why bother with ANY religion?

Question

when u just live ur life by your morals. i treat ppl as they treat me, i dont belittle ppl and i help anyone whenever i can. i dont need a bible or any other religious book to tell me how to live my life or do good. im i just alone in this thinking ?

who cares where u go when u die. i live life for the present. am not dissing other ppl's faiths i just think the majority of us has inbuilt morals and know wots rite or wrong and are generally good ppl who dont need a book to tell us how to live

i believe in no faiths other than human nature. when im dead im dead but no one can say i was a bad person

well praticia if there IS a life beyond this and my family arent there to share it with me because they were deemed to be bad then i wouldnt wanna be there without them. id rather have eternal sleep

many many thanks to all who answered. i expected abuse so i was very surprised i didnt. thank u. be hard picking a best answer from this

Answer 1

A lot of Christians argue that without religion, you have no reason to behave. Like, the only reason anyone would ever keep from killing anyone else is to avoid going to hell.

Which, if you ask me, who here has the kinder heart:

The Christian, who does good things so that they can get into heaven? Who doesn't kill people, because they are afraid of hell?

Or, the atheist, who does good things knowing that they may never see any reward? Who doesn't kill people, even though they may never be punished for doing so?



If the Bible is the only reason you have any morals, I feel really sorry for you... Because that means you're incapable of deciding for yourself what's good and what's bad, and that you are incapable of critical thinking when it comes to morals.

Some people say that the bible is the only source we have for morals. This is just plain not true. What about societies where Christianity is not prevalent? They do just fine without a bible to follow. What about in the Dark Ages, when bibles weren't widely available? Did people then just do whatever they wanted, all the time? No! We don't need the bible.

I entirely agree with you.

Answer 2

Well, it would depend on what you define as a religion. If you mean a sacred book and a lot of people who get together once a week to refresh their commitment to a particular creed or group, then clearly many of us do not need that sort of thing. But I think almost everyone needs a basic view of what "Life, the Universe and Everything" is all about. If it is a philosophy, it probably does not involve any ritual or symbolism or creeds. But if it does involve these things, in whatever form, then it is generally called a religion.

Symbolism takes over where language leaves off. Things that cannot be accurately said in words are said in symbols, sometimes ones that are misinterpreted by virtually everyone except those who are schooled in their use. And most people do think of religion as a group thing. But remember that it can also be a very up close and personal thing. Modern neo-pagans, for example, have a very eclectic, do-it-yourself attitude toward religion, using whatever symbols and rituals, music and dance, and so on, that suits their purposes. Whatever works, I say.

Answer 3

I was like that. I never read the Bible, nor any other religious material for that matter. I lived a good life, treated people with respect, didn't judge others, you know, all the things that make you a morally good person I did. But I never did it because a book told me to.

The idea of Christianity used to frustrate me, I never understood how people could say they were christians and then do and say things that they did and said. This really turned me away from Christianity for a long time. In fact, it wasn't until about a month ago that anything changed for me. I was talking to a good friend about Christianity and faith, and he showed/told me how he feels about the Bible, and it made sense to me.

I guess, since I accepted Jesus Christ into my life I've been, for the most part, a happier person than I ever was with Him not in my life. That's why I bother, because something happened when I accepted Christ, I can't explain it, but it makes each day a little better.

Answer 4

No, you're not alone but one of a few! I'm this way.. I am surprised there are not more people like me!

I don't feel you need a book or a religion to be a wonderful person. I don't believe in hell and people always ask me, "Well, how do you know right from wrong if you're not worried about damnation?" I tell them, "Should the threat of hell be the only reason people do good and treat each other right?" No, of course not. It should not be the motivation behind doing good. I do good because I WANT to do good.

A good "golden" rule that applies to just about everything comes from Wicca (I'm not wiccan, just agnostic):

"An it harm none, do what ye will"

Answer 5

Your question is very interesting. Actually, you might be right in all you're saying.
One thing though: you say that you don't care where you go when you die. Well, some people do care.
What if you're wrong? What if there's a life beyond this? What if there is a hell where you really don't want to be. What if there is indeed a heaven with a God so merciful, beautiful, loving where you would REALLY want to be? What if there's actually hope and love beyond your imagination?
THE question is: WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?
I think that there is much to be gained and nothing to lose (nothing that really matters at least).
(I would really like to hear your answer, this is an honest question: what do you think you would lose if you start believing in God, in Jesus?)

Answer 6

Problem is, even though people know what is right and wrong, they still end up doing wrong. People can be selfish, greedy, immoral, materialistic. We just cannot help it. Hatred, anger, jealousy, ambition that doesn't care who gets stepped on. All typically human traits.

We have no control over our lives, because we cannot control what happens around us. Our fate is not in our hands. Try as you might, you cannot be what you want to be. You might want to be a Holywood actor, but if you don't have the looks or the talent, watcha gonna do? How can you be a world class footballer with two left feet?

When we were created, we were created with good things and bad things. We have talents, skills, and things we are just no good at. When we "find ourselves" we can be truly fulfilled and satisfied with life.

The point is, God knows what we were designed for. He did the designing. So, if we trust God, He will help us be all we can be. He can use circumstances to guide, train and develop us,

That's how my life has been. I have gone from loser to leader in less than 30 years. All thanks to God.

Answer 7

I'm sure you're not alone with this thinking and I sometimes think the same way, but a religion is more than a frontage for a book to tell you how to go about living your life.

The crucial point is that each religion isn't just about day to day living but also what happens in the afterlife and how 'where we have come from and where we are going' is perceived.

Answer 8

Studying religion has shown me that I'm not the only person on Earth that thinks that Humans could benifit from a little morality. So what if the Bible was written by Tribal Jews for Tribal Jews. The message still hits home... you know, so ling as you don't get hung up on the symbolism.

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Answer 9

Belief in a higher power is self supportive motivational method. It allows you to readily accept the day to day trials and worries more easily and quickly determine what your best course of action is. In my youth I thought I could go it alone, and did so for years, but not up to my full potential. Since I gave myself over to the care of God as I see him/her my life has been much better than before. I gave up alcohol,drugs and have a much better world view. I don't worry about tomorrow or things beyond my control simply because there not controllable. This may not work for you and maybe it will . the only hard part is BELIEVING IN GOD'S WILL!

Answer 10

No you're really not alone in your thinking, I was very much like that once myself. It only changed when God himself touched my life in a way that meant I couldn't deny Him any more. I wasn't raised in any faith and I had no time for Christians, but when I was called I was changed instantly. My depression was healed with nobody praying for me. I have to say now, Christianity isn't an easy option, it's hard work fighting for my beliefs, but God showed me the truth and if it's the truth, then it has to be told no matter how crazy I sound.