How does an atheist define morality?

[AREQUIPA]

Originally Posted by PDD

If you follow this list you pretty much can't go wrong. I borrowed these from a list I saw someplace.

1. Honor your father and your mother.
   
2. You shall not murder.
   
3. You shall not commit adultery.
   
4. You shall not steal.
   
5. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
   
6. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
   

I have to admit that isn't a bad list and pretty much apes the similar moral codes devised by other human societies trying to work out how best to live together - which is pretty much the 'Atheist' moral code.

Mind I'm sure that the place I read it before went something like: Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s, Unless God says it's ok. Amen.

[Sidneytinhtut]

Originally Posted by JViello

I'm curious what dictates your right and wrong?

Nature?

Government laws?

God? (Just seeing if you are awake. )

My short answer to your question would be 'Do to others as you would like others do to you'.

Simply if you consider something you don't like to receive it for yourself would be the morality for anyone, including atheists!

[Baldrick]

I have a core sense of values. Things that i feel are right or wrong to do. Some of those may be influenced by external social forces but i think that really it comes down to what 'feels' right or wrong to you.

Those are your values, your own sense of morality.