In my constant quest for truth, I periodically find myself checking out, and participating in, Internet discussions between Christians and atheists. While not an atheist myself, I do seem to side with atheists on many issues.
I have seen Christians assert that atheists have no moral compass simply because they do not follow the Bible, or that they do not have a god to be accountable to.
The very notion that people without a belief in god or religion lack a sense of morality is ridiculous at every level.
Do You Really Want To Start Using The Bible To Compare Notes On Morality?
The ‘morality’ in the Bible is, many times, extremely questionable, if not downright evil. There are at least 100 items to be mentioned but, briefly, let’s examine the book of ‘morals’.
We see a collection of books that endorses slavery. It’s not just a mention of slavery, there are laws about where and how to get a slave, beat a slave, sell a slave and pass down a slave as an inheritance. Polygamy and sex slaves (for men only) is fully endorsed. Drinking to forget problems, women not being allowed to speak in church, killing witches and child sacrifice are a part of the books. The extensive verses surrounding the blatant abuse of women deserves consideration.
You also have a god who committed genocide and killed off babies and children in the flood and the fire where, undoubtedly, children were killed. We’re being told that sometimes, when this god commanded genocide of enemies of Israel, one of the reasons was that they were evil and practicing child sacrifice. So the answer is to kill the children from those sects?
We also know that boys were killed off in Egypt, mainly because this god wanted to show off his powers to all of Egypt. While there are many more horrors to speak of, I would also mention the time this god had two bears maul 42 boys to death because they were ridiculing a man and calling him names.
I often wonder if humanity would have been better off without ‘the good book’.
However, for the sake of argument, let’s forget the hundreds of questionable verses or verses that condone evil, and concentrate for a moment on some of the verses that would be deemed beneficial by most.
Here is a verse where Jesus speaks of having a feast for those (the poor and the disabled) who cannot repay you. He also said to treat others the way you would want to be treated – a resounding concept that actually predates Jesus. These are just a couple of examples of many verses that would indeed contribute to the betterment of society, if followed. The problem with the bible is the mixed messages.
Do The Right Thing Because You’re Being Watched & Will Be Judged
Christians fully admit that they act in what they consider a moral way because their god is watching them, taking an account of all of their actions, judging them and will either punish or reward them.
Perhaps this reminds you of another all-seeing, all-knowing character, who operates on a very similar level, but usually talked about only in the month of December – Santa, of course.
He is also watching, judging and will execute either punishment in the form of coal in the Christmas stocking, or rewards in the form of Christmas presents under the tree.
Does the belief in Santa actually set up individuals to adopt a similar belief in god? This is a subject for a future post.
Faith Like A Child
I recall this phrase in my former Christian belief as something Christians are supposed to strive for. We are not supposed to question. We’re just supposed to have child-like faith. We’re supposed to trust in the Lord without trying to even understand.
“God’s ways are higher”, they say.
Seems to me, that the god(s) that created us, also made humans to be inquisitive and philosophical.
Doing good because god is watching seems juvenile – unevolved.
I have witnessed Christians accusing those who have left Christianity, do so in order that they can then commit the ‘sin’ or ‘sins’ that they desire to do. This seems to be a very juvenile way of thinking.
I want to ask Christians, “If you suddenly realized god does not exist, what exactly would you be doing that you are not doing now? Would you murder? Steal? Would you be having sex with your married neighbor?”
Seems to me it’s the unevolved that need the threat of jail. It’s the unevolved that need the threat of god.
It’s those who lack basic integrity who need these threats to keep them in line.
Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching
This is a common phrase surrounding the word. In my own estimation, this is a fair statement and I’ve quoted it often.
You don’t steal because it’s wrong. You don’t cheat on a test because it’s wrong. You don’t leave a hit and run accident because it’s wrong. You don’t take the pencil from your workplace home because it’s wrong.
When you possess a basic sense of integrity, you are accountable to one’s self.
You will not do these things because it will bother your own conscience. You might not be able to sleep. You may grapple with the decision. You will have regrets. You will not be at peace.
The definition of integrity in the context of this discussion is:
Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
One of the best examples of integrity that comes to mind comes from a small- town Facebook group’s complaints about the abundance of plastic poop-filled doggie doo bags being left on a specific section in the town – a footpath no longer than 15 feet where it is wooded, with no houses and no cameras.
In the other areas of town, dog walkers do the right thing – they carry the plastic bags and pick up the doggie do when the situation presents itself. To any observer, they look like they are doing the right thing. However, disposing of the poop is a different story altogether. In the wooded area where there are no cameras or houses, some of these people simply drop the plastic doo-doo bags. They are aware that they should take the bags home to dispose of them properly in their own garbage, but their mindset is that no one will see them or know what they are doing.
