My fellow Athiests/Agnostics! What is your moral code you live life by. I've met more than a few religious people who seem to think I lack morals due to my views on organized religion(I believe it is the worst thing ever created by man).

My codes are simple;

live and let live.
I don't believe that either good or bad exist, just cultural opinion.
And don't do to someone else what you wouldn't want done to you.

1)Your not better then anyone, no one is better then you.
2)Dont do something you wouldn't want to have done to you
3)Respect peoples property/privacy/state of mind

Athiest/Relegious People have the same code in general. One side is not better then the other, no side is evil.

Ahoy Matey!

Don't cause pain in others (whether it be mental, physical, emotional)

(although I think I may have failed abysmally in these recently - but like a wise little Grasshopper I have learnt )

You godless heathen, you'll burn in hell for your wickedness.

*snickers* (kidding by the way )

From an old blog post of mine: Linky

Kind of long to post here because I kind of rambled there.

A bit of it is treat those how you would like to be treated... It's ok to express yourself... Don't worry about higher powers or what others think... You can't change what you can't control... Your life and body is yours to do what you'd like with.

There are always exceptions to those though for me at least. Though with treat those how you would like to be treated - You can justify quite a bit. You can kill those who you consider evil and if you ever had turned into that evil you'd be expected to be killed as well. A slipperly slope.

As much flak as I may get for this, I kindve adopted the Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth. As brutal as they can be, I like the simplicity and the "dont stick your nose in business thats not yours" ideas, courtesy of Anton LaVey. Of course I'm not a Satanist, and were I to join the Church of Satan, it would probably be more out of fun and curiosity than anything.

They seem quite reasonable, although not too sure about this one:

If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

Maybe he means fullblown irritating


Perhaps that is where Penn Jillette got his ideas from.

your unique !!! just like everyone else !!

I do believe in God , but will keep it short and say - we all go back to it , no matter what.

don't hurt one another

play nice

share your toys

bring enough gum for everyone

clean up after yourself

say your sorry and thank you

LMAO @ My fellow atheists/ agnostics LOL <-------------bloody priceless

Looks like BM is NOT included but to piss you off im going to post my response anyhoo so ner ner

Moral code (even though im not a fellow atheist or agnostic)..ahem...... - Live and let live.

..keep yourself to yourself...dont go sticking your big nose into other peoples business

Dont sit on your jacksie looking down at someone for choosing a different path than you...everyone has a right to make a choice

Treat others how you like you be treated

Give respect to where its due

It never hurts to show kindness

if you have a faith...keep it personal..its called a personal faith for a reason!!

If you buy something cheap and nasty, dont cry your lamps out when something goes wrong...you cheapskate !!!!!

Never be afraid to crack a joke now and then..its not fun being a dried up old fart all the time

Try as many new foods as possible (this includes drink)..and if it makes you barf..then you will know what to stay clear off next time lol


Keep clean and tidy..

look after yourself and your loved ones

be charitable

treat em mean keeps em keen <---hee hee kidding

Never go out of your way to look for trouble..its not worth it...keep your nose clean from the law and you will be fine

Stay clear from store cards LMAO...bad idea

*IMPORTANT* - When you get into an argument..imagine you as the other person and see how you would react if you were in their shoes...*

Be considerate ..and never allow your ego stop you from showing an ounce of decency

mhm. The major tennant of my moral code is to live for myself. I feel that living for others is a waste of time,

I also avoid breaking what I feel to be the social contract of the time.

Another major part of my code is the idea of self responsibilty. Nothing annoys me more then when you get these whiny a******s on 60 minutes who have been on the dole for 10 years and say that noone gave them a chance. Noone is guaranteed a chance, you have to make it for yourself.

If you have read the works of Ayne Rand and her ideas on Objectivism then perhaps you will have an understanding of the barebones of my beliefs

Stay humble, treat others the way you wish to be treated.

