Atheists Quote by Guy P. Harrison
““Shouldn't it be atheists, believing they are not being watched, who commit virtually all the crimes and fill up all the prisons, while people who believe in an omnipresent god lead spotless lives out of either respect or fear? But this is far from the world we see.””
About This Quote
The statement questions the assumption that belief in a deity ensures moral behavior, suggesting that atheists may be more prone to crime, while believers act morally out of respect or fear.
In simple terms: Belief in God isn’t the only moral driver.
Key Takeaway
Consider multiple bases for ethics.
Themes
morality
religion
crime
atheism
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
debate
When to use this quote
- criminal justice reform
- secular ethics
- religious education
- policy making
Key Concepts
ethical frameworks
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- Does fear of punishment shape ethics?
- Can secular societies foster virtue?
A Different Perspective
Moral behavior is influenced by many factors beyond belief alone.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
