Freethought Poster: Morality is Not a Gift from Heaven

The idea that religion and/or theism is the source of or is necessary for morality, moral standards, and moral behavior is probably one of the most significant differences between atheists and theists. Not only is this something which no atheist accepts while many, if not most, theists strongly believe, but it's also the source of a large number of arguments between atheists and theists. This is because so many myths about atheists, not to mention so much bigotry and prejudice against atheists, is predicated on the assumption that without religion and theism, atheists cannot be moral.

Absolutely no evidence can be summoned to support any of the claims generally made by religious theists in this matter. Although their religion and their theism may be important to them when it comes to their morality, there is no good reason to think that their religious theism, much less religion or theism generally, are therefore indispensable to morality. Although there will never be an end to debates and discussions to the nature of morality or what qualifies as proper moral standards, there is no question but that neither religion nor theism are required.

Morality is not a "gift" from heavens, gods, or anything else supernatural. Morality is natural and is a part of who we are as social beings. Morality is our responsibility, and is in fact about being responsible for our actions, beliefs, and attitudes. Indeed, it might be argued that by foisting the responsibility for the nature of morality off onto supernatural agencies, people are actually abandoning their own responsibilities and thus abandoning the most basic principles of morality itself.

 

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