Hmm. Well, we've already covered empathy, guilt, and the threat of revenge (no crime is ever completely foolproof). Add to that the undoubted pleasure people get when they do the right thing or are altruistic towards others.
And since when has belief in a divine moral code stopped anyone from doing bad things? Need I repeat the list I gave you earlier?
I'll never knowingly trust an atheist with my welfare or the welfare of anyone else. They ultimately have no underlying principle greater than their own welfare. Assertions to the contrary can logically be explained as subterfuge to gain false trust.
Well that is load of nonsense. Given the choice of a so-so Christian surgeon and an top-notch surgeon who just happened to be an atheist to perform delicate brain surgery on your child, you would choose the atheist surgeon every time (or would you really put your own faith before the welfare of your child?)
Someone's professed religious belief (or lack thereof) is no measure of their competence or honesty. How many cheating and embezzling pastors do you need to convince you of that? Because the list is a long one.
"The Right Thing" is whatever you want it to be if you have no higher authority. The stronger taking from the weaker has been held up as the admirable and "right thing" in many societies throughout time. Its amusing to hear an atheist rest their entire case on the premise that Christian values are the one and only true path.
Well that is load of nonsense. Given the choice of a so-so Christian surgeon and an top-notch surgeon who just happened to be an atheist to perform delicate brain surgery on your child, you would choose the atheist surgeon every time (or would you really put your own faith before the welfare of your child?)
Not surprisingly you've created a false analogy. There is nothing to "trust" in that situation, as there is no gain for the atheist in doing something wrong. The better analogy is which one would I trust to carry out a verbal agreement. The clear answer is the Christian.
Someone's professed religious belief (or lack thereof) is no measure of their competence or honesty. How many cheating and embezzling pastors do you need to convince you of that? Because the list is a long one.
I've never been double crossed by anyone that I considered to be a practicing Christian, but I've known many atheists (professing and otherwise) that I wouldn't leave alone with an unattended nickel. Your proof rests on the assertion that people who profess to be Christians can be bad people. Indeed, and people who profess to be Nigerian businessmen can be hucksters. Tell me, when as an atheist you've set up your own moral code and people break it, will you fault your moral code? I guess consistency isn't an atheist principle, huh.