Is it true we need not of God to keep up with morals and live life in happiness?

Answer 1

First, you should note that there is a substantial distinction between "keeping up with morals" and "living life with happiness." If you're referring to the involvment of God in daily life, then there is no definite answer. Theists might argue that without God, we have no goodness and therefore no morality, ergo he becomes a necessity (even as they might argue that non-illusory happiness is impossible without God). On the other hand, a deist might argue that God has set up a system which does not require his continued involvment for us to function within (both morally and happily). Atheists, I think, face a tougher challenge when considering the question of any kind of morality, which brings me to my second point. If you are referring to whether God must exist for us to "keep up with morals," (assuming you believe in any kind of true morality at all) then, according to Immanuel Kant (and reconsidered by C.S. Lewis), God must necessarily exist. I won't elaborate upon the argument in all its forms here, but in short, the notion of morality denotes a 'should,' which is dependent upon the existence of some ultimate authority which has the power/right/position to declare the 'shoulds' and 'should-nots.' You could respond by saying that morality does not really exist, only a social construct designed for the ultimately selfish purpose of maintaining one's own survival and fulfilling other needs (i.e. "you don't kill me I won't kill you and we'll say that's 'moral' when really its just in our best interest"). On a side note, the deist would seem to have a hard time explaining why God would create a 'right' and a 'wrong' for the world if he has no interest in its ongoings. The term 'happiness' is also not definite. If you interpret it according to the original definition as meant by Plato and then again with the Founding Fathers (the "pursuit of happiness" and all that), then happiness refers to purpose--a direction and cause in one's life. If you interpret happiness according to more recent thinkers (such as J.S. Mill), then happiness is simply hedonistic pleasure, and it would therefore be inherently dependent upon our senses and independent of any reality (think the Matrix). In the first interpretation, you must ask how can any true purpose exist without some ultimate good to pursue, which brings us back to the question of morality and God in the first place. If you prefer the second interpretation, then God is of course unecessary for sensory pleasure (unless you want to get into cosmological arguments).

Answer 2

The meaning of life and how you live it is up to you. You do not need any religion to tell you how to live. The Existential view is that we are free to be whatever we want. What are morals though? Socrates said that we should always try to do good and not harm even those who harm us. The Golden rule is not the sole province of the religious; in fact there are good reasons for questioning whether some religious 'morals' are good at all. The answer to your question then is that we do not need a God to be moral and live a life of happiness that is up to us to decide.

Answer 3

Hello George!
It is my stand that since religions and gods were implied, morals have degraded!
Morals and happiness are above deities, especially the ones implied by rulers!
How can someone be happy if he/ she knows there is a judge/ father/ exterminators/ ... overlooking to punish him/her?
Why should we do not do bad just for god? We act because we are such not not to be punished! Logically!
And of course, when we believe that there is a god, implied by the rulers, we can not get happy, because even this is a sin!

Answer 4

Would you try to drive from NY to LA without a map. Life is much more difficult the that drive, so why would you use a personal guide and a proven book of direction about life. God will watch out for you and guide you though life if you let him. If you don't your just going around in circles and not getting anywhere.

Answer 5

Religion is the worst thing in the world to base morality on. Anything can be justified through religion. During the Inquisition religion justified torturing children to death because it's better to save their souls than their lives. If God tells a man to kill his child, it's a good thing if he complies, etc.

Answer 6

This is true of many people. Others feel more at ease or more righteous feeling there is a God supporting them in moral behavior and in joy.

Answer 7

If I understand your question correctly, I believe that to be a true statement. People tend to know right from wrong without being threatened with "hell." However, I'd keep law enforcement in place for the time being.

Answer 8

It must be true Denmark according to the latest poles released yesterday are the happiest people in the world. they base their laws on right and wrong not religious moralities

Answer 9

Happieness is not evil and shouldn't be associated with evilness. Try to live happily and stay healthy....you shouldn't waste your life without happiness. I do not mean that you should do ANYTHING to be happy. After all, to bring harm to another, be it emotional or physical harm, is simply disgusting.

As for God....that is irrelevent to your own health and wellbeing. I have no admiration for anyone or anything that brings misery to myself or another.

Answer 10

I think we need something higher to believe in. We should all question everyday, who or how was I created? Is there something more out there then what we see on a day to day basis. Take away selfishness, and replace with selflessness and you have your answer.