I learned good values as a kid going to church. I wonder if I could have learned good values by not going to church.
2006-08-23 09:33:47 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First off, common sense is not that common.
Secondly, if what is right is determined by the individual, then there is no objective standard for what is "right". If I determine that it is "right" for me to take your stuff, jaywalk, use the "N" word, then it would be "right for me" and how could anyone else say differently? Under what basis could you have any law of any nature?
Those who do not follow the notion of an objective truth often put some sort of higher authority into the position of determining right and wrong, usually the "government" or "society" under the Social Contract Theory. In my mide this falls into the same problem and creates an Infinate Reggression logic problem. If the government gets to say what is right and what is wrong, then would dissent at the government ever be allowed? If the government said that noone with brown eyes was allowed to drive, it would be perfectly legal and moral if the government is the source of what is legal and moral.
Therefore, I fall into the camp that says morality, values, and the determinaton of right and wrong come from a Higher Power. Under Christian thought, this is communicated to nonbelievers as much as to believers through Common Grace, which is the conscience. Dep down in our sin depraved hearts, we all know that it is wrong to kill people, take others things, etc. Some of us can easily ignore this feeling of right and wrong, but it is still there.
2006-08-23 09:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure church was not the only place you encountered "good values". Did you have to be polite in school? Did you have to respect your parents? Were you taught to open doors for people? Didn't you have to give up your seat on the bus to the elderly? Did you actually learn to say "Bless you" when someone sneezes in church?
What values DID you learn in church that you didn't also experience in everyday life?
And how do so many people who go to church regularly have such bad manners?
2006-08-23 09:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Part of it is innate. Part is learned by the people around us. That's the same way you got your values, but for some reason you think you got them from a book you didn't even know how to read at the time they were formed.
2006-08-23 09:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by lenny 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm athiest and I can definantly tell you that you don't need religion to teach good values. I go by the 3 main rules:
1. Is the action/thoughts good for myself (e.g. does it bring positive consequences).
2. Is the action/thoughts good or neutral to others (e.g. does it bring positive consequences or doesn't affect others)
3. Is the action/thoughts good or neutral to our environment (e.g. does my action significantly change the environment in a good or neutral way).
If all three are good or neutral, then I believe that it is a good action/value. However if it brings bad to a living, breathing person, then its considered bad.
Also I do want to say that not all religious values are good. I believe religion sometimes in circumstances teaches intolarance and hate--and thats something that we all need to get rid of.
2006-08-23 09:42:54 · answer #4 · answered by graduate student 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't learn anything in church, because I paid no attention. What a yawn!
I got my good values from a Crackerjack box. Must have.
I didn't get them from my parents, because I didn't listen to them either!
2006-08-23 09:39:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists aren't the only people who don't go to church. Morals come from your conscience and the things your parents/family/friends teach you.
2006-08-23 09:37:16 · answer #6 · answered by krd12 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I learn my good values from observing life and understanding that I owe my life to the world. I am not a good person because I fear hell. I am a good person because it is the right thing to do. It is wrong to be selfish. And it is selfish to be good out of fear. It is also selfish to be good to enter Heaven.
2006-08-23 09:36:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Common freaking sense
If you could not learn values without church you are either a retard or very, very shallow
2006-08-23 09:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
For some reason, you needed to be a lemming to know that killing another person isn't a good idea?
Or that taking something that doesn't belong to you is wrong?
I'm guessing you'll need to have your hand held all through your life...
2006-08-23 09:36:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Common sense. A good upbringing. You don't have to believe in god to have good morals and know right from wrong.
2006-08-23 09:40:25 · answer #10 · answered by *karasi* 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