Do you think that atheists are immoral?

Morality is a matter of philosophy, not religion. Of all of the religions in the history of the world, Judaism is the first that attached ethics, to faith. Yet all of the other cultures had laws and cultureal norms, which defined their morality.
For example, fundamental Buddhism was not religious in nature at all. It was simply a philosophy, an ethical code for how to treat one-another, and the world around us. The Greek and Roman philosophers took similar approaches. Seneca the Younger, one of the great Roman philosophers, didn't believe in the gods at all. He believed in science, yet he spoke of respect for each-other. Socrates, perhaps the greatest philospher to ever wear the label, at the very least, doubted the existance of deities. Yet he spoke of forgivness, mercy, and respect.

I find it sad, and inherently IMmoral that so many feel that the only reason to be moral, is fear of eternal punishment, or the greed for an eternal reward. One of the ways I discipline my kids, is to make them write an essay about why they were wrong to do what they did. I need them to show me that, when they say they're sorry; they're sorry for doing something they shouldn't, and not just that they're being punished. Pavlov proved that anything can be trained to have a negative reaction to an act, due to negative stimulus. That requires no higher thought. the same is true of the proverbial carrot.
Humans have the gift of higher thinking, without which, morality is pointless. Yet, you believe that the only way to make people do the right thing, is the same Pavlovian reward/punishment system that an inbread dog could follow?
It isn't true. Allow me to tell you why I practice morality.

Humanity is beautiful, and worthy of joy, but none of us can find that joy on our own. Each of us must be responsible to the others, for treating each other with respect. Each of us must find something to love, and something to love us back. It is only in the relationships with our fellow human beings, that our lives find meaning. Let me live my life in a way that enriches the lives of others, and others will live their lives in ways that enrich mine. That is MY moral code.

Morality is not simply a matter of philosophy which is defined as:

1) love and pursuit of wisdom,
2) Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods
3) A system of thought based on or involving such inquiry
4) The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs
5) The disciplines presented in university curriculums of science and the liberal arts, except medicine, law, and theology
6) The discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology
7) A set of ideas or beliefs relating to a particular field or activity; an underlying theory
8) A system of values by which one lives

None of these fit the basic definition of morality which is:
1) The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct
2) A system of ideas of right and wrong conduct
3) Virtuous conduct
4) A rule or lesson in moral conduct

In general the study of belief systems is not morality, it is not good and evil.

Notice how morality is closely aligned with virtuous conduct in other words GOOD versus EVIL. It seems that you're equating the study of systems of belief and behavior with good behavior itself in an attempt to neutralize the need to define good and evil.


What's sad is that so many atheists can only visualize religion as a negative relationship between creator and created. They completely miss the positive relationship of man and his creator.

Not everyone obeys the laws of the land because they fear going to prison. Many people prefer to be good citizens because they love good. The same applies to those who are religious.