if you don't believe in God ...?

Question

Do you believe in some of the moral values taught in Christianity like honesty, integrity, and forgiveness? Would you raise your children with these values?

Answer 1

of course, you can't function in society without those.

Answer 2

Yes, but then I would also teach them that not all so-called Christians are really Christians.

Values are important regardless of religion.

Some of the most loving, honest and moral people in the world are non-religious.

It is religion that makes people hate those that are different, or make them think they are better than everyone else. It also makes people ignorant and hypocritical. Too many foolishly base their beliefs on "BLIND faith" rather than common sense. I would trust a non-religious person a lot more than I would trust a hypocrit. Only those so-called "Christians" on here that think they are better than everyone else will disagree.

If I was a business man with a large company, all of my key people would have to be non-religious. I have seen too many Christian businesses go down the drain by trusting their employees just because they are religious. In reality, they are some of the most dishonest people in the world.

Know when a guy comes by in a big nice car, you say they are compensating for something, well that is the way I feel about real religious people ... they are compensating and covering something up.

If you can raise your child without those religious negatives, you will do well.

Answer 3

Well, I hate to tell you this but morals such as honest, integrity and forgiveness are practised a lot outside of Christianity. I really don't understand why Christians are so sure that lack of their religion in a person's life automatically makes them bad. Or why they would assume that without Christ morals are not there. Honesty, integrity, and forgiveness were there before Christ - and it can be taught without bible stories. My children will follow these values, and others such as acceptance and the ability to not stereotype.

Answer 4

I have to respond, only because I want you to realize that there are many Atheist that are good people. Just because a person lacks GOD doesn't mean that they lack morales, or integrity. There are many productive citizens out there who don't profess a belief in GOD or a higher being, but they are actually good people. And truly I think that you don't really understand the whole picture anyway, while this may make you upset, the plain and simple fact is that there are alot of people out there who believe in GOD and still don't have any of the things that you mentioned. The sad thing is is that makes them even more accountable for their actions, don't you think. I have seen many so called and professed Christians on here who really are ignorant and hypocritical. Believing in GOD doesn't mean that you will have integrity, or be honest, while we would all hope that that would be the case, it isn't always.

Answer 5

Morality is determined by environment, religion is a minor factor in teaching or learning morality. If religion was a reliable teacher of morality, we could reasonably expect all religious people to have morals.

That is clearly not the case, demonstrating that religion has no discernible effect on morals.

Morals are taught primarily by our immediate environment and are continually changing based on circumstance.

The "death penalty" further demonstrates that Christianity does not value life or "forgiveness." Which makes Christians no different than anyone else.

The underlying assertion that Christians have (superior?) morals lacks factual foundation.

Answer 6

Of course I believe in honesty, integrity and forgiveness. But many behaviors that the bible teaches I find abhorrent, amoung these are slavery, closed-mindedness and child beating. I would argue that forgiveness is not a christian value. One would hardly call torturing someone for all eternity forgiving, now would they. But then christians have a way of twisting these stories in rather bizzare ways.

Answer 7

I think everyone believes in God, if not, they believe some kind of god. or themselves as gods.
The moral values are taught better if you are raised as Christian. Not others.. Because Christain belief are Faith, Hope and Love.

Many religions don't have the Love..

Answer 8

I don't think you need to believe in god to believe in honesty, integrity and forgiveness - I think they are Human values, more than uniquely Christian values. I think everyone tries to instill these values in their children also.

I am not Christian, and my belief in god is more a belief in a Universal Energy rather than a personfication - that is to say I don't believe in a "god" but I know that there is a divine energy that animates us all and I think each of us can guide and manipulate that energy as they wish. Does that mean I believe in God or not?

Answer 9

Honesty and integrity, of course. Forgiveness, I don't know. Only that these values are not based on religious reasons for me. I think honesty and integrity are important because of yourself, not because a god is demanding you to be so.

Answer 10

Honesty, integrity and forgiveness are built into the human brain independent of religious and sprititual beliefs. In other words, morality is not derived from religion or spiritualty but are normal products of the human brain like language, emotions, intelligence, etc.

Answer 11

answer me this:

if god told you to murder a thousand little kids (he has done it before, remember egypt) would that make it moral?

or would god NEVER tell you to do that because god is bound by some higher morality?

i think that there are universal morals that people can come to logically. if you just take the time to think about WHY you believe what you believe, why its moral or not, you'll gain a greater understanding of yourself and why these things are moral in the first place. god doesn't have to tell me killing people is wrong; i know that a world where we kill whoever we want is not the world i want to live in.