Atheists: Is stealing wrong? If so, explain why.

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As a Christian, I do believe stealing is wrong, but I also believe that, from an atheistic/evolutionary standpoint, stealing can be justified just as strongly as it can be attacked. What do you think?

atheists recognize a person's right to owning property...so i don't really get what you mean.

do you mean in the le miserables sense of stealing or do you mean someone jacking someone else for an xbox 360?


i think stealing food to survive is a different case but you'd probably be hard pressed to find someone who'd say otherwise short of absolutists who fail to see the world outside of black and white.

Property is a communal concept instituted for communal purposes. It is somewhat derived from the territorial instincts possessed by most creatures including plants to claim and use the offerings of any territory and prevent their use by an invader. It has nothing to do with religion.

Agreed. The concept of property has nothing to do with faith. As an atheist I have always respected people's rights to ownership, not because of some divine right, but because I myself wish others to respect what is mine.

also believe in a day's work for a day's pay.

Ragtime, your threads are always amusing.

Now this is really fascinating. Persons ascribing to a non-deist persuasion upholding the so called 'golden rule', or do unto others as you want done to you. It does have an undeniable logic and causality from the perspective of the the greater collective.

This raises a very provocative question. What is the more morally pure motive? A rational analysis of the greater good that indicates that ethical behavior is the best choice or fear of a grumpy god with an unpleasant place/state to stick you for all times for being bad?


Addendum:
I just realized that I have put myself into a real existential and religious crisis. I do hold that the Bible is God's wisdom BUT it says that "The fear of God is the start of wisdom" AND it speaks against the Epicurean philosophy, that the only reason for morality is avoiding punishment. So the Bible is teaching exactly what it condemns!?!?!?!?

^ Rules are written in physical documents that they can see.

Raggy good to see you back (i think). You are making the horrible mistake that religion is the default receptacle of morality. ITS NOT

let me answer your question with a short summary of the tale Rashomon (in case you haven't read it):

Stealing is a MORAL issue. Not a religious issue. There are atheists that have morals and atheists who don't. There are christians who have morals and christians who don't.

Well, "property rights" would be why stealing is not permissible. There are various theories on why and how property can come to exist.

Hold on:

Luke 6:29-30: "...and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."

Hence, Christians have an obligation to allow people to steal from them.

Stealing isn't sustainable. If everybody stole constantly, nobody would trust anyone at all, and human society would break down completely.

As Christians, I think we are allowed to defend ourselves and our property. There's nothing wrong with seeking justice for ourselves, is there?

Just my $.02