If everyone obeyed by the Golden Rule, would there be a need for religion?

Answer 1

Trixi,
There is no need for religion at all. Religion is a man made system of behavior and beliefs, loosely based on the teachings of God. Jesus said, that all of the Law, hangs on loving God, and loving your neighbor. When you see that we are all one people, and that everything you say, do or think comes back to you, you will treat your neighbor well.

Answer 2

Just because everyone obeys the Golden Rule doesn't mean they wouldn't commit other sins so yes there would still be a need for religion. And another thing, you can't have the Golden Rule with religion.

Answer 3

This is a philosophical question!
I believe that man is fallen (sinful, incapable of being good enough), and therefore unable to meet God's requirements of righteousness to get to Heaven after death. That is why Christ died...to redeem man from an eternity of death. That is why the Christian religion is necessary.

If man was NOT fallen, then man would be basically good. A basically good man would be able to live by the Golden Rule (Do to others as you would have them do to you). And therefore, no...we would not need religion.

However, because man is not basically good, we are selfish. Just look around at children. Are they basically good? Do they share toys when they don't want to? No...man is definitely selfish, even as children. We are not able to live up to the Golden Rule, even for a few hours on our own.

That is why we need God...that is why we need Christ's redemption for our unrighteousness. The Golden Rule is a standard we should TRY to achieve, but not something we can achieve on our own without the Spirit and Redemption of Christ.

Answer 4

There are a lot of religious people that don't believe in the Golden Rule.They are the ones that always tell you that you're wrong if they don't agree with what you believe,and a lot of them will boss people around and try to control them.Not ALL,but there are quite a few.Just look at your answers.Ok,now to the point.The Golden Rule doesn't always work.There are people that like to be treated in ways that some people wouldn't,so it's better just to respect someone and not intrude into their person life or harm them intentionally in any way.Really doesn't have anything to do with religion,though.People need religion because they need something better than life to believe in to keep them sane.The thought of death is less scary if you believe you will go to Heaven or get a chance to come back to learn your lesson over.Goodness,that's a complex question.You're making me think.

Answer 5

It is Ironic that :the golden rule" predates christianity by thousands of year and is found in many other religions and most non religious philosophies throughout the world and history.

Jesus did not invent the golden rule, the Buddha said it 500 years before, and Indian and Chinese sources state it going much further back. Early christianity just plagiarised it like so many other of it's doctrines from pagan and secular sources.

Answer 6

This is a really good question. :)

My opinion is no, there would be no need.

Of course, my opinion is also currently no, there is currently no need for religion. Religions tend to be dogmatic about what they teach, and will teach false ideas if it promotes their faith. For example, at least 3 of your answerers erroneously believe that the Golden Rule originated with Jesus, which is completely untrue.

The "golden rule," sometimes known as the "ethic of reciprocity," predates Jesus by many, many centuries. The first known writing of it is (I think) somewhere between 1900 and 1600 BC in ancient Egyptian writings. Both Plato and Socrates talked about it in the 4th and 5th centuries, BC, and even Jesus himself didn't claim to be the originator of it -- he was just repeating Jewish laws from the old testament. (Lev 19:18 was written WAY before he was born).

Some people will claim anything if it helps boost their idea of their faith being the One True faith.

Answer 7

Sure there would; religion is much, much more than a means of inculcating moral behavior. In fact it hasn't been very successful in doing that, sad to say! Religion is all about getting right with one's Creator, the Big Boss. In my religion that means accepting Jesus (who gave us the Golden Rule, btw) as my Lord and my Savior.
Blessings to you!

Answer 8

The so called golden rule is a religion. A religion is when you have to do something to please God. Grace is when God does something for you. That what He done when the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as a man and died for your sins on the cross. It is a free gift all you have to do is believe and trust in what He done for you. Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Answer 9

You don't need Jesus, religion or faith to know what the right thing is and do it. I've met more none believers that follow the "golden rule" than believers.

Answer 10

We don't need religion. We need a relationship with Jesus, not a set of dull, meaningless rituals we repeat day after day, week after week. Where do you think the Golden Rule came from anyway? It came from Jesus.

Answer 11

Which golden rule is that?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

OR
He who has the gold, makes the rules.

I think the second one is the basis of a lot of religions.