If you are non-religious how do you determine your morals?

Hello: If you believed in God then God will show you the way to know him and his purpose. I suggest do not become religious if you don't feel positive about it BUT i feel we human have a thirst for purpose in our life, how we get here and where are we going. The bible beautifully, answers all these things and may add more meaning to your life that you may not be interested not only on your morals but on the wonderful fuutre that awaits those who will know God thru the written word. Reading it more often is a big step.

If you're right and morals, values, ethics, etc come from our parents and if your parents are non-religious, how did they decide?

I apologize if you think this is a silly question though I think if you understood my motivation behind the question that perhaps you would rethink your reaction. There are a lot of people on mylot with different experiences, religions (or non-religions) morals, ethics, values and so on and so forth ... but there is also a lot of attacks from one type of person to another. I believe this and you believe that and therefore, we cannot be friends or co-exist peacefully until you realize that I'm right and you're not. What if we took a step back and tried to understand the other person? What if we were able to ask open, honest questions about where the other person is coming from. The result would be that doors to communication would be opened. I know where my morals come from and I base my life on those morals. I don't understand where your morals come from, so I have a hard time understanding who you are and where you are coming from. (Note that the "your" is meant general for a non-religious person). If we can better understand people who are different then ourselves we will be less likely to attack beliefs that are different then our own. People are so afraid to ask questions any more because they think people will think they are dumb or ignorant or opposed to thoughts that are not their thoughts. What if we decide that we care about people enough to get to know them. What if we are free to say, "I don't understand this, could you please explain it to me?" And then we could dialouge about our beliefs apart from fighting and discord. Then maybe you wouldn't hate me and I wouldn't hate you and then my children wouldn't hate your children and your children wouldn't hate my children. I am just trying to gain understanding instead of making assumptions. There is nothing silly about that.

I agree with the old saying "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" This is the motto I respect. What all of us realy want is a fair go

I agree with marie, you can have morals without having a religion its part of human nature. Your morals are taught to you from infancy its your duty to carry them on in adulthood.

you are kind of correct, its non just bliving in a religion i mean how many of use actually follow our religion 100%, its about listening to our heart our mind and our consence, We all know there is some super natural power there and i hope we are all keeping him happy.

So what you're saying is that if you didn't have religion to tell you what to do then you wouldn't be a good person?

Whether or not we are religious, we are taught right from wrong from childhood, 1st from our parents and then from rules and regulations in place within society and laws that govern our lands. In the US, the founding fathers of our constitution were all church-going God-fearing men who used the Bible as a basis for how to live and to interact with others, so "in the beginning" there was a religious belief.

How do you determine what being a good spouse and parent is? How do you define good ... what if your definition of good conflicts with your husband's defination of good? How do you check yourself?

Good logic there, Imadriscoll. There must be a standard for our beliefs. Most respondees here actually quote (in essence) the words of Jesus Christ and act on them, yet call Him a liar in other ways.

I'm not saying that religious people are moral people and that non-religious people are not moral. That is not the basis of my question. I'm asking where morals and ethics come from under the assumption that religious people derive their morals from their religion.

That's a very good comment. It's a pity more religions don't live and let live instead of laying down the law that their God is the only way to righteousness. Freedom of thinking is what changed my path, and I am happier now than I ever was following the Shepherd, like just one of the other sheep. I know where I'm going and I don't need somebody to show me, or tell me that I'm doing it wrong, because I do what is comfortable and feels right for me. I appreciate your response. Be happy. :-)

Wait a minute ... I didn't say that the acts of a non-believer are immoral! I asked the question how does a non-religious person determine what is and is not moral. There was no accusation whatsoever. I am trying to develop my understanding of what people with a different belief system than myself believe. I am not making any judgements, I am wanting to understand apart from my preceptions.