by Michael Mikolajczyk

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: March 14, 2009

"Atheism." "Morality."

To many, these two words are equivalent to "hot" and "cold"; "night" and "day"; "right" and "wrong." There can be no reconciliation between the two, for not only are they on opposite ends of the spectrum, but one can actually be described as the absence of another. Unfortunately, a vast number of people feel that atheism can be described as, among other things, the absence of a moral code.

A different opinion, however, is felt by many but vocalized by few: that atheism fosters the concept of morality, not restricts it. Despite the many definitions that people give for morality, it ultimately is something simple: doing the best that you can do, realistically, to those around you - for the right reasons.

The hangup, however, arises when people believe that it is religion that gives the ability of morality by providing the motivation to do "right" things. Therefore, an atheist, who has no belief in a divine authority, cannot have a basis or even a reason to do good deeds to everyone else. After all, if there are no strict morals, hedonism reigns, no?

No, indeed.

When examined, the idea that religion must be present for morality to follow is in fact quite disturbing; it insists that humans, left alone, cannot form the basic concepts of altruism. It is, in fact, the basis for the idea of original sin and that we are all basically bad.

This belief flies in the face of the evidence that suggests that even animals that we would consider "beneath us" on the scale of consciousness show altruism to one another - a fact that is not difficult to understand. Morality is a concept that could have evolved for any number or combination of reasons, but it may be useful to simply examine one specific way that altruism, or doing good to others, is a beneficial action with no need for an authority to command its implementation.

This reason is common in our society and is repeated often under a cutesy moniker; it has been independently conceived in different cultures, time periods, and regions throughout our world and its history; and it has been shown to often be rooted in our biology itself.

It is the Golden Rule. Throughout the animal kingdom, we see examples of organisms doing things that are beneficial to others because they have realized that good more often than not breeds good, and vice-versa. A human who helps a friend will likely be helped later, just as a monkey that grooms another monkey will likely be groomed in the future.

Altruism in this regard is one tiny facet of morality, and it is not meant to explain everything. It is merely meant to show that atheism and morality are not mutually exclusive ideas. Morality is not based on a god's commands - it is based on the idea that order and kindness tends to produce more order and kindness. It is a positive feedback loop of the purest kind, and it is one that should be continued regardless of belief, faith, or creed.

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