Abstract
How and why do individuals who do not believe in God, and were raised by nonbelieving parents, and grew up in majority nonbelieving societies engage in prosocial, altruistic behavior? Based on in-depth interviews with seventeen individuals who engage in such endeavors and are 1) atheistic in orientation, 2) were raised by people who did not believe in God, and 3) live in a society where the majority of people lack a belief in God (Estonia), this qualitative analysis explores the motivations, values, reflections, and experiences of thoroughly secular, godless people who engage in voluntary activities that help other sentient beings, alleviate their suffering, or increase their well-being. These non-believers do not draw from religion in any sense as they engage in altruistic activities; most have a difficult time articulating their values, as they are taken for granted and seldom if ever need to be explained or justified; all find their altruistic activities rewarding.