These are people who pretend to have integrity – they pick up the poop when they think they are being watched. In truth, they have no integrity because they drop if off where they know they should not, when they feel that they are not being watched.
Wouldn’t it be better if we all just possessed this basic trait of personal integrity instead of relying on cameras, or people who might be watching, or police, or god to keep us honest? What if we just did the right thing because it was the right thing to do – even in the smallest of things?
Raising A Child To Have Integrity Versus Raising A Child To Do Good Because God Is Watching & Judging
The goal for most parents, once a child reaches adulthood, is to trust the child to act right on his or her own accord. By the time they’ve left the proverbial ‘nest’ they need to be making good decisions and exhibiting good moral character without your input, or anyone else’s.
Christians raise a child hoping they will maintain Biblical morality and live according to their Christian upbringing. They are taught to fear god and do good because god is their judge and jury, who is always watching.
But what happens if and when they dismiss that belief later in life? What if they decide they no longer follow the god of the Bible or accountable to such a being? What if they are never raised with a sense of basic integrity – wherein they do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do?
Jeffrey Dahmer – The Perfect Example
This is an extreme example but it’s also a real-life example.
Dahmer was raised in the Church Of Christ and confirmed in the church as an adolescent. Later, he rejected those beliefs and decided that he was no longer accountable to any god. Therefore, he might never get caught or have to face punishment for actions. He decided to take that risk and fulfill his desires to murder, dismember and eat his victims.
In his interview with Stone Phillips in 1994, at the 26:40 minute mark, he perfectly articulates this…
“If you don’t – if a person doesn’t think that there is a god to be accountable to what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior, to keep it within the acceptable range. That’s how I thought anyways.”
He was not raised to believe in personal integrity. He was not raised to have empathy. He was raised to believe that there was a god watching him. When he dismissed the belief, he did what he wanted, not factoring in integrity or empathy for others.
When he decided to become an atheist, he thought, “Well there is no god watching me. I can do whatever I want”.
Incidentally, however, after being caught, he changed his mind back to this belief in the god of the bible. In the same interview, he continues with this.
“And I’ve since come to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly God, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. They are the only true god.”
After he was caught, he changed his tune. How convenient.
Facing 15 consecutive life terms and no chance of parole, is it possible he requested placement within the general population hoping to be killed? Rather than living out his punishment in a hellish prison, he was hoping for a quick death and heaven.
I am purely speculating here, but can you imagine it? Perhaps, in his rediscovered Christian belief system, heaven would be his immediate reward upon death if he was truly sincere in his repentance and acceptance of Jesus as his savior. He could escape hell on earth with a quick stab to the chest and be united with his savior, Jesus Christ and be in heaven same day!
I do wonder about this “easy believism” idea and the quick forgiveness. So many people of low moral character who lack integrity would take advantage of this, and certainly do. Sin now, confess later.
Some might think the example of Dahmer fortifies the belief that it is best for society for people to believe in god, otherwise they might commit horrific acts like those that were done by Dahmer.
How about, instead, we instill a sense of personal integrity and empathy in children and raise them to be adults that will continue with these desirable traits?
In reality, there are many examples from the history of Christianity that describe condoned horrors and violence to think that simply a belief in the god of the Bible will keep them being morally good people. We are also aware of too many acts of evil to think this is wise. Think of the Inquistions, The Crusades, Witch Hunts, Colonialism, Residential Schools, Slavery etc or even to this day – polygamy for men or mistreatment of women.
The Secular Way Of Raising Children To Be Of High Moral Character
Instead of simply promoting the belief that a god is watching and will see and punish wrong doing, the concerned secular parent can certainly raise children with a wonderful sense of morality, personal responsibility, empathy and integrity caring.
This website has some interesting points and offers practical advice to parents on how to teach children morals, empathy and personal integrity. Some suggestions on effective parenting include keeping a gratitude journal, inviting your kids to practice random acts of kindness, engaging in ethical dilemma discussions, critical thinking and partaking in community service like local fundraisers or picking up garbage in a park.
Modeling good moral behavior has to be at the top of the list.
Many parents institute a Family Constitution which is a fabulous idea. Here is an example.
The last thought I wish to leave you with is again, the “The Golden Rule” seems to be a recurring theme throughout history, a good model for human behavior. While often accredited to Jesus, the first rendition was found in the “Instructions of Ptahhotep” (24th century BCE):
“Do not do to the doer what you would not wish done to yourself.”
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