I quote Akwasi from the Do We Have To Tolerate Athiest? thread.

Imagine this scenario whereby everyone believes there is no God. People will do things without their conscience again.

I have heard many "God followers" say similar things. Why do they believe this?

As I understand it, they seem to be saying that either. . .

1. It is only by believing in god that one can develop conscience. So, I would like examples of the consciencious things that followers of god do, that non-believers cannot, and do not, do.

or. . .

2. These particular followers of god are not driven by conscience at all, but some form of coercion, like fear, masquerading as conscience.

sinequanon:

I quote Akwasi from the Do We Have To Tolerate Athiest? thread.

I have heard many "God followers" say similar things. Why do they believe this?

As I understand it, they seem to be saying that either. . .

1. It is only by believing in god that one can develop conscience. So, I would like examples of the consciencious things that followers of god do, that non-believers cannot, and do not, do.

or. . .

2. These particular followers of god are not driven by conscience at all, but some form of coercion, like fear, masquerading as conscience.

i hear beleivers ask me that too alot of the time!!!, they are indirectly saying that the only reason that they havent picked up a gun and blasted the people around them is because they believe thay have a celestial 24 hour CCTV camera on them (god), thats a load of rubbish, if only atheist are immoral then how come we find people from all different faiths and backgrounds in prison?,
in nigeria we have a church and mosque on every street but are we the most moral people on the planet?
i live my life by the golden rule: which says do unto others as you have others do to you, this rule has been around before judaism,christianity and islam,

with or without god you have good people doing good stuff and bad people doing bad stuff
i am an atheist i still give charity to the needy, you dont have to believe there is a god looking down at you giving you heaven points for helping someone before you give charity!!, its a natural human instinct to feel for one who needs help and provide them with that help, even animals help one another, i was watching a documentary when a group of elephants came to the aid of a baby elephant just as two lionesses were begining to make their approach on the baby

That's true