Morals: Do atheists have them?

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Atheism, according to this article from WashingtonPost.com, is on the rise. The decline of religiosity in the US is worrying a lot of people, especially theists, most of whom think that atheists have no morals and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to influence society with their disbelief, lest society destroys itself.

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Believing that atheists have no morals is misguided. They do have morals and ethics. What makes them different from Christians is that their morals and ethics are guided by the society’s best interests and is therefore impermanent. That is to say, when the legal systems and laws change, their morals change. All atheists live according to common sense and codified laws. If a certain activity would hinder their desires to have a better life and a better society, it would not be feasible for them to do it. However, if in the next century theft became legal, atheists may not think twice, especially if it will serve their self-interests.

Christians, whose morals come from a set of laws and fear of an absolute and powerful God, do not have this problem. Even if laws and rules change, stealing will always be stealing—a sin in the eyes of God will not be condoned no matter the reason.

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According to this article from Reasons to Believe, atheists nowadays are less likely to have a clear sense of purpose in life, to want just one partner for life, and to make a difference in the world, compared to religious people. It just shows that moral beliefs, which are based on the word of God, affect behavior.

Dr. Hugh Ross is the president and founder of Reasons to Believe. For more information, visit this website.