From nature. We can see the foundations of moral behavior in other animals. Empathy and reciprocity are evident in the behavior of primates, for example.

Long before God was invented, early hominids that empathized and cooperated with one another fared better than those who did not. Had the inclination to feel empathy and to engage in altruistic and cooperative behaviors not evolved in early pre-human species, we probably wouldn't be here.

All so-called divine codes of fundamental behavior were a little late to the party. We assert that it is better that we should not lie, cheat, steal or commit adultery not because some God said we shouldn't, but because we don't like it when somebody lies, cheats, steals or commits adultery at our expense!

Genetic traits and environment which includes culture, parents etc.

I have no idea what is keeping me from going through the neighborhood shooting people and yelling obscenities. I do not know why I am not the scourge of the country, since I am an atheist there is nothing to keep me from doing this. Perhaps it is because I am a human being with the knowledge that others have much to offer me and it is they who help give my life meaning.

I've never been asked that question. But the answer is my morality seems to be an innate part of my being. I know right from wrong. And I never do anything to anyone that I wouldn't want done to me.
So...do unto others.

K-MART

Morality is a subjective term and is more about geography and unrealized brainwashing that you are subjected to from your culture

I have never encountered that. Only in the US do religious people ask this ever so stupid questions and have traveled quite a bit around the world.

Why would morality come from an asshole god? If you do not want to be poked in the eye with a stick then do not poke others in the eye with a stick. This is an easy rule to follow and does not involve a sky daddy.

"As always (and as do you), from the shared beliefs within my community."

Why do I need a god to have morals. The god in the Bible has killed thousands and thousands, breaking one of that gods commandments, not sure I can be more moral than that... ‍

Common sense. Which is also, funny enough, the thing that keeps me from being religious lol

My standard answer is “from rational thought.” It tends to annoy the Bible thumpers to no end that I can think through the idea that harming or killing someone is bad.

I have heard this sooooo many times. Once at a party in my own home--my response to him is that if a skygod is the only thing preventing him raping and killing, then he should rethink that shit. Myself, I have self control, dude. Why would I want to hurt anyone else?

I have rarely been asked this, and in most every case declined to answer. Someone who would ask this question is likely to be unable to understand my answer. No need to waste time, and even worse, get a jesus lecture.

From my culture: = extended family, school, the military..... and the history of my European heritage.

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

It has severed me well and there's no comeback from it. Some have tried to say it's from the bible but... wrong.

Treating others how I want to be treated.

oh, i dunno, empathy, The Golden Rule, stuff like that...?

From the garlic that I use when I roast the babies. Everybody knows that garlic contains an extra something that both kills germs and gives morals, because "that something" kills the demons that try to infect us with bad thoughts.

So where do you get your morality from if you’re an atheist?

Amazon.Com

I buy a few boxes per year..

I think this quote by Nigella Lawson encapsulates my views perfectly....

“I was brought up an atheist and have always remained so, but at no time was I ever led to believe that morality was unimportant or that good and bad did not exist. I believe passionately in the need to distinguish between right and wrong and am somewhat confounded by being told I need God, Jesus, or a clergyman to help me to do so”.

The long answer, involves hard wired empathy, reason, cultural experience, etc.

The short answer. "From the same sources you do, except I don't try to give mine extra authority or claim they are free from being questioned, because I cherry picked them from a supernatural book. Mine are open to questions."

My morals make sense to me. I don’t steal, because I work hard for everything that I own, and don’t think it’s right just to take something from someone. I don’t cheat on my partners, because I love them, and that love means that I want them them be happy and I’ve never had a partner that was happy for me to be with other people. (But I do warn them if I’m unhappy I reserve the right to leave.)
I try and keep the laws of the land, because they are supposed to be agreed on by the people, and so it seems like the right thing to do, because those standards are what I expect from others. Sometimes I have made mistakes, I’m human.

My parents, both Protestants (who actually met in church), taught me right and wrong, not because gawd would strike me dead if I did wrong, but because they knew the different between right an wrong.They were both nurses. I think you need empathy and compassion to be a nurse and I think that those attributes contribute to that sense of moral values.

my brain