2006-08-03 07:09:21 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, you are right: Christians have a monopoly on righteousness, and not only that, on holiness as well. Of course, I don't have to tell you that Christians are holier than atheists, that goes without saying.
But what about other religions? They are holier than Buddhists cause they have a lot more holy stuff than Buddhists do. Buddhist have incense and orange robes and that's about it.
And what about the Muslims? Well the Muslims only have a prophet and an Allah, that's it; whereas Christians have Prophets (learned prophets), saints, priests, and all kinds of holy rituals.
What about the Jews then? Christians are way holier than the Jews, cause they have all the Jews' stuff like prophets, commandments, covenants, cherubim, etc, -- plus they have all their own holy stuff besides, including Jesus. And everybody knows Jesus was holier than Moses.
All this adds up to a monopoly, pretty much. Why do you ask?
2006-08-03 07:26:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Christians have never said that we control who is righteous, so your question presupposes something that is false. What we teach is that there is a God. God decided what is right(eous) and made laws based on this We all have broken these laws. Because of this none of us is righteous. None of us deserves to go to heaven. Because he loves us, God became flesh and lowered himself to live among us. Jesus came to pay our penalty. Jesus died so that we may live. He rose up again to show us that we will also conquer death. He told us what we must do in order to live with him for eternity.
Now you ask if someone can be righteous without following God.
You first have to know what righteous is. It is not doing the right thing more often than not. To be righteous one has to be perfect. Only those too little to know what sin is qualify. Even if we are good by man's standards, we are filthy by God's. No a single one of us can claim to be righteous on our own. It is only when we admit this and rely on Jesus to pay our penalty that we have any righteousness.
2006-08-03 14:34:14 · answer #2 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean righteous... just be a good person?
I am a Christian - and I just try to live to please God. The only reason that I would be considered "good" or "righteous" in His eyes is because of Christ's death for my sin.
No monopoly there...it's a free gift - just take it! It's available to all. The only way we are "righteous" is in HIM.
2006-08-03 14:19:30 · answer #3 · answered by Kare♥Bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People can be self righteous, but in the eyes of God they are sinners.
I guess Christians have the monopoly because they have accepted the worthy atonement for sin.
So in the eyes of men anyone can appear righteous, but in the eyes of God only those who have Jesus are righteous.
Here is a outline for Christianity:
http://www.pbc.org/library/series/10307
2006-08-03 14:18:24 · answer #4 · answered by happymrzot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think anyone can be righteous, I don't think you just have to be Christian to be so. I don't think it's easy, though, for a person of any religion. To be righteous, I think you would have to not only strongly believe and be passionate about your beliefs, but also strongly follow and uphold those beliefs in your life consistently... I don't think I do that, yet... I don't think most people can do that, yet, but I imagine most people would like to, regardless of religion or non-religion. Basically, I think it's a matter of truly walking the talk, which is hard to do.
2006-08-03 14:14:30 · answer #5 · answered by xenomorph_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes people that are not Christian can be just as righteous as any Christian. Blessed be
2006-08-03 14:19:03 · answer #6 · answered by Ravenhawk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither the Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, control righteousness, only God, but he says that none are righteous. And the only way to righteousness is by belief in Jesus Christ.
2006-08-03 14:14:38 · answer #7 · answered by Billy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God, not Christians, define righteousness.
The bible says nobody is righteous, not even Christians. But the achievement of righteousness is still a goal we work toward.
2006-08-03 14:14:08 · answer #8 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course! Moses, Abraham and Noah are just a few examples of righteous people who weren't Christians.
2006-08-03 14:14:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Righteousness is the ability to discern and act properly when faced with a 'right or wrong' situation.
It's not a Christian value, there's no monopoly. It's a Christian desire.
2006-08-03 14:14:46 · answer #10 · answered by jacolo87 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