Would you join a moral religion?

Question

If there was a religion that wasn't about prophets, Saviors, God and other stuff but just a series of rules for living a healthy live perhaps with the occasional story interpretation on the more difficult rules to make it more accesibly. I.e. by saying you are of the moral religion it could mean that
E.G.
1) We believe that the killing off a human that doesn't want to die is wrong
2) Stealing is wrong.
3) People have to right to enjoy their sexuality...

Pehaps not these rules but a simple set of codes that allow people to know what your world views roughly are?

Answer 1

You might want to investigate some of the eastern 'religions' (by definition perhaps better described as 'schools of thought'), particularly Taoism. Many have thought similar to what you suggest - often predating the more theistic religions like Christianity.

For a great introduction to Taoism, which really is a fantastic guideline for life in my view without being in any way demanding, I would heartily recommend a book called "The Tao Of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff; it explains the Taoist principles in simple, effective terms through the characters from Winnie The Pooh! Check it out if you can.

Answer 2

The whole concept or notion of morality is dependent upon a set of standards that are or were designed to benefit mankind individually and as a whole society. Religion is all about creating those standards by which our lives are guided. To have a moral standard of living and call it a religion without the notion of God seems contradictory in that without God, there is no religion, for then it is only a philosophy. Philosophies have a tendency to change with the societal views of the day. Religion, based upon a Godly standard, does not chane. Thus, all morality was based upon God's standards of right and wrong as recorded in the Bible and other works. Even the non-Christian religions were originally founded upon the same principles of right and wrong. Adam and Eve taught them and Noah and his sons taught all the same things to their descendants. When their children went astray, the basic notions of right and wrong continued into their various apostate versions of religion and philosophy.
Could man create an ungodly, yet moral religion? I don't think the terms are compatible.

Answer 3

No, because if all your religion does is give you a set of rules to live by, then it doesn't give you any hope at all because you aren't going to follow those rules 100% -- probably not literally, and definitely not in spirit.

In Jesus' day, the Pharisees thought they were doing okay because they believed they adhered to all of God's commandments, including the big ones like, "You shall not commit adultery." Then Jesus came along and said, "So you haven't actually slept with another man's wife. So what? If you've looked upon her with lust, that's committing adultery in your heart, and that's sinful, too." (At which point I'm betting a lot of Pharisees went, "Ulp! He's talking about me!")

Religion isn't supposed to just provide a person with rules to live by. An honest person would realize anyway that, whatever the rules are, he/she has already broken them. So the real question is, "What do I do now? I broke the rules. I failed the test. What hope do I have now?"

Answer 4

how about the prime directive in star trek? Its a moral code that keeps folk fair and honest, with strong sanctions in law against any kind of prejudice whether towards organistic life or artificial sentient life. It also prevents cultures that perceive themselves as advanced (in relative terms) interfering or influencing cultures with different values, customs or technologies. And all from the mind of a writer. Yep humans can have a moral religion without bringing God into it. Lets face it, religions are man made anyway and only bring god into it like he's a big brother who'll hit u hard if u dont do as ure told.

Answer 5

It's not really a religion if it doesn't include any sort of supernatural concept. But, I do loosely associate myself with secular humanism...which is close to what you describe. But, I wouldn't want to join any organization which had a rules which were set in stone...morality tends to change over time and between cultures.

Answer 6

a good theory, but i ask you if a person wants to enjoy life and have morals of thier own definition, why do they have to commit or label themselves to a religion or group? why cant we just be the person we are supposed to be.
for this ''perfect religion'' in the end would only be up for its own interpritation just like the bible has over the past hundreds of years. nice thought and i wish it was all so simple.

Answer 7

Absolutely not. I am amoral. Why? Because morality can change according to societal norms. What is moral to me might not be considered so in your environment, or in Iraq, or in Mosambique. I feel it would bring justice to the world if moral laws be done away with by any and all means, leaving us with laws removed from societal prejudice.

Answer 8

NO
morality and faith is something i beleive is vital.
no "cult" can be healthy.... common social norms and perameters are what should encourage values within ourselves and our communities. (primary socialisation)
religion can and does encourage division
individuals need faith in themselves and to take responsability for themselves relying on nothing and no one else in order to grow heathily...... this however is curtailed by the current overwhelming and disintigrating nature of society itself.. and it is snowballing. negativity and destructive attitude bombardment from the media is feeding this and as we live in a money orientated capitalist society it is unlikely that the people with "power" will put a stop to it.

Answer 9

Why?

That's the fundamental question. If there is no God to serve why would you want to??

Answer 10

if its not about god or prophets etc, its not a religion.