Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?
by Rich Deem

Morality Among Atheists

"I can be a good person and not believe in God" is the mantra of online atheists. Accordingly, disbelief in God doesn't mean that a person automatically leads a less morally upright life. However, a recent Barna survey casts doubt upon this belief.

Rich Deem

Introduction

Atheism does not lead to increased immoral behavior according to the writing of many atheists. In theory, one can be be morally responsible atheist. However, in practice, does atheism/agnosticism encourage or discourage a higher level of moral behavior?

Principles of Christian morality

Christians are far more likely than atheists to be part of groups that work hard to instill values about being good to other people, and having good relationships. The teachings of the Bible emphasize values such as honesty, love, forgiveness, sexual fidelity, patience,1 and generosity.2 In addition, all Christian denominations strongly discourage negative behaviors, such as fornication, profanity,3 gambling,4 gossiping, retaliation,5 drunkenness, and lying. Many of these values are not emphasized in social circles dominated by atheists. Do these teachings influence moral behavior?

Evangelicals vs. atheists

A a random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

Moral Behaviors of Evangelicals vs. Atheists6
Sin Evangelicals Atheists
Viewing pornography 12% 50%
Profanity in public 16 60
Gambling 2  
Gossiping 4 34
Sex with non-spouse 3  
Retaliation   11
Drunkenness 0.5 33
Lying 1  
Average 6 29

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than evangelical Christians - an average of nearly five times the frequency! The data calls into question the atheists' claim that moral choices are deterministic and the people do not have the ability to exercise free will.

Conclusion Top of page

Contrary to the claim of the "New Atheism," it seems that atheism leads to a decline in the perception of the importance of many personal moral values, especially those that have a big impact on interpersonal relationships. Since these new atheists are still being influenced by persons of traditional religious moral values, it seems likely that the importance of these values will diminish even further in the beliefs of the next generation of atheists. According to Reginald Bibby, the author of the study, "To the extent that Canadians say good-bye to God, we may find that we pay a significant social price."2 In addition, a recent scientific study shows that a certain atheistic belief (determinism or lack of free will) negatively impacts moral behavior.3



References Top of page

  1. Patience:
    • The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
    • Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (1 Corinthians 13:4)
    • But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; (2 Corinthians 1:6)
    • but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, (2 Corinthians 6:4-6)
    • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22)
    • Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (Ephesians 4:1-2)
    • so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously (Colossians 1:10-11)
    • So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (Colossians 3:12)
    • We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
    • The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, (2 Timothy 2:24)
    • Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, (2 Timothy 3:10)
    • preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)
    • so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12)
    • Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. (James 5:7)
    • You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:8)
    • As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:10)
    • For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. (1 Peter 2:20)
  2. Generosity:
    • "If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
    • "You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. (Deuteronomy 15:10)
    • The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:25)
    • Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. (Proverbs 19:6)
    • He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)
    • 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?' (Matthew 20:15)
    • taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; (2 Corinthians 8:20)
    • Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (1 Timothy 6:18)
  3. Profanity:
    • "You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the LORD who sanctifies you, (Leviticus 22:32)
    • He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; (Psalms 15:3)
    • Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. (Psalms 34:13)
    • The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. (Psalms 37:30)
    • For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence." (Psalms 39:1)
    • There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
    • A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)
    • He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23)
    • The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance. (Proverbs 25:23)
    • If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. (James 1:26)
  4. Gambling is dishonest gain:
    • Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)
    • A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him. (Proverbs 28:22)
    • "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24)
    • But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
    • But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, (1 Thessalonians 4:10-11)
    • He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)
    • Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
  5. Retaliation:
    • 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)
    • Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. (Proverbs 20:22)
    • Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17)
    • Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
  6. Young Adults and Liberals Struggle with Morality, The Barna Group, August 25, 2008.


Last Modified October 23, 2007