Is it better to adhere to a doctrine, or be a moral person?

Question

Personally I feel that both are important, however if the doctrine is immoral, then morality takes over. Or, if we feel the temptation to be immoral then we should adhere to our doctrine if it is moral. Opinions?

Answer 1

When we rcognize that our very sense of morality - right vs. wrong - is established by a Creator, which agrees with the teachings of Jesus, then there is no conflict - as long as the doctrine is, as you say, moral.

Answer 2

Doctrine too often leads to dogma. Morality springs from genuine thought and consideration. Therefore, doctrine contains an intrinsic risk, whereas morality does not.

Morality is the better of the two options.

Now, I've asked what some people would do if they suddenly found out for certain that there was no god. Many of them asserted they would become murders and rapists and, in general, monsters. So if these Christians (not ALL, some Christians are thoughtful of their morals, I just mean the ones who so assert) need their leash to refrain from such monstrosity, they're hardly moral to begin with so at least a doctrine is something.

Answer 3

You say both are important, yet that the doctrine should only be followed if it is moral. Doesn't that mean that being a moral person is more important?

Answer 4

Doctrines are what define morality. Thus, one cannot be a moral person without adhering to some belief set, or doctrine. The two are not interchangeable - they are one and the same. The very definition of morality, IMO, is to know what your values are and to stick to them in every situation.

Answer 5

Being a good person who does good deeds...doctrine means nothing. Even if God exists, religious doctrine is nothing more than a human machination imposed by men who wish to see their own view and will impressed upon the world.

Being "good" to your fellow man is the basic humanistic tenet of almost all religions, it is above petty religious beliefs. I'm atheist, yet I adhere to a very strict sense of principles and morals I have instilled into me.

Answer 6

if the doctrine one believes to be true adheres to the laws rules and mores of the culture and society belongs then the doctrine should be accepted if the doctrine goes against them then the doctrine needs to be rethought until the doctrine fits within the guidelines of the laws rules and mores of the culture and society.

Answer 7

I would hope the doctrine people choose to follow would be moral.

Answer 8

If a doctrine is immoral then you shouldn't follow that religion, period !! You're right both are important and I believe INSEPERABLE.......... By the way , elliot, needs to apologize to the nice young girl he hurt yesterday with no cause whatsoever

Answer 9

The more I thought of that story, the more I realized that all of us are in an aquarium as we make our way through this world. Powerful magnets of temptation are all around us trying to disturb our spiritual balance and turn us upside down. Those who trust in feeling and majority opinion are easily up-ended by the strong attraction of outside forces. Consoled by the presence of so many others about them doing the same thing, they soon begin to see everything in relation to their distorted view. They reverse all the signs in order to read them better, and develop a firm conviction that they are balanced and correct, while everyone differing from them is wrong. Eventually they see wrong as right and right as wrong. Anyone who goes contrary to their perceptions is instantly branded as a fanatic or a critical troublemaker.

This points up one great truth: We cannot measure right and wrong by our feeling or by what the majority are doing! We need something from outside ourselves to tell us where the truth lies. Our impulses may be just as real as the pull of the magnet, but they could also be just as misleading. Our numerous friends may be most respectable and religious but their status stone could be linked to the same false guidance system, cleverly sabotaged by the enemy.

There is only one true, infallible status stone for the Christian, and that is the Bible. When that Word is placed in the mind, it provides a standard of truth which is always dependable. Every impulse of feeling should be tested by it. The total lifestyle, including words, actions and thoughts must be brought under the supervision of that one great directional control center. It is no exaggeration to state that most deviations from God's will today are based upon either following feeling or following the crowd.

How important it is for us to study these two powerful weapons that Satan utilized with such devilish expertise. Both of them are rooted within man's deepest psychological needs. We often overlook the fact that our spiritual enemy has been studying human nature for almost 6000 yearsѱuite a bit longer than the most successful psychiatrist in practice today. He has also experimented with our emotional weaknesses, using these to exploit us in our most vulnerable moments.

Link for more:

Answer 10

follow a doctrine and you become slave to its laws, live life as a moral person? what is morality? you should just treat others and respect their beliefs like you want them to do to you.