I'm not quite an Atheist,but I'm similar in many ways...so here's my list:

No man is worth more than any other.
Don't let anyone else attempt to run your life for you or tell you how you should think,act or look...or what you should like or dislike.
Believe in yourself and your abilities.
Know your limits and stick to them.
18...proof of I.D. (Birth Certificate now required) <--- I may be a dirty old dog...but I'm not stupid
Give everyone a modicum of respect....whether they gain more or lose it will depend upon their words and actions.
Attempt to keep a decent balance in every aspect of life.
Unleash your evil side only upon those that deserve it.
When in an evil mood...warn the innocents around you so that they will not be surprised at what you do.
"Different strokes for different folks"...just don't expect me to join into something you like that I don't care for.
Always attempt to look at every issue or scenario from as many angles as you possibly can.
Help others in any way or means that you possibly can when they need help.
If someone screws you over in a bad way...make them suffer from your revenge for a long time.
Even though many people deserve a "boot to the head",it's not legal to give it to them...unless you know there's no way of getting caught.
Never hurt a fellow animal...for many do not have the strength,speed or size to fight back.
Always attempt to get humans to think.

my moral codes are simple:

1. Life has no value or meaning
2. don't get caught
3. Only do something if it benefits you

I think that sums up everything well.

Of course these are just rough guidelines, and I could add more if I remembered

- Do what you want as long as it doesn't harm others directly or indirectly
- Don't let others limit your freedom or harm you directly or indirectly
- Use your brain, don't let others use (abuse) it for you
- Be on average a benefit to mankind (be proactive, productive, responsible, etc)

I am not an atheist, but my father was and I can give you his.

Be true to you word.
Don't steal, lie or cheat.
Respect the Earth, cause it feeds you.
Obey the laws of the land.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Lead by example.

Epictetus: "What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others."

So, in your opinion slavery, murder, wife-beating, child abuse, are not really wrong?

They aren't according to the bible.

He was talking about the concepts of good and evil being real things, and not just how we label things. Is murder evil if killing one person saves a thousand? Is slavery completely evil if it strengthens nations greatly?

Of course, the act of taking a life, or of abusing someone, or enslaving someone, is wrong, but it's not always "evil".

Be the best person you can be by your own conscience because you will never please 'everyone'.
Living a morally good life is logical, it doesn't need any religious teachings. In fact, if anything, religion teaches intollerance and is therefore immoral by decree.

You're mixing up right and wrong with good and evil.

So, are you saying slavery is evil but not wrong? Or wrong, but not evil? The OP stated: "I don't believe that either good or bad exist, just cultural opinion." I'm asking him the question based on that statement. Notice he didn't say good and evil or right and wrong, he said "good or bad."

I see it as wrong and evil but the person doing it might see it as good and the right thing to do. In the end it is perspective and the majority.

By a religious "standard" you would be immoral. Morality doesn't exist in nature...it's a human concept. Nothing like a good guilt trip to make someone feel powerful.



It comes down to what you've been taught. Good or bad, right or wrong is subjective and, once learned, is difficult to unlearn. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone on this planet who believes good/right or bad/wrong doesn't exist.

Your code is founded in religion... While you believe organized religion isn't a good thing, you espouse a fundamental of christianity: Do unto others.
When morality is factored it's difficult to circumvent a religious connotation.

One question needs to be asked when dealing with the subject of slavery.That question being:"If one voluntarily enslaves themselves to another,is it right or wrong?"

Everyone that works in any job is basically a voluntary slave.Why? Because society is controlled by the "Almighty Dollar"....everyone needs money in order to survive,so they voluntarily enslave themselves to others in order to gain money.Slavery of this form has been around for as long as there have been societies.So...can you still call all slavery as being "evil"?




Not really.Most of the "moral" attitudes espoused in this thread can be traced to common sense.

Slavery is wrong, good and evil don't exist (as such).

Why is slavery wrong? What makes it wrong if good and evil do not exist?

