Carrie Arnold, head of the Freethought Alliance chapter on campus, said she gets her morals where most people get them.
"I base [my morals] on respecting myself as a human being and respecting others," she said.
The term non-believers is applied to anyone who does not believe in a higher authority; because of this many religious followers question the moral fabric of non-believers. Arnold, a Ball State University computer science graduate student, addressed the misconception that religious followers and their non-religious counterparts have different moral beliefs.
The Freethought Alliance is a place for everyone from all walks to meet and discuss the things they struggle with, and is one among a collection of clubs across the country working in spreading the disbelief message; Texas State University and the University of South Florida also have freethinkers or atheist groups. Ball State started their atheist support group during Fall Semester 2008.
The group meets weekly at 6 p.m. Thursdays in the David Letterman Media and Communication Building lounge.
National statistics for religiosity among college-aged students have found that some teenagers stop believing in God as they progress into adulthood, although surveys show no major increase in the number of atheist and agnostic young adults over the last 20 years.
The National Study of Youth and Religion, which is tracking the same group of young people as they mature, found that more than three-quarters of young adults taking part in the survey expressed a belief in God. The study also found that almost 7 percent fewer believe in God as young adults (ages 18 to 23) than they did as teenagers. In addition, about one in 10 young adults are also "irreligious" — or actively against religion — after virtually none of them fit that description as teenagers.
So far the only issue the Ball State Freethought Alliance chapter has run into is people who are not open, Arnold said.
"We're not trying to attack you; we just want to challenge you," she said.
The way the group approaches the question of morality is found on an individual basis, but the main basis is respecting humanity, Arnold said. She said she would rather take her views on morality from somewhere inside instead of doing something because she thinks it gives her a better chance of getting into heaven.
"I hope no one bases goodness on someone watching," she said. "There is no need to suffer in order to be a good, moral person."
Carson Bennett, retired psychology professor at Ball State, said he believes morals come from the "golden rule" of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Contrary to popular belief, Bennett said, the golden rule does not come from the Bible, although a verse with the same general message can be found in Matthew.
Bennett said in order to get the word out that non-believers are the same as everyone else, people must first be open to acceptance.
"Non-believers and believers alike are all struggling with the same questions: how can I find meaning in life? What is my basis in morals? Do I fear death?" Bennett said.
Some religious believers at Ball State agree with Bennett's message and are open to acceptance of their non-religious counterparts.
"I try not to pass judgment," Christine Searfoss, Ball State student and active member of Campus Crusade for Christ, said.
Although she agreed that many of her morals do come from her religious background, they also came from her parents' own beliefs. As for non-believers' regards to morals, Searfoss said not only do non-believers have morals, but they get them from their environment and how they were raised.
CRU has many outreaches for those who are struggling with their religion, or are trying to find a relationship with God, Searfoss said.
Similar to CRU, the Freethought Alliance also holds an open forum for discussion and is preparing to do volunteer work.
When asked what she thinks of when she hears the term non-believer, Searfloss replied, "I don't think down. I don't want to push my religion on anyone; I just want to be respectful."
Searfoss said she is also very aware of how other religious groups go about interacting with non-believers, citing the difference between "a relationship with God versus a religion." Those with religion as their main focus, instead of God, generally are the ones who condemn non-believers, she said.
Even though there are religious differences, Searfoss said she knows what is important.
"We're all people. We all have the same core," she said.
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