As a Christian, the bible lays out what's right and wrong. For an atheist, how do you determine what's right or wrong? I know some atheist have morals too. I'm just curious how they determine what's good and what's bad. Is it based on your conscience?
I am also a Christian and I am also curious about the benchmark atheists use to determine right and wrong. But suffice to pay that human beings have a conscience and what is referred to in the holy writ as the law written in the heart. Atheists operate on the premise that man is intelligent enough to know what is good and bad. This is not necessarily based on morality but on raw cost-benefit analysis mantra.
I don't see how it is at all a mystery. As an atheist I always try to not do things that hurt humans, sentient beings, or the environment. This is based on the very obvious fact that I don't like being hurt and other people and sentient animals won't either--and we all live on this planet as will our offspring so we shouldn't track it. If that begs the question of why I care if other people are hurt, the fact they are demonstrably the same as me is sufficient to demonstrate that they deserve the same consideration as me. Morality is not based on God necessarily, and it is not based on cost:benefit, it is based on empathy and logic. One might assume God is using the same reasoning when giving out guidance to people as to what they should and should not do. If he did exist and did create all this he wouldn't want it trashed either.
I think that it depends on the person, but as you've said the most logical thing to do for them is based on the morals they got from their environment. Which I think that are pretty much the same everywhere: respect other people, be generous, etc. I think that the only thing that change is the way that you perceive that those actions are going to affect in your life.
I don't agree with your premise. If Christians determine what's right and wrong from the bible, why do so many choose not to do the right thing? Only .1% of prisoners are atheists. All the people working in pornography or at abortion clinics, and all the millions of people who have accounts at Ashley Madison can't possibly all be atheists. And arguably, when people who believe in the writings of the bible go against those writings, they are going to go to hell as result. It seems to me that even with a bible or other holy book to guide your way, it hardly seems to matter. So I see no difference in how an atheist decides what's right or wrong. We all, as human beings, have experiences and outside influences that color our decision making.
I'm not an atheist, but rather agnostic skeptic who is open to spiritual claims. But the answer to the question is pretty straight forward: we live in a physical word, with physical repercussions for our actions. The guiding principle would be what produces the most well-being for us humans. Beyond that, there are plenty of philosophical systems that provide guidance on ethical questions that have nothing to do with a particular theological system. Regarding the Bible as a guide to ethics, there certainly some high points, particularly in the Gospels, but there are also problematic "ethics" such as slavery, misogyny, and genocide.
Hmm lets see. I decide what is right or wrong by: 1. The way I was grown up. (what my parents taught me) 2. Logic. (I actually think: "Hey, what would doing this mean? Why should I do/not do it? What is the point and what is the outcome? How will it affect myself and those around me?) 3. My past experiences. (ie. learning) You decide what is right and wrong by... and this is according to your own words: 1. What someone wrote in a book a few thousand years ago.
The fact is , the evolution of societies brought with it the evolution of morals. Religion was not the creator of morals but societies created morals and religion as well.
I started my meditation 20 years ago, as an atheist and today, i speak about all religions. because, during worships, I found atheists and other religions have same destiny. I believe true atheist or any religion's follower can't determine, what's right and wrong. Its human who decide what's right or wrong because, before any religion, human word comes first. Religions are made for humans. humans are not made for religion. some people, who seeks path of strength, knowledge etc. they always have choices on their way, because they create place for choices. weak humans have no choices. so honest opinion is, Human who can see, what makes him strong inside and what makes him weak inside. this way he can determine what's right or wrong for him. from which religion he is, don't make any difference.
Simple. Learn it from others, and as you mature ask yourself if you would want to be treated in the way you may or may not be planning on treating others. Problem solved.