The Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky, once wrote: "If there is no God, everything is permitted." In these eight words, Dostoevsky encapsulates a complex theological argument, I believe. Of course, these words of his are open to interpretation, and different people will have different opinions and come to various conclusions. However, it seems to me that Dostoevsky seems to be establishing a connection between atheism - "If there is no God, [or rather, no belief in God] - and antinomianism.
The term antinomianism is derived from the Greek prefix, anti, meaning "against", and nomos, meaning "law" [or "custom"]. In its general sense, it denotes lawlessness.
As I interpret his words, Dostoevsky seems to being saying that atheism leads to lawlessness. Dostoevsky seems to view religion as functioning as a sort of damper, or check, or brake upon human conduct. His claim seems to be that religion is needed in order to impede and hold back lawlessness; without the idea of God [or the fear of God], people's conduct and behavior would enter into a downward cycle of ethical nihilism, depravity and debauchery. Basically, people would think to themselves - "Well, since there's no chance of my being punished after I die, and no prospect for eternal reward, then I may as well do as I damn well please."
However, throughout history, the converse has also been true; that's to say that there have been people who claim that they do anything they please precisely because they enjoy the benefits of God's "undeserved kindness" [i.e. "grace"]. They feel that their sins do not "accumulate" like those of other people in that all the sins of believers are forgiven. So, could it be that both atheism and intense religious belief can each lead to antinomianism?
Antinomianism is a more specific, theological sense. In theology, the term designates the idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented by religious authorities. In its theological sense, antinomianism is diametrically opposed to legalism - the idea that obedience to a code of law is necessary for salvation.
Religious groups and sects very rarely claim that they themselves are antinomian. However, various religious groups often claim that other sects and groups are antinomian. The term, antinomian, becomes an epithet that one religious groups hurls at a competing religious group.
Above, I mentioned the terms "ethics" and "morality." It should be noted that both terms are derived from Greek words meaning "customs" or "norms" [ethos and mores, respectively]. What is "moral" or "ethical" is often simply what is the accepted norm or custom.
So, Some questions that I would like to ask are:
1.) Do you agree with Dostoevsky?
2) Is there a connection between either theism (or atheism) and ethcis/morality? If so, what is the connection?
3.) Do ethics and morality issue from religion? Or rather, is it the other way around: is relgion in general based upon a pre-existing moral or ethical sense that is innate among humans?