Not an atheist myself but I do know that most atheists are simply skeptics (as one famous one said, there are many gods that are disbelieved and they just believe one less than than Christians), not that they’re trying to justify doing anything. Plenty of Christians sure have no problem doing the most horrid things and then saying Jesus forgives them so if they just wanted to “avoid responsibility” then they wouldn’t have to reject God, and by claiming to be religious people would trust them more which would make it easier for them to hurt or be forgive by a jury of their peers for “finding Jesus” (creating the true moral nihilism because morality no longer matter, but rather belief). xAnd while atheists have their share of sociopaths right along with the religious they still see actual consequences inherent in THIS life and therefore tend to adopt a “golden rule” of their own (just as nearly every religion has done, especially modern ones). Many such atheists would call themselves “secular humanists” which are run by enlightened values, and you can find such secular humanists helping in organizations like Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders (including in Africa where they try to cure the sociopathic evil inflicted on society inspired by religion, typically Christianity and Islam).
xTherefore I see it as only fair to measure people by their actions and motivations rather than by what gods they believe or don’t believe in (as there are plenty of good people of all faiths & skepticism just as there are rotten apples).
Not an atheist myself but I do know that most atheists are simply skeptics (as one famous one said, there are many gods that are disbelieved and they just believe one less than than Christians), not that they’re trying to justify doing anything. Plenty of Christians sure have no problem doing the most horrid things and then saying Jesus forgives them so if they just wanted to “avoid responsibility” then they wouldn’t have to reject God, and by claiming to be religious people would trust them more which would make it easier for them to hurt or be forgive by a jury of their peers for “finding Jesus” (creating the true moral nihilism because morality no longer matter, but rather belief). xAnd while atheists have their share of sociopaths right along with the religious they still see actual consequences inherent in THIS life and therefore tend to adopt a “golden rule” of their own (just as nearly every religion has done, especially modern ones). Many such atheists would call themselves “secular humanists” which are run by enlightened values, and you can find such secular humanists helping in organizations like Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders (including in Africa where they try to cure the sociopathic evil inflicted on society inspired by religion, typically Christianity and Islam).
xTherefore I see it as only fair to measure people by their actions and motivations rather than by what gods they believe or don’t believe in (as there are plenty of good people of all faiths & skepticism just as there are rotten apples).