Principles

As a self-proclaimed Godless drowning in a sea of religious morality, I get quizzed about the nature of principles more than your average person. I've discovered that it's a symptom of being an Atheist in the Bible belt. Sometimes the questions come from zealous strangers; sometimes, a caring family member speaking across a cup of coffee. The general implication is always the same: how can one have principles, and yet not have religion?

In the past, these questions would offend me, but eventually I begrudgingly admitted that the idea of one's religious code shaping one's moral values isn't completely unfounded. Many people have argued that the ten commandments exist because humans, as inherently evil beings, needed firm divine direction. From that perspective, I've cast myself adrift without any kind of moral anchor; how do I decide what is right and what is wrong?

It can be very difficult to build a respectable argument without a widely accepted foundation. Often, I present empathy as my champion. The mandates that I admire, whatever religion they may hail from, are rooted in empathy. Jesus said it best in Matthew 22:36-40: "...love your neighbor as yourself." Empathy is in reality a very complex and intricate principle, but at it's simplest, it demands a deep understanding by one person for another. It can touch us lightly - when one feels moved to help a disheveled person to their feet - but can also grip us with immovable certainty, such as the sudden realization that one person would die for another. Is it a judeo-christian sentiment? Perhaps. But it's not exclusive to Christianity, and I don't have to belong to a religion to value it's worth.

However, empathy alone doesn't fully explain my perspective. I also hold respect in high esteem. Whether or not I agree with someone on a spiritual, intellectual, or moral level, I feel that it is necessary to treat them with dignity. Respect, at it's core, is given not because the recipient deserves it, but because the giver respects themselves enough to show kindness and regard to everyone around them. As Sir John Herschel said, "Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue." Through respecting myself, I can love other people; through loving other people, I come to respect myself.

So, what is a principle for an Atheist? Where does one anchor oneself without religion? I choose to believe in humanity, in the innate empathy and respect that we, miraculously, find ourselves capable of. I look into the waters of religion and see my principles reflected there, not because I have any belief in a doctrine, but because the people making up the spiritual bodies have noble ethics of their own that I aspire to.