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To be honest, I'd rather know that someone doesn't kill their neighbor because they realize it is WRONG... because they have no right to deprive another of life...not because they're worried about what God will do.

On what basis would an atheist believe that murder is wrong? In fact, on what basis would an atheist follow any moral code? An atheist can teach his children that murder is wrong and stealing is wrong, but all he will have to back that up is the law, which, in our society, is flouted everyday by even the most average people (given all of the trivial things that are illegal these days). So, eventually, any thinking children will one day happen upon the concept that, as long as the law doesn't find out, there are no consequences for illegal (and immoral) behavior. At that point, what would a preson have to prevent them from falling into temptation should a situation arise where committing an act of murder or theft would greatly benefit him, and there was little chance of getting caught?

Furthermore, not all immoral behaviors are illegal, especially these days. For instance, adultery is no longer illegal in many states, and often won't even affect the divorce conditions. What is to stop a wife from cheating on her husband, or a husband on his wife, or a third person from sleeping with someone else's spouse, if there is no higher moral code? While so-called secular moral values can be taught to these people, if there is no belief in a higher authority, these people can easily talk themselves out of any guilt or feeling of responsibility using any of the common contemporary rationalizations. For instance, wives often justify cheating on and leaving their husbands these days by saying that the husband wasn't meeting her needs. In the Oprah Winfrey school of thinking, this makes the wife the victim and absolves her from responsibility for her actions. However, in the Biblical way of thinking, her act would be a grave sin regardless of whether the husband was keeping the marriage exciting or not. Quite a difference.

Good grief. Do you really believe that only Christian societies have legitimate prohibitions against murder, theft, etc?

I'd rather NOT live next door to someone who believes murder is wrong ONLY because "God" said so. What if they wake up tomorrow and find they've received a special message from God telling them it's okay to kill and it's okay to steal? What is to stop them at that point? They've received permission from on high.