A person who is an unbeliever may be more moral than one who does good only because God is watching them and they may be punished for their actions.
If a person behaves honorably and fairly towards others because he is afraid God will strike him with lightning or send him to hell if he doesn’t, he is motivated by selfishness. He is trying to save his own skin and if helping others will do that for him, then he will help others.
If a person behaves kindly and decently towards others because that makes him feel better, regardless of whether God is watching or not, it still is based on selfish motives: It makes him feel better.
But if a person acts with compassion and wisdom towards others because he knows this is the path to a better world for all, regardless of any God of any religion watching, he is more fundamentally moral. His morality is based on the his logical deductions. The greatest good for the greatest number works for him because anything else leads to disaster. He is not trying to save his skin from some sort of future hellish state or promote himself into some future heaven.
When someone does the right thing regardless of who is looking over his shoulder, that kind of morality has more intrinsic value than morality that is compelled through fear or obedience. Knowing why he does’t abuse a child or a helpless animal has more moral value than refraining from such abuse because it could lead to future punishment.
If a person behaves honorably and fairly towards others because he is afraid God will strike him with lightning or send him to hell if he doesn’t, he is motivated by selfishness. He is trying to save his own skin and if helping others will do that for him, then he will help others.
If a person behaves kindly and decently towards others because that makes him feel better, regardless of whether God is watching or not, it still is based on selfish motives: It makes him feel better.
But if a person acts with compassion and wisdom towards others because he knows this is the path to a better world for all, regardless of any God of any religion watching, he is more fundamentally moral. His morality is based on the his logical deductions. The greatest good for the greatest number works for him because anything else leads to disaster. He is not trying to save his skin from some sort of future hellish state or promote himself into some future heaven.
When someone does the right thing regardless of who is looking over his shoulder, that kind of morality has more intrinsic value than morality that is compelled through fear or obedience. Knowing why he does’t abuse a child or a helpless animal has more moral value than refraining from such abuse because it could lead to future punishment.
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