Atheism and conscience

[Tero]

I can be cheap but not dishonest. Cause I dont have a priest to go to repent with. Besides, sky daddy does not exist so I would need to find the actual people to apologize to. Too much work.

[cronus]

Never needing to steal is always a good motive for not stealing. I wasn't brought up honest but I was in credit and still am.

[Svartalf]

Self respect and self image are great motivators for me to be a decent guy. Plus, maybe as a leftover from my christian days, I'm a great believer in the golden rule.

[En_Route]

Don't overlook empathy. I do such things because I put myself in the shoes of others and try to think how they might feel. In the case Rum describes, I'd think of how the people might feel on receiving the flowers and I'd want to do them that kindness. Furthermore, I'd think of how my mother feels - quite obvious, since she wanted to send the flowers in the first place - and I'd want to do her the kindness of helping her, rather than thwarting her wishes.

Empathy. Don't leave home without it.

The origins of altruism, empathy etc are the subject of endless debate and keep an army of researchers in business contradicting each other,, but the fact remains that such impulses seem to be hardwired to a greater or lesser extent in all of us (maybe only sociopaths apart). Of course as human history shows, these "virtues" are selectively applied and people who are kind to their old mum can and do behave monstrously to others; social conditioning or belief-systems can certainly act as an override too or as in the case of say eg Buddhism actually reinforce or extend fellow-feeling. Unpicking what motivates you is a time-consuming and probably futile endeavour.

[Woodbutcher]

If I'm kind to others it makes me smile and feel good. What else matters?

[Rum]

I found myself wondering how, given that nearly all of us feel better if we do the 'right thing', religion seems to have almost universally hijacked morality as its own territory and indeed its originator.

[charlou]

human neurology

[PsychoSerenity]

I found myself wondering how, given that nearly all of us feel better if we do the 'right thing', religion seems to have almost universally hijacked morality as its own territory and indeed its originator.

You know that feeling when you do something good? That is God. That's how.

[hadespussercats]

Never needing to steal is always a good motive for not stealing. I wasn't brought up honest but I was in credit and still am.

I was going to say something along these lines.

I think if my mom had done something like that with me when I was broke in my twenties, I might have pocketed the money. Maybe I would have made a greeting card and sent it instead, since I had those supplies around and it wouldn't cost anything...

[Svartalf]

Tell that to those super rich celebs that get in trouble shoplifting on Rodeo drive.

[hadespussercats]

Tell that to those super rich celebs that get in trouble shoplifting on Rodeo drive.

Well. Some people don't let a conscience bother them regardless.