Why do we need theistic belief systems prescribed to us just so we can know how to treat people?
Ethical behavior is self-evident. You don't do things to people you don't want done to you. Conversely, you treat people how you would prefer they treat you. If you're an adult, you accept that there are consequences to your actions, and consider the ramifacations before you do things. What could be simpler?
You want to know why religion persists? Because people don't want to grow up. People need religion because they need to believe there is a "grown-up" for "grown-ups."
2006-10-20 17:19:23 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Any system or even no system at all would work if everyone was perfect and had perfect information.
No-one is perfect.
No-one has perfect information.
Our secular humanist society tends to embrace the ideology that everyone can just look inside and find perfect answers and perfect motives.
That premise is flawed, and encourages those who would press for an advantage to keep pushing until they get their way, to the detriment of others and to the detriment of society.
Recent university psychology studies show that people tend towards the selfish, and will tend toward the evil if there are incentives to do so.
We all need to realize that there is something more than just the individual, our selves. There also must be incentives to do what is benificial to others and society, and at times there must be outside dis-incentive to do evil. Whether you believe you are perfect or not, grown up or not, you need it too! Whole societies cultures are influenced in aggregate by a common set of teaching of values and norms. If this is neglected, the fabric of society frays, and disintegrates.
Ideally, people respond best to encouragement to do well. Only in the most stubborn cases should a combination of encouragement and disincentive be applied.
David Suzuki had a documentary a while back about how children are socialized at an early age. The Bible was the original work that talked about this.
It is interesting that you quote the Bible (do unto others as you would have others do unto you) in your question. Perhaps you have been positively influenced more than you realize. Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
2006-10-20 18:23:29 · answer #1 · answered by Jimmy Dean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As politely as possible....ARE YOU NUTS??????
People murder, rape, steal etc etc etc every hour of everyday
How would a country or people exist if there were not clear cut written rights from wrongs. What would be the basis for justice and social order?
Religion exists because man understands he is not the center not the creator but the creation his purpose is to seek, find and then live his life in a way that full-fills his purpose.
2006-10-21 00:30:59 · answer #2 · answered by williamzo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You sound like the slightly educated, whining, early teenager. Maturity includes MORALS. When you're younger, you don't really think about those things... ignorance is bliss for you, it seems. Religion doesn't rule the adult world, so why don't you grow up and open your eyes?
BTW, I don't believe in God or any stuff like that.
2006-10-21 00:33:23 · answer #3 · answered by High-strung Guitarist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mature people do look inside themselves, and they find that they enjoy being part of a community (religion) of people who share the same values and ethical mores. Don't you?
2006-10-21 00:36:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We can't look into ourselves to decide what's right and what's wrong. One thing may be right for one person and wrong for another. We're too unstable.
Do unto others as you would like done unto you was and is a Christian concept because it was Christ who first used it.
Why look to the creation for answers instead of the creator?
2006-10-21 00:30:18 · answer #5 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you realize that all of the quotes that you just typed, can be found in the book of Proverbs, in the bible. It seems as if someone was exposed to the bible at one point or another. One more thing; it sounds to me that the one who needs to grow up is the one whining about religion.
2006-10-21 00:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by booellis 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Actually all people can look inside themselves to determine right from wrong. God clearly states that he's written the law on every heart. God bless you. ~Nise~
2006-10-21 00:33:50 · answer #7 · answered by newfsdrool 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