Way of the Mind

Remember this Atheism FAQ entry, Without belief in an afterlife / fear of hell, how can people be moral?? The common argument (which theists keep using, without even noticing what it really says about them) that an atheist doesn’t have any reason to be moral, since he doesn’t believe in heaven or hell? In other words, that there is no morality without the supernatural, and that “morality” is simply not doing things due to fear of punishment?

Bligbi has said shortened that argument — and its implication — in a simple, brilliant way: If it wasn’t for Hell, I’d kill you but that doesn’t make me a bad person.