Presumably there are a lot of atheists who do believe all three of these things:
1. God does not exist.
2. Objective ethics do exist.
3. Objective ethics do not come directly from the mandate of a friend, a companion, or another human.
1. God does not exist.
2. Objective ethics do exist.
3. Objective ethics do not come directly from the mandate of a friend, a companion, or another human.
Where for example do they derive absolutely objective goals from?
Surely not sustenance in the sense of food so I presume it's what we usually call meaning? People might get it from whatever fulfills them. For many it's giving back to the community in some way. It's not something I was told, more something that feels right and would scale well if everyone did it.
What are absolutely objective goals here? Are we talking about what do I want to be true at the end of my life? Staying healthy, looking back when you're old and not regretting a lot, being part of and respected by your community, those things. What would be a goal that God would suggest one works toward in this context. Can you relate that to what you have in mind?