LazyGun]

@goodlife - "What a shame because more you can get to know about our universe, the more, that there is a Creator God, who designed the universe for a purpose, gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here."

I think you will find that the more we know about the universe, the less likely it becomes that there is a creator god. As a notion, it lacks credibility and evidence, and rather than attempting to follow the dictates of some evangelists promoting their particular brand of religion, people would be far better rewarded amking and following their own purpose....

[RATTER15]

You got it wrong Goodlife, we know more about the universe than you do, that is very clear, you only know what you have read in your Bible, take the blinkers off and open your eyes.

You may be pleasantly surprised, well actually no! forget it, your brainwashing will never allow it, shame really im sure you are fairly normal on the inside.