The statement "If there is no God, then everything is permissible" points to a potential moral anarchy that arises in the absence of a supreme source of moral standards and accountability.

The Collapse of Morality Without Divine Authority

The statement "If there is no God, then everything is permissible" points to a potential moral anarchy that arises in the absence of a supreme source of moral standards and accountability. It implies that without a divine establishment of good and evil, the objective basis for distinguishing right from wrong is lost, which can lead to the unchecked pursuit of personal desires.

One source emphasizes that "if there is no God, then there is no immortality, no judgment, no accountability for anything, and no commandments—neither God’s nor any within oneself, that is, no conscience" (source: link txt). This fragment clearly demonstrates that the absence of God deprives a person of a moral compass and a retributive mechanism, making any actions justifiable.

Another text adds: "When a person does not have God in their soul, they do whatever they want. If there is no God, then the neighbor close to you essentially does not exist either. There exist only objects for the satisfaction of one’s own desires. Essentially, materialists think this way. For a person to truly be human, there must be a concept of sin, a concept of what is permitted and forbidden, of what is moral and immoral.

If there is no God, then the notion of morality and immorality becomes meaningless: who decided what is good and what is evil?

" (source: link txt). Here, it is emphasized that moral categories lose their meaning without divine establishment, as there is no universal criterion for defining good and evil.

In another work cited in a different source, this idea is expressed as follows: "There is only one bestial principle: I do what I want. If there is no God, then everything is possible for me! For then a person becomes 'their own God.' No morality, no social solidarity, no state laws need to be recognized: 'I' am my own infallible law" (source: link txt). This assertion shows that the absence of divine authority can lead to extreme personal egoism and self-justification, where everyone becomes the master of their own actions without regard for societal norms.

Furthermore, another text highlights the danger of moral decay, stating that "a person relieves themselves of the pangs of conscience by persuading themselves… After all, if there is no God, then everything is permissible… No one sees, and no one knows" (source: link txt). This reveals a psychological dimension to the problem: in the absence of faith, a person may gradually lose their internal sense of guilt, leading to a reduction in moral responsibility for their actions.

Thus, the significance of the statement lies in the idea that without a divine moral compass, the objective definition of morality disappears, which can result in the justification of any actions and undermine the foundations of both social morality and personal accountability. This notion serves as a warning that believing in higher values and maintaining a moral law not only gives life meaning but also restrains a person from the unbridled pursuit of their own desires.

Supporting citations:

"Although I was the one who killed the father," he said coldly and without any pity or awareness of his sin to Ivan, "the real murderer is you: because you said there is no God. And if there is no God, then everything is permissible! And, undoubtedly, it is true: if there is no God, then there is no immortality, no judgment, no accountability for anything, and no commandments—neither God’s nor any within oneself, i.e., no conscience. Live for the moment, as is sometimes said. Or, as the Apostle Paul: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die! (1 Corinthians 15:32)" (source: link txt)

"When a person does not have God in their soul, they do whatever they want. If there is no God, then the neighbor close to you essentially does not exist. There exist only objects for satisfying one’s wishes. Essentially, materialists think this way. For a person to truly be human, there must be a concept of sin, a concept of what is allowed and forbidden, of what is moral and immoral. If there is no God, then the notions of morality and immorality become meaningless: who decided what is good and what is evil?" (source: link txt)

"There is only one bestial principle: I do what I want. If there is no God, then everything is possible for me! For then a person becomes 'their own God.' No morality, no social solidarity, no state laws need to be recognized: 'I' am my own infallible law. And a person who has lost God usually embarks on the path of amorality and moral indifference. Figuratively, even in vulgar terms, this idea was expressed by Captain Lebyadkin in Dostoevsky:— If there is no God, then what does that make me, and a captain?" (source: link txt)

"One must make a moral effort; therefore, most people take another path. A person relieves the pangs of conscience by persuading themselves, beginning to lull their conscience: well, an abortion is just an abortion, everyone does it; why stir up poverty when it’s better for someone never to be born than to suffer later. This second path is the path of gradually burning one’s conscience, hour by hour, sin by sin. For if there is no God, then everything is permissible. He hit his head, buried it among the leaves, and left. No one sees, and no one knows. He took his little purse, which had two and a half hundred— and that was fine, they strolled away." (source: link txt)