Understanding atheist perspective

[T_aquaticus (The Friendly Neighborhood Atheist)]

@1Cor15.54

“Suppose I’m an atheist and find myself in a position where I can gain maximum wealth and well-being for myself and my family—at the expense of others—without facing any legal consequences (in this scenario I have very powerful friends protecting me and assuring that I’m untouchable)…why shouldn’t I do that? Why should I care at all about some made-up morality? From my perspective, whether I live like El Chapo or like Gandhi, the same fate awaits me: a pack of worms devouring my corpse (or fire burning it to ashes). That’s it. So why choose the so-called ‘moral’ path, which seems entirely fictional, when I could secure the greatest benefit for myself and my offspring and loved ones by doing otherwise?”

He has not been able to respond so far. He did tell me that if I have empathy, I should be able to understand why that behavior is wrong, to which I replied as follows

My response was asking you to answer the question. The answer is I have empathy. I actually care about other people. Don’t you? Even if I could get away with it, I’m not going to harm others excessively. Of course, the big question is when it becomes excessive. That’s the line we all have difficulty finding.

Could I live more modestly and give my money to good causes that could ease the suffering of others? Yeah, I probably could. We don’t even need to make billions of dollars for this question to impact our lives.

@1Cor15.54

if I came to believe again (as i did in the past, before my conversion) that we live in a meaningless universe where, whether I live like Himmler or like Oscar Schindler, I end up the same way (that is, devoured by worms or burned by fire, and that’s it), I would absolutely prioritize my own well-being and my family’s well-being at the expense of others—especially if, as in the example I mentioned in the post you quoted, I could do so without legal repercussions.

Believe or it not, not everyone who lacks religious beliefs becomes a Nazi. I find meaning in this universe, and it doesn’t require religious belief.

If the only reason you are kind to others is because of your religious beliefs, then I’m glad you have them. However, not everyone needs those beliefs in order to love others.