"I have a strong desire to be "good" because that's what I expect from my fellow man. I do not however do it out of fear of retribution of a God, I do it because it's the right thing."
How did you learn it is 'the right thing'? How do you KNOW it is the 'right thing'?
I base my moral foundation on the following logic tree:
- Would I be upset if someone did to me, what I am about to do to them?
- Yes (Don't do it)
- No
- Even if I am fine with this happening to me, would my action violate someone elses private property and in turn rights?
- Yes (Don't do it)
- No (Go for it)
For example:
- If I feel like punching someone in the face randomly (I don't really.) I ask myself, would I want to be punched in the face? The obvious answer is no, so it would not be moral to punch someone else in the face.
- If I feel like groping that cute girl: Would I mind if she came up to me and groped me? There's a chance I wouldn't mind if I was attracted to her so I ask myself the second question: Would my groping her violate her private property/rights? Yes it would because her body is her private property and I have no right to touch it without her explicit permission
- I feel like helping a lady trapped in a burning car: Would I want her to help me if I was trapped under a burning car? You betcha! Time to save a life.
I was not raised in a religious environment (My single experience at sunday school was traumatic at best, but I don't hold it against all religion) but I was raised in a family that taught me to respect others and treat people the way I want to be treated from an early age. Throughout my short life I have developed the rules I described above as my method for determining what is right and what is wrong. I follow those rules because I respect my fellow man, not because I want something.