"How can atheists value life if they don't believe in God?"

[DetlefK]

http://theatheistpig.com/

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Excellent point. Not to forget that atheists don't kill for the sake of religion. . . . nt

[Arkansas Granny]

3. +1

[chwaliszewski]

2. Simple.

I don't believe in a heaven or hell. I feel you get one life and no afterlife. Therefore, my decisions that I make now have some sort of bearing on how my life can turn out. If I put bad things into my body, I risk dying early. If I hang out with dogs, I might get fleas. If I'm nice to others, they tend to be nice back. I value life just fine, thank you very much.

Conversely, if a child is too young to understand about a god, do they not value life? Does someone who suffers from any mental-limiting affliction, who could not comprehend the existence of a god, not value life either?

Essentially, I think the problem is this stigma of an atheist being a sort of 'bad person' because they don't believe in an eternal reward or punishment. I say, "bull butter"! I know plenty of 'good' atheists and also plenty of 'bad' Christians. I feel like some people use their 'God will forgive me' BS in order to justify their bad behavior. Just be a good person and you don't have to ask for forgiveness from some skyguy.

Lastly, if there is a 'heaven, what if you're there for eternity with people you didn't like here on Earth?

[MineralMan]

4. Pig gets it.

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. That cartoon exists because atheists are asked this question over and over again.

"How can you respect life when you don't believe in God?"

I've never heard anyone ask this question of Christians. Our resident theists should mull this over a bit and consider their privilege.

[central scrutinizer]

6. Atheists do the right thing

Because it's the right thing to do. Not because of fear of the sky wizard smiting them.

[guillaumeb]

7. And when atheists do the wrong thing,

is it because atheists, like theists, are imperfect humans?

[Bretton Garcia]

11. Maybe. But atheists don't pretend the devil made them do it.

If your own statement doesn't do that, then congratulations; you are halfway to atheism. Where we don't blame things on gods or devils. But accept more personal responsibility for our selves, as imperfect human beings.

Part of being "authentic," according to Sartre's early, atheist existentialism?

Accept responsibility for yourself.

No crutches. No vague evasions.

[guillaumeb]

8. Pig says atheism is a belief.

Some here have strongly insisted that atheism is NOT a belief, and that to describe it as a belief is an attack on atheists by theists.

[Mariana]

9. Pig doesn't say that or anything like it. nt.

[DetlefK]

10. He believes that there is no afterlife. That's a major difference.

The existence of God and the existence of an afterlife are not the same.

[Bretton Garcia]

12. Not all beliefs appear equal

Belief that the moon is made of green or blue cheese, does not seem remotely as probable as results from our scientific probes. Which suggest the average moon rock is mostly oxygen and aluminum.

In the age of Probability, nothing to be sure, is absolutely certain. But some things appear to be a billion times more probable and useful than other beliefs which seem like mostly silly fables.