Are Atheists Moral and Ethical People - Essay Example

Is it possible for atheists to be moral, ethical people, or do you believe that ethics and morality are inseparable from religion Give reasons for your answer. Lack of belief in God(s), through simply self belief, awareness or even after having rejected claims of existence is a simply definition of atheism. According to the Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by Edwin R. A. Seligman refers to atheism as: In its narrowest sense the term atheist applies to one who categorically denies the existence of any gods. But in its wider sense it properly applies also to skeptics, materialists, positivists and all other who do not accept the claims of theism - that the world was created or is governed by a person or persons having the human traits of intelligence and will in more or less magnified form. Moreover, as people generally do not discriminate between belief and conduct, the term atheist has also been applied to those who refuse to participate in the customary forms of public worship. Thus the Romans called the Jews and early Christians atheists because they did not pay the customary honors to the sacra of the established imperial cult. However the argument before us begs the question of religious alignment with morality. It is often assumed that one cannot possibly be moral, uphold moral values unless coupled with a belief in god(s). Similarly morality is presumed to go hand in glove with religious morality, while any probability of morality devoid of religion is ignored and stymied in significance. The acclaimed philosopher John Stuart Mill in his Autobiography Of John Stuart Mill says "The world would be astonished if it new how great a proportion of its brightest ornaments, of those most distinguished even in popular estimation for wisdom and virtue, are complete skeptics in religion. (Chapter II Moral Influences in Early Youth. My Father's Character and Opinions" (1873). Thus this negates one argument that religion can be aligned to morality. Looking at the inverse of the above argument, i.e. should a moral person be categorized as religious, for acting morally is commonly assumed as a sign of religious devotion. Religion being the commandeer of morality is deemed to not exist outside this sphere. Belief and knowledge of religion is according to many what necessitates true morality. Not so according to Thomas Hobbes "the Nature of God, that tend not to his Honour, but to the honour of our own wits, and learning; and are nothing else but inconsiderate, and vain abuses of his Sacred Name" (Leviathan 1651, Chapter XXXI, Of the Kingdome of God by Nature). Thus no divine driving force should be believed to exist when religious pundits claim that both religion and god are required for morality. While moral values are considered necessary for society to grow, religious moral values are preferred to godless morality. However, one's morality should be based on core beliefs transcending into values. The background to moral values stems from human nature, what is valued. Combined with human relationships it is usually human beings that deduce what should be valued or not. While influence of religion can be accounted for it is finally individuals that make personal choices. John Stuart Mill in this Autobiography (1873) states "I have long felt that the prevailing tendency to regard all the marked distinctions of human character as innate, and in the main indelible, and to ignore the irresistible proofs that by far the greater part of those differences, whether between individuals, races, or sexes, are such as not only might but naturally would be produced by differences in circumstances, is one of the chief hindrances to the rational treatment of great social questions, and one of the greatest stumbling blocks to human improvement. (192) Therefore the label of holding moral values aligned to any religion can be negated as secular values derive itself more from human experience and empathy than religious beliefs. Religious morality cannot be deemed to be deep rooted in religious scriptures but rather in ancient moral codes which in turn beget traditions and principles. Based on this historical background, religious moral values are attempted to be asserted. However, as communities become one global village, set traditional religious beliefs and principles too become remote and have little basis. This in turn results in popular religious values gaining little credence. For "Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which every one in himself calleth religion" (Hobbes, "Leviathan", 1651). The debate of ethics and morality span several layers. From its origin to behaviour to its teaching. Ethics being a function of theology, denotes its close connection to atheism. For all atheists, morality is derived from religion. Ethics also branches into descriptive ethics, normative ethics, and metaethics. However, each category has debatable ground with morality in that it draws conflict between faith and reasoning. The knowledge of what is good and bad, right and wrong usually begins from an individuals own understanding. While morality could mean principles, in ethics we refer to moral codes, a branch of moral philosophy which studies moral conduct. Moreover one could argue that these are one and the same. While, atheists rely on the existence of god for morality to prevail, ethics revolves around behaviour, delving into anthropology, psychology, sociology and history to understand beliefs about moral norms. According to Albert Einstein, "The truth is that all religions are a varying blend of both types, with this differentiation: that on the higher levels of social life the religion of morality predominates. (Religion and Science - 1930). In modern day living this view has even been endorsed by The Dalai Lama who emphasized that "We need these human values. I call these secular ethics, secular beliefs. There's no relationship with any particular religion. Even without religion, even as nonbelievers, we have the capacity to promote these things." 1 Continuing the argument that ethics and morality are inseparable from religion, it has been argued that while religion upholds morality via faith from belief in god, atheists provides no moral guidance. Instead they form and adhere to ethics they themselves have decided upon. These moral standards with a code of ethics both in terms of variables and evolving decisions, being moral or its opposite immoral signify their actions. Godless morality invokes extensive use of one's free will and further holds one accountable for one's actions. However, those following morality due to an existence and fear of god have few alternatives for their actions. As James James Froude being the very first to argue the merits of atheism said "I would sooner perish for ever than stoop down before a Being who may have power to crush me, but whom my heart forbids me to reverence." (1849). As shown above, it is possible for atheists to be moral, ethical people with morality and religion separable albeit a fine dividing line. Simply put atheists do follow similar moral codes as those who believe in god. However, what makes them different is that decisions on morality and ethics, good or bad, right or wrong are arrived without invoking any God. Work Cited Einstein Albert. Religion and Science, New York Times Magazine (1930) Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651) Morality and secularism, BBC Website Mill, John Stuart. Moral Influences in Early Youth (1873) Seligm, Edwin R. A. Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences The Progressive. Interview with the Dalai Lama, (January 2006), Read More