Atheism and morality

[Killiana1a]

The Fury said:

highwaystar101 said:

I will be the first to put my hand up and admit that atheist morals are not religiously motivated, and as such I can see where some people whose morals are religiously motivated have a problem. For example, a Catholic is likely to see sex before marriage, but to an atheist this would be a non-issue.

I don't mind atheism being criticised if the criticism is rightly due, I know I can be critical going in the other direction if I see it as due. But I think it's outright depressing to see people pointing the finger at atheism for a general decline in moral standards.

Any thoughts?

Most atheist morals are based on religious backgrounds. It is in religious text that our guidelines for decency are defined and that is where they come from in modern society. Killing, stealing, covetting your neighbours hard working donkey and others are seen as wrong based on those teachings.

What atheism has done is allowed people to 'move on' from laws and teachings that don't make sense and are outdated in modern society, sex before marriage is one that stands out a lot as well as same sex relationships.

I believe atheism comes from a greater understanding of the world which has happened in the last few hundred years. Science has help with this but also the indiscretions of religions that people have also moved away. Atheism should be though open to as much criticism as any faith. The morals might be seen as looser in atheism but some of these things have been going on for thousands of years, they are just more obvious in the information age.

I have to quote this post because it is so damn good.