God is Watching

[Jeremiahcp]

If a person who does not believe God is watching is a moral person then does that mean they have a higher moral fiber?

If someone needs to feel like God is watching to be moral does that mean they lack the moral fiber to do what is right without God? What would that mean if there truly is no God?

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

Does the fact that there are moral people who do not believe that God is watching prove that belief in God is not needed for morality?

 

[Father Heathen]

Being "good" out of fear of punishment and/or hope for reward isn't real morality. Real morality is an aspect one's character, where good is done for its own sake.

 

[Altfish]

Being "good" out of fear of punishment and/or hope for reward isn't real morality. Real morality is an aspect one's character, where good is done for its own sake.

Taking that one step further, believing that one can be forgiven for the most heinous of crimes also means that you can carry out nasty stuff, repent and get a free pass.
Atheists don't rely on that card.

 

[corynski]

If a person who does not believe God is watching is a moral person then does that mean they have a higher moral fiber?

If someone needs to feel like God is watching to be moral does that mean they lack the moral fiber to do what is right without God? What would that mean if there truly is no God?

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

Does the fact that there are moral people who do not believe that God is watching prove that belief in God is not needed for morality?

Yes, it's an extension of the 'mommy is watching you, better not do anything wrong' mentality that seems to work. Actually morality is always an integral part of any community, so if you want to be part of a community you act right, otherwise you rip someone off and they chase you out of town. And if there is no God, then you still are in the soup because no one puts up with a thief.

 

[Enoch07]

If a person who does not believe God is watching is a moral person then does that mean they have a higher moral fiber?

If someone needs to feel like God is watching to be moral does that mean they lack the moral fiber to do what is right without God? What would that mean if there truly is no God?

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

Does the fact that there are moral people who do not believe that God is watching prove that belief in God is not needed for morality?

@Father Heathen answered it perfectly.

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

I would only add "God/Society" to that. Because some people dont fear God watching, because they dont believe in God. But they do fear societies judgement. This is where the term "virtue signaling" comes into play.

 

[PureX]

If a person who does not believe God is watching is a moral person then does that mean they have a higher moral fiber?

No, it means they recognize morality as a value, in itself.

If someone needs to feel like God is watching to be moral does that mean they lack the moral fiber to do what is right without God? What would that mean if there truly is no God?

No. All it means is that they don't trust their own judgments when it comes to making moral determinations.

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

Morality is a reflection of behavior, not ideology. So it doesn't matter why one behaves in a positive moral way, only that they do.

Does the fact that there are moral people who do not believe that God is watching prove that belief in God is not needed for morality?

Belief in gods is not a prerequisite of moral behavior. Or of the ethical imperatives that determine moral behavior.

 

[Luciferi Baphomet]

If god is really watching us then why isn't he helping people? Does he watch people have sex? Like what? He sounds like a creep.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

If someone is moral because they think God is watching is that really morality?

Obedience to an external order to gain reward or avoid punishment is not moral behavior. Small children and dogs do that.

If a person who does not believe God is watching is a moral person then does that mean they have a higher moral fiber?

Higher than what I described above because the above is not morality.

If someone needs to feel like God is watching to be moral does that mean they lack the moral fiber to do what is right without God?

Probably. If they suddenly lost their faith, they might be able to catch up and develop a secular morality and an internal moral compass, but beyond a certain point, that becomes very rare.

Does the fact that there are moral people who do not believe that God is watching prove that belief in God is not needed for morality?

Yes, by definition.