Are religious people good only because they fear punishment?

Answer 1

Yes. When I was a christian, I only did "good" things because I was afraid of the consequences.

Answer 2

You have to be kidding right? Do you really think religious people are good? Wouldn't you be good if you to be punished? I mean that is the end result of litigation if there is a guilty party right? Punishment is normally used as a deterrent to abhorrent behavior and as a due process payment for a crime. So you already know the answer to this question. Even non-religious people are good if under the threat of punishment. duhhh.

Answer 3

Fear is a great motivator, don't discount it as am effective learning tool. But to answer your question, no they are not good ONLY because of a fear of punishment. How do you explain the vast amounts of charitable work religious people do, there is not fear involved in those good works.

Answer 4

Wow I just asked the same thing.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApBET77zhExoa5GThduxVhhK5wt.?qid=20060722120951AAgqCh7

In a very backhanded way.

It would appear so. they accuse me of not having a moral basis since I do not follow the bible. So that says to me the fear of punishment in the afterlife is the only thing that keeps them from rape theft and murder.

They are only being good for the "reward"

Hey, doesn't Foxray43 sound like the type of guy that could kill someone and justify it by saying he was doing god's work?

Now lets read everyone's biblical quotes and conversion speeches:

Answer 5

The religious are only "good" if they might get caught. If they can get away with something, they will because they can "pray for forgiveness". Think of this bunch:

- Eugene Robinson spewing his crap about "christian morality" and winning an "ethics award" and being arrested for soliciting prostitution later that same day, the day before a Super Bowl.

- Jimmy Swaggart spewing hate from his bullshi - uh, I mean pulpit - and then being arrested for paying a prostitute. Swaggart even asked the woman if her 10 year old daughter could make it a threesome.

- Pat Robertson blathers about the "immorality" of homosexuality and abortion, meanwhile he went to South Africa to support apartheid (calling Nelson Mandela a communist) and for doing business in illegal diamonds with Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president on trial for crimes against humanity.

Answer 6

Basically. That is because they not only fear what punishment might come about in this life, but they also have the afterlife to contend with. None of them really like the thought of the pits of hell, complete with fire and brimstone, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Answer 7

I cannot buy this theory. Christians are good, because it is an inborn trait. It just takes longer to mature in some than it does others. I was 57 when I was saved, and it completely changed my outlook on life. I will never intentionally hurt anyone, physically or emotionally.

Answer 8

Forget religion.

Christ is the path of salvation.
Christ is the truth of God's Word.
Christ is the life eternal.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Christ is the tree of life.

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Answer 9

No- lots of religious people get arrested and sin. We're only human. In the end, we just need to seek forgivness and accept Christ as our savior. People need to remeber that Christians are far from perfect and that we struggle every day.

Answer 10

Not all religious people are good. Some are very judgemental and I believe they will be the ones suffering in the long run.

Answer 11

People who have place their trust in Christ don't fear punishment, we're not the ones that are going to receive it!