what motivates atheists?

I'm trying to be a productive member of society, and a role model to my kids. And other people.

I follow the natural code of ethics of society and civilized life. Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you, etc.

Some of the commandments were commonly held ethics across the majority of cultures (don't lie, don't murder, son't steal). We're social creatures, a species that survived and thrived due to a combination of social compassion and creative intelligence. We evolved to take care of each other. It's who we are.

Prohibitions on theft, murder rape and the like make sense, just as do taboos against lying and oathbreaking. We're stronger as a whole. The community protects the individual, the individual protects the comunity. Universal rights ensure individual rights.

In the ancient world weoften limited such things to our own tribe, but now that we're more globally connected we're extending our "tribe" to mean our entire species. This is of great benefit to the individual and the previously established smaller tribes. We're looking out for each other on a global level. This progession of social compassion and justice is of great benefit to both the species and the individual in the long run.

As a general rule, atheists adhere to the principle of not harming others. I personally use empathy as a guide to moral behavior. The rules about not killing and not stealing your neighbor's property are pretty much universal in civilized societies, so it's more likely that they sprang from what was necessary for a group to live together and cooperate against common enemies than from any particular religious tradition.

If you'll notice, the commandments say nothing about rape, homosexuality, sex before marriage, sexual abuse of children, cheating in business transactions, or many other things that are often considered immoral by Christians. Obviously even Christians get their ideas about morality from society, not just from the commandments.

The bible is a dark ages creation consisting of plagiarized materials from other belief systems. The OT is Jewish and the NT is mostly from the pagan Mithra Christos religion.

The Jesus story is not unique or original to Christianity. There are thousands of prechristian pagan religions that have the same story.

Christ is actually a pagan word in reference to the sun.

Atheists do the right thing because it is the right thing for a human being to do. That is the meaning of the term human being, it does not mean being something else. Not through the coercion of threat or reward, there is no reward. One mans heaven is anothers hell, in this life or in the afterlife.

Being atheist just means a disbelief in omnipotent giant invisible sky fairies waving magic wands, it implies nothing else. ;)

The crime rate is actually lower in predominantly atheistic countries, where the crime rate goes off the scale in area's with religious immigrants.

Practicing Shaman... quantum physics rocks.

First off you need to open a book and find out what atheist means. There is NO faith involved in atheism. I don't know about the rest of the atheists on this planet, I have no idea what motivates them Personally I am motivated by my own mind my own since of right and wrong and the law. Oh and then there is my family and friends...

I think you'd find that atheists and theists have a LOT more in common than not.

You've said as much as being good is its own reward, so there ya go. Stealing, cheating, lying...these all stand in the way of leading a good life. We stay out of the way of that much for the same reasons you do.

As far as our overall motivation...I'm sure, again, it is much the same as yours without the goal of getting into any sort of heaven. A lot of us have kids, that's a motivation right there. Many of us have careers that are very motivating, myself included...unless it is as it has been for the past few weeks, and I spend more time on Yahoo Answers...ahh well..

Anyhow, like I said: You and I are a lot alike. People over-complicate it and think atheists are lost, confused, unmotivated malcontents with nothing but angst.

Really, we're just people without a belief in god.

I don't profess to being a christian or an atheist for that matter or any other name someone wants to use. I am motivated by my want/need to be happy and comfortable with my life, money certainly isn't the be all and end all of my existence, neither is the hedonistic pursuit of sex, drugs and rock and roll. My behaviour today is a product of my past experiences, both good and bad. I still have my shortcomings, I am not a saint.

My behaviour is a learned experience

I don't believe in god. And I don't consider myself an Atheist. I don't belive people should be labeled on their beliefs. The things that motivate me the most are family and friends. Just because I don't believe in a god does not mean I have no morals and no rules. I know the difference between right and wrong. I treat others with respect because I would like to be treated the same. I don't hate religion, I disagree with it, because people can do something wrong and then go to church and be forgiven, and all that energy, time and money people spend in church can go to something more productive like helping in your community, or raise money to help people who really need help, like starving children.

We are social creatures and we depend on each other. If you had a reputation of stealing, lying or cheating, people no longer trust you and won't help you if you need it.

You know how people teach their kids right from wrong? How they say, "How would you feel if someone did that to you?" That's pretty much it. No God necessary.

Besides, there are plenty of examples of people who were raised religious, and still do terrible things to other people.

Basic aspects of human interaction like "don't steal" and "don't murder" were in place long before the Book of Exodus was put together, and those sentiments are by no means exclusive to or even derived from your religion.

My motivation for behaving the way I do is generally rooted in achieving my own happiness.