Replies

"If there is no God then to be anything less than totally hedonistic makes no sense."

How silly!

I guess to me it seems that if there is nothing after this life then who cares wether one does right or wrong? What motivates you to want to do right even when you know you could totally get away with wrong and you would never get caught? (Again, I am seriously curious)

"I guess to me it seems that if there is nothing after this life then who cares wether one does right or wrong? What motivates you to want to do right even when you know you could totally get away with wrong and you would never get caught? (Again, I am seriously curious)"

But why would I do that. I grew up in the same society you did. I learned manners and right and wrong from my mom and dad, just like you did. They were great examples, and both are atheists. My dad is one of the most respected men in the small town he lives in. My mom is known to everyone there as a kind, generous woman who will volunteer for anything that is a good cause.

Why would I do anything wrong? I own my own business, which I operate on the principles that make businesses successful, meaning good value and excellent customer service. I'm married. I volunteer in my community. I donate to the charities of my choice.

As far as I know, I have never broken a single law. I don't even speed in my car. I pay my taxes, on time, every time.

Why? Because it is the right thing to do. I don't need some threatening deity offering to send me to Hell to behave myself. I'm amazed that anyone does.

I guess to me it seems that if there is nothing after this life then who cares wether one does right or wrong? What motivates you to want to do right even when you know you could totally get away with wrong and you would never get caught? (Again, I am seriously curious)

If you do right you'll be rewarded in this life: others will respect you, aid you and generally do good things for you - and feel bad if they don't.

You can't totally get away with wrong. At the very least you know it's wrong, and that will injure you.

Doing right is usually the easiest way in the end. Doing wrong usually ends in making you unhappy. That's one of the easiest ways to tell it's wrong.