Many Americans claim to derive their morals from the bible, and believe that is what they are, no questions asked. According to Oxford Dictionary, morals are defined as a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. Nowhere in the definition is it stated that morals come from God. They stem from the individual, their experiences, and are influenced by culture, time period, context and social norms. In a country founded on basic Christian beliefs, such as America, it is untrue that one needs religious guidelines to be moral and contribute to society.
Noted philanthropist, Hollywood starts, and atheist, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have lived their adult lives without believing in God, or following religious guidelines, and the facts support that their contributions to society are equal to, even greater than in some aspects to those whom follow religious guidelines. The couple is affiliated with 39 different charities/foundations. (Celebrity Crowd Funding: Brad Pitt) In 2009 alone, they donated 4.9 million dollars to charity. In 2006 gave 1.95 million dollars to the Make It Right Foundation (provides homes for working families affected my hurricane Katrina). The couple donated $480,000 to the city of Joplin, Missouri after it was hit by an EF-5 tornado in 2011, as well as $700,000 to children's cancer research, and $1 million to the United Nations Pakistan Emergency fund. (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Donate 4.9 Million to Charity) Pitt, having grown up very religious never agreed with the teachings he was faced with, and attributes his moral code with the need he sees around him. Much like Pitt, I believe that morals and how we treat others stems from the things around us- the needs we see, as well as the hard-wired human desire to create happiness for others and ourselves at the same time. Another prime example of contribution to society from a nonbeliever is the technological advances, and charity work from by Bill Gates.