So, if a 6 year old voluntarily makes himself available for abuse by an adult, it's OK?

If all it takes is volunteering, then why don't police officers shoot people who want to commit suicide?

You dont need a cosmic enforcer to believe that depriving someone of their personal liberty is wrong. It's the golden rule, I wouldn't want it to happen to me so I wouldn't do it to someone else.




They do sometimes.

So you would be okay with it if the person chose to be a slave, for whichever reason they had.

Slavery is wrong because it takes peoples' freedom away, amongst much else. Nothing to do with good and evil.

Yeah, as long as he has the possibility to stop it if he chooses so.

At 6 I don't think the kid would have the capacity to make an informed decision, and so it would not be ok with me.

And of course barely anyone would be willing to shoot a suicidal person, but that has nothing to do with good and evil.

Why is that wrong though? What if I don't care whether someone else is free or not as long as I accomplish my desire?

You dont choose to become a slave, because being a slave implies that it's against your will. But becoming a servant, sure.




Nobody has the right to deny personal liberty. That kind of selfish attitude doesn't usually occur in social animals like ourselves.

Why not? Who gave anyone a right to personal liberty? After all, if I, as a result of evolution have the strength or capability necessary to impose my will on others and enslave them to insure the survival of my genetic material, why is it wrong?

well in actuality you don't its an illusion to think you are able to have power over another*giggles* ...this can only be because you have given yours away so it seems real to you....

Nobody had to give it to us, thats the thing. "Free Will" came when we took an evolutionary step forward, and it's the thing that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom (in the same way that a trunk sets an elephant apart from the rest of the animal kingdom). Personal liberty comes naturally.

Strength alone accomplishes nothing in human society, you must know that. We are, after all, social animals.

You do realize this is a thought experiment right? You do understand I do not actually own slaves nor do I want to?

I am pointing out that since there is no right or wrong or good or evil then there is no reason why I can't enslave others if I have the capability to do so.

I would disagree with that. In the same way that a person can choose to die, they can choose to be a slave. Willingly, albeit unwisely, or perhaps unhappily, but willing due to circumstances. I would submit that slavery, consentual or otherwise, implies far more than mere servitude.

I would say that slavery can be both right and wrong, but not evil or good. There are many reason to think of slavery as right and wrong in a given situation, but none that would support the notion that it is inherently good or evil.




That is an interesting point there. One that has been used before, but that is neither here nor there. Evolution has resulted in some fairly extreme measures to assure one genetic lineage over another.

I won't call it good or evil, being that the implication of good and evil is that there is something beyond the primitive, instinctual needs and drives of the animal. I would say that it is an issue of right and wrong. I would say that it is wrong because it runs contrary to the evolutionary instincts of the primates. We are social creatures, and the need to compromise and work together is built into our hardware. To go against it is to impose a belief over nature.

So, you're saying that right and wrong is instinctual?

I would say that is is founded on instinct; right and wrong is the measure of how closely a given action is aligned with instinctual processes. Many of the customs and social processes we go through on a daily basis are merely dressed up expressions of our instinctual processes.

That does not, however, mean that we are creatures limited to our instincts. When we are able to move beyond our instinctual roots to deal with matters not covered by our evolutionary history, we enter into the realm of right and wrong.

IMO, it's not wrong. But neither are the consequences of it. To live by the sword most likely will mean to die by the sword, and there will always be someone with a sharper sword. So it's usually better for survival in the long run to not participate in this game of power over others in the first place.

I get where your heading . but if as stated in the bible that God is the author of all -

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (Amos 3:6)

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? (Lamentations 3:38)


that evil stems from God. all for a purpose - the human experience.

We as humans label things right and wrong. And this changes as our views change. We could find ourselves sliding backwards for example in a world wide disaster such as a virus decimating civilizations so rule of law basically disappears and isn't able to be upheld. Or domination of class.

so where once where slavery, murder, wife-beating, and child abuse were common place and practiced without the bat of an eye views changed .

