BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Atheist The Meaning of LIfe is Life, No More and No Less

One common erroneous stereotype regarding atheists, agnostics, and other individuals that have no religious beliefs is that they cannot have a basis for a personal moral/ethical system. For want of a better word, that is POPPYCOCK! Even if a person believes that "the meaning of life is life, no more and no less," they can lead a life based on a highly evolved moral philolosphy. In fact that ethical philosophy can be their "way of life" with a golden rule, no make that a platinum rule that is their moral compass.

Do you think that people of "faith" have a monopoly on virtue, morality, and ethics?

Where does your value system stem from?

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Atheist/Agnostic site

Les, so true!!! I once had a very close friend named Bill who was an atheist. He was the president of one of the chapters of the Ethical Society in the U.S. I do not know of a kinder more gentle and sincere man for one that had been hurt so deeply by the church. He was never bitter or anything but a complete gentleman. He has since passed away but my wife and I miss him still on a daily basis. If the complexities of a man are judged simply upon his belief in a deity then we are a most shallow people with much needed education. dave

Dave, thanks for sharing so eloquently about Bill.
There is definitely a lesson that we all can learn and embody from such a gentleman and the unshallow life that he lived and exemplified.

Dave it sounds like you will always hold Bill with you.

What is more moral? Being good because you've been told - by your parents, your priest, your rabbi, your religious upbringing - that if you are good your life will lead to Paradise ever after, and if you are bad you will roast in Hell.

Or being good because you believe you have one life - or you're just not sure either way - and in this life you wish to be the best you can be, and make it as warm and worthwhile as possible for all those you know.

Morality does not depend on religious 'faith' - faith in a deity presupposes that morality exists outside of your self, and not because of it.

Hi Asha, I really enjoyed your recent article in Scottish Culture about Chef Gordon Ramsay- he has extraordinary organizational skills, a super memory, and an amazing palate.

I know you meant LEAD instead of "leave" but to extend what you said and I from many years of work in a variety of settings would say "people can (and often do) leave (their) moral and ethical lives aside when it comes to having integrity at their place of employment
Whether non-believer or "believer" (although the vast majority were "believers") I rarely saw any coworkers fight for what they believed in as the holy mantra always seemed to be "if that is what the boss wants then... Often times apologetically, make that rationaLYING followed by "if only I did not have a family," or if only I did not have bills to pay," or if only I had seniority, " or if only I hadn't stubbed my toe this morning," or "if only I did not have a pet weasel to feed" or...

To reiterate what was in the article (the "platinum rule")- INTEGRITY can never be taken away, it can only be given away.
Do you think like I do that "workplace integrity" is the majority of the time an oxymoron?

If one does give their integrity away, is it possible to get it back?[b][/b]

Hi Eileen, sorry I was writing a post while you were posting or I would have held off for a while because your sentiments could not have been stated any better. Thank you! Yes, morality and values can and should emanate from within the person no matter where you are coming from and expect to be going to.

And I see that Asha edited her comment while I was writing so my most recent post might be a little confusing regarding "lead" and "leave." Oh well...

Hi Les - I read your article in the meantime, and saw that what I expressed in my post actually echoed what you had written on your site. Ah well - great minds, etc! I was brought up a Catholic and educated by nuns in a convent - but then they do say 'lapsed left footers' as we call ex-Catholics in England - are very questioning about faith and religion. I suppose because we were brought up to 'keep the faith' without question - who wouldn't question that? It's good to question - but then I have no certainty, either way.

I just think 'All You Need Is Love' and also 'Power To The People' - I think I'll just let the great deity John Lennon be my guide!

Eileen,

Some how, some way I am going to try to figure out as a converted left hander how to include in my next article which will be about freethought and thinking freely something about "lapsed left footers" as that is just too precious (and relevant) to ignore.

When John Lennon was murdered two of my employees, wife and husband, surprised me by likening his death to that of Jesus'.
What do I know, I am still into Gene Pitney ("it isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do"), Jay and the Americans ("Tricia tell your daddy that it will take more than trying to end the people dying needlessly."), and, of course, Barry McGuire ("hate your next-door neighbor but don't forget to say grace").

Ha ha! I love that last line. Oh and I loved Gene Pitney - 'I have to write to tell you I won't be home anymore.' Hope he was a good letter writer!

Looking forward to the article.