We use an ingrained sense of morals and ethics!! We don't need some threat of eternal damnation to do something good!!

The only real Christians that I know identify as atheist. Actions, not words.

The difference between Christians and Atheists is that Christians have to be told that killing and stealing is wrong. Atheists are smart enough to reach this conclusion on their own.

Detective Rust Cohle (True Detective) : "If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward, then brother that person is a piece of s**t" This is my absolute favorite quote from the series.

Morality and Ethics exist 100% separate from Religion. So, (s)he makes the choice the same way as a deist would...and for the same reasons - self interest, or benevolence. -- Regardless of my stance on Religion, I don't walk around raping and murdering people for a simple reason...it is Wrong to do so. Not because I fear the Legal System and Punishment, but because it is Wrong.

We consider the effects of our choice on us and the people (& planet) around us today and in the future, rather than the consequences after we're dead.

I flip a coin. Then I can blame it on the coin like some people blame what they do on a book.

If you need a book to tell you how to behave you're a f*****g idiot.

Ah, this is a great answer to clap back at my mom the next time she criticizes my spirituality choices.

Uh...free will?

I say...I'm an atheist and I pray to God he keeps me that way.

I read that as athletes lol

Basix human empathy, dude. I treat others the way I wish they would treat me.

Unfortunately, there are only a few Christians that actually behave like their supposed to.

Except if you actually read the Bible, you find out that hell is the common grave, and there is no eternal fiery torment. -Job 30:23. All of us go to hell when we die, because it's the grave.

If your religion tells you you should hate someone for being different, you need a new religion.

Fact.

By common sense and experience?

religious people are the biggest hypocrites

Seriously, Blake? I've been raised Catholic my whole life. There's something called the natural law: what any human, regardless of religion, knows is right or wrong.

Everyone making good choices helps further humanity & there is less conflict, both globally & locally. I know it's usually associated with financial issues, but a rising tide floates all boats.

i'm a real practicing atheist and to make choice and make difference beetween good and evil we just flip a coin so *coin flipping* yes its okay to eat endangered specie

The both sound like a bunch of morons. Blind leading the blind. 🙄

My favourite one in this vein is the one that asks "Without religion, what's stopping you from raping and killing everyone?" and the answer was "I've raped and killed everyone I've ever wanted to rape and kill. Which is no one, because I'm not a psychopath." Or something like that.

I always wonder why a lot of religious people seem to have trouble deciphering between good and bad choices. Like, it’s not that hard

This is total misunderstanding of God and Christianity. Unfortunately even many “Christian’s” still have growth to do in this understanding and some put fortH misinformation. TRUE Christians aren’t good bc of the “fear of eternal damnation”. Hell is separation from God. It is the natural consequence of choosing to not want to be with Him. There is No need for fear if you are in relationship with God. Christians dont need to live in fear and you don’t EARN heaven by good works. Its a gift. You either accept relationship with God and long to be with him or you dont. Period. God is love. We do good and love out of our loving relationship with God not out of fear of damnation.

I think it's as simple as they just mean the Devil and Holy Angel on your shoulder analogy...good vs evil....wouldn't believe in them if Atheist.

Eh if the threat of eternal punishment works and they spend their life doing good, its fine. The problem is when the threat of eternal punishment DOESN'T work, and also the number of things christians are convinced are fine to do but are actually evil.

"I'm an atheist and I don't understand all this right and wrong stuff." --Jeremy Hardy

It is so easy. Just apply the 'Don't do to other what you don't want to yourself'. You can add 'Do to others what you'd like to have done to yourself' for extra creativity. Voila. Not holy scripture, weird rituals, cutting or piercing bodyparts or thousands of preachers, imams, rabby, prietsts and whatnot needed. Just be kind. Done.

How do you avoid evil if you can't define evil?

There's a huge difference between being good for moral, ethical, and conventional reasons. Conventional reasoning being that of a threat of harsh punishment/reaction. ;J

No matter the reason, an increase in good person is welcomed, no need to feel "haughty" that you are a good person by birth

What is currently happening in the US has shown my that depending on an ingrained sense of right or wrong is not a good metric for defining what is good. Peopl have demonstrated that there definision of the concept of good is too varied

Amén!

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Crapola. Grow up!!!