Atheists: Would it be OK to lie to protect Osama Bin Laden from capture by NATO forces?

In my experience, it seems like atheists usually derive their morality from the culture around them chameleon-style. They don't necessarily think about why they believe certain things are wrong. But if they choose to seek secular wisdom to guide them in their morality, they have several options. They can look to philosophies like humanism. They can make judgments about things they like and don't like based on their past experiences. They can set themselves up in opposition to other forms of moral guidance, like religions. And I'm sure there are some resources I'm missing. I think it tends to be a mix various things.

The bottom line is that atheists absorb most of their morality directly or indirectly from those who are seeking to follow God. As long as there are enough genuine Christians and other good religious folk in our society, the status quo will be one of decency, and most atheists won't bother to try and buck the trend... much. But scriptural history speaks of times when the numbers of people who sought to know God dwindled to very small numbers (whether these people believed in him or not). During those times, the populace tends to become rather savage.

Living a life without God is like living without parents. Is it possible for a child without parents to learn to recognize right and wrong and to treat others well? Yes - and all the more so if they can see other examples of decency around them. But it's a heck of a lot less likely. The finest atheist folk I know have a lot of religious friends and seek for philosophy which helps them to justify the morality that they know they need in life. I think the only thing that keeps them from turning to the source is a sense of pride, and the deceptive perception that atheism makes more sense than theism.

well this concept operates under the assumption that atheists lack morals. I have met very few atheists who lack morals however and much more Christians that operate under the conduct that they have no morals. However, what i believe you are pointing out is that atheists lack a basis for holding morals. On this point i agree with you; atheists have no real reason to have morals. Im just glad that they do because we the world would fall into chaos and evil if atheists did not have these values

As a non-athiest, I'm curious as to why you pose this question to athiests? It's not like Anne Frank lead a terrorist group that attacked our country, so it would be a good thing to protect her, but Bin Laden DID lead a terrorist group that attacked our country, so it'd be stupid to protect him... Make sense?

Are you one of those idiots that thinks that Athiests have no morals because they don't have a religious bias? Because that's completely untrue... Just the same, Athiests do value life. Calling in athiests to answer this question is nothing but a stupid stereotype.

I don't have enough faith to be an atheist. I'm not going to read about Anne Frank. And, I'm not going to watch some video. It's all about perspective. It's ok to lie to protect family,friends and loved ones, and even yourself. To some people OBL is worth lying to protect. To others he is not. If it makes you feel better I'd even lie to you and tell you the answer you want to hear if i knew what it was. But, you see, I'm a habitual liar, I'm llying right now.

yea, I don't get why you singled out atheists either. Doesn't really make sense. Religious stand points have no bearing on ones moral compass. Hard to believe, huh. Maybe you should re-post the question and direct it at Catholics. Still wouldn't make sense.

I am not an atheist, but Osama is not being sought by evil people, he is an evil person being sought by those he did harm to in order to face justice for his acts of supreme cowardice

Osama is a muslim extremist (theist) and a terrorist group leader ;-p

Why do you think atheists want to protect him ????

You should ask the theists since Osama believe in a god ;-p

WTF does this have to do with atheism? And how is Ann Frank comparable to Osama bin Laden?! Did you have non-sequitur cereal for breakfast?

do you think atheists do not have morals?