I hope we get to keep moving forward .

What instinctual process would cause you not to use your strength to insure your survival by enslaving those lesser than you?


I disagree, and nature disagrees with you. How does a lion take charge of a pride? By killing the previous leader, although this insures that he will now become a target for any other lion who wants the pride. What happens to the offspring of the previous leader of the pride? They are killed off, so even from the standpoint of trying to secure the passing of your genes, this seems like a counter-productive process, since when the lion who takes over the pride is defeated it will lose it's life and it's offspring will lose their lives too. It seems instinct is to gain whatever you can for the moment and not worry too much about what will happen when and if you are defeated.

I disagree. Right and Wrong are not instinct. Fear is. Love is. Sex and hunger . Flight or flight. we protect instinctually what is ours .

but treating others that 'do not belong to us ' well isn't instinctual .

The higher brain lets us act above instinct . and that is learned behaviour be it by example or memory of how we were treated and there by sympathy and compassion which can lead us to to things like fairness and objectivity , wisdom. ...all from experience.

Primates are, by nature, social creatures. We instinctually understand supply and demand, and it is so deeply ingrained in us that we even created the entire economic system as a reflection of it. Enslavement is not a natural instinct to primates; it is, arguably, a very unstable foundation for a market system.

This is not to say that strength does not play a part in it. Primates use strength to gather more for themselves, thus giving themselves a greater edge. That strength takes many different forms. For apes, it involves physical domination. For humans, it involves social ranking.

true pushing all else aside and if you had the capability to do so. and in many ways there still are 'slaves' . People kept poor by those well off. especially in other countries.

But remember - it's still wrong in mans eyes. In God's eyes ? the soul having a human experience. Nothing was promised to be easy or fair.

No, they are not. They are founded on what our instincts tell us.



Sure it is. Primates understand supply and demand. If we supply something, such as treatment, to someone, we instinctually expect something in return.

That being said, we humans are a somewhat intellectual lot and tend to never leave well enough alone. Because of that, instead of understanding treating someone else as being a carry-over from a primitive instinct, we call it the "right' thing to do. We call it the right thing to do because somewhere deep inside of us, it aligns with a feeling that we understand we must follow (our instincts), hence "It feels right".



Exactly. Instincts are merely the foundation. Right and wrong are the decisions we make that are based on those primitive instincts. Good and Evil are perceptual constructs that have nothing to do with instincts, but rather are developed from the social norms of a given society.

no , what we concider right and wrong is not instinctual.

as children we are taught what is 'right and wrong'. our peers/society ingrains it into us.

the only instinct we have is for personal/pack survival. this is not and does not include what we now deem right and wrong.



right and wrong are decisions made by the higher brain. they are not instinct which comes from our basic brain. and our higher brain hasn't always been as evolved as it is. nor have we always used it.

and what is deemed right and wrong differes to even 40 years ago when blacks had different bathrooms, drinking fountains ......ect ...

This is about atheist's moral codes, so I am assuming no "God's eyes".

ok. then up until man could identify empathy , relate compassion to someone other than the pack and lived on other than instinct , then there was no moral code.

the moral code , the ability to empathize , has again and again been tossed aside. even in this day and age. but that isn't a lack of moral code by atheists. That's selfishness and greed by people who have always existed.

one doesn't need God to be moral. One only needs empathy. Is empathy instinctual ? some say yes and some no. Man did feel empathy towards one of his own early on but not to all. ( still not to all )

So the ability to relate to another humans feelings as similar to our own would start to build a moral code. it would all unfold as it has .

If by "one does not need God to be moral" you mean one doesn't need to be part of a religion, I agree, but then the question becomes why empathy? Do lions feel empathy? If not why not? And why do humans? If animals can be part of large populations without feeling empathy, then societal needs are not the reason for empathy.