To live morally,compassionately with no or "false" religion or to violently force the "true" faith on others?

Question

What is better in the eyes of both Man and God? To act with love, compassion, morality under the "wrong" religion or to violently force others to captulate to the only "true" faith- who does God (and man for that matter) favor? What about people that don't believe in God, are unsure or simply don't belong to any faith but act with great morality, and a love,respect for others? Just curious on peoples opinions and I hope I get a broad spectrum of various faiths (and agnostics and atheists) too.

Answer 1

People who behave in a Godly manner are helping to bring the kingdom of God to this earth, they are responding to the imprint of God on their souls. (I am not saying they are headed for heaven-I cannot judge that, but I wouldn't want to risk their eternal soul reassuring them that they are going to heaven)

However, people who are evil in God's name shall receive their just reward in the end.

Answer 2

Personally, I'm Wiccan. We believe in the same principles and basics as the typical Christian faith, we just believe a god or goddess or even multiple gods and goddesses. I personally accept that my faith may not be the correct one and that maybe God does exist or maybe none at all. This is just the faith that I believe. Either way, whether there is one God, multiple or none, I believe that whatever is up there will base people on their merits and that they have lived life to the fullest without harmful intentions towards anyone or anything else. And that there is no "right" or "wrong" religion. It's all about how you treat yourself, others and the things around you that matter. Not what you believe in.

Answer 3

No one should force much less violently force their faith on anyone esle. God does not condone that nor does my pastor.God would that all of act with love compassion and morality than to be labeled under a religion. To me ther is the belief that Jesus died for my sins on the cross as a perfect man free from sins and I blieve this and accept this and seek my salvaton through this. I will gladly tell other about Jesus and be vry happy to do so. I will not violently force it on any body. If peole are living with good morales kindess and the like then maybe they are listening to their hearts or souls and do have the understanding just not saying where they are coming from. I found it easier tolive that type of life with the help of our Lord than without him. People who act the way Gosd wants us to will in the end have the chance to chose for themselves as we all do.

Answer 4

I'm 55 years old and have witnessed more "atrocities" committed in the name of religious belief, than in the name of any government. Religion, which is supposed to bring us together as the inhabitants of earth, or, humanity, is slowly draining us of that very quality is was created to promote.

If there is a superior being, does it really matter what face he wears or what name he carries. The tenents of most religious communities are mostly the same and basically boil down to treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated. That covers violence, theft, tolerance, respect and all of the other commandants of both the Judeo-Christian culture and most others.

Anything else in excess of that is ritual developed by man because he imagined it would get him closer to the God figure. What honorable or just creator would ask that his adherants murder their neighbors, sacrifice their children, steal, terrorize, rape or plunder.

Even those of us who do not believe in a divine spirit, believe in the ethics and morality of treating others as ourselves. You don't have to be Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Aniamist or any other particular religion to realize that certain things are not ethical or moral. Murder, Abuse and/or Torture of Men, Women or Children, for any reason, is just plain morally repugnant to any sane individual.

To raise your children to think that this is right and just, perpetuates the insanity. Children of this type of person should be removed from their parents for the benefit of the children's future and for the safety of humanity. An old song from the stage show "South Pacific," sang, "You have to be carefully taught...to hate."

Unfortunately this is the truth. Bigotry is passed on to children by parents, peers and communities. We humans are all made of the same stuff. In fact, 98% of our genes are shared with chimps. If we keep killing each other, maybe they will take over and do a better job.

Answer 5

I believe it only matters what's best in the eyes of God, and the God I know would find both kinds of people to falling short of His standard. No one can be moral without God's grace. Even our best days won't erase our short comings or depravities. Only God Himself can remove our faults. Also, God does not force Himself on anyone and would not recognize those who do. Freewill must be allowed so that people can love.

Answer 6

Matthew 7:22 - 23

Answer 7

I, unlike many many of my Christian brethren, believe that it is not up to us to know or judge who will or won't get into heaven.

Many Christians will tell you that they know for certain which people are going to heaven and which are going to hell. I see that as hubris.

Why? Two simple statements are the bedrock of my belief:

Isaiah 55:9 "For as high as the heavens are higher than the earth, so high are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Matthew 19: 25,26 "When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?'

Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Answer 8

I believe if you are a decent person who helps and doesn't hurt, then you are moral.