can society handle a godless world?

Question

I do not believe in christianity but some times I wonder if society can handle a godless world.
I think that there are a significant amount of people out their who would probably be more likely to commit crime and be a menace to society if they weren't bombarded at youth with the idea that there is a god who punishes or rewards people according to their ways. I'm sure a lot of people who currently commit crimes now believe in god but i bet, on the whole, if belief in that kind of diety was demolished you could expect waves of nihilistic behavior.

Sometimes when I see conservative commentors like Bill o'Reilly argue so viligently for christianity and against secularism, I think that they know that christianity isn't real but they also know that christianity keeps a massive amount of people from acting less productive and more destructive to society.
What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Take faith out of the equation here, and ask whether or not people as a whole can be depended on to act in a logical fashion, using common sense. I hate to make this generalization, but no they can't. Religion was established to keep the herd in line. Unless you can find something else to replace it, most people would be lost.

I'm against religion, but I'm against stupidity more...

Answer 2

The prisons are filled with those who were raised with the idea that there is a god who punishes or rewards people according to their ways, but it didn't daunt them, did it?

There will never be a godless word for society to handle, because religion and spirituality will always be a part of life on this plane of existence.

Oh, and the "godless" people aren't necessarily the ones being destructive to society.

Answer 3

It's generally accepted that people who 'turn bad' on alcohol were really always waiting to act-out, and alcohol is simply their excuse.

I believe the vast majority of people for whom christianity (and near any religion) can "act as a deterrrent" are already looking for an excuse to conform to at least a basic (even if primitive and dysfunctional) structure for life.

It did indeed "do the trick" in our prehistory, but now the threat of damnation is just a convenient excuse.

What proper, committed non-believer could possibly fear sin, retribution, hell, satan or god's wrath? Anyone who can actually be motivated by that was a closet believer all along.

I don't think people who are so easily led have to be led by a sky bully (of any flavor)...it's more of a temporary crutch till we learn to motivate society in a more intelligent manner.

Answer 4

People defy authority, not follow it. Crime and chaos is extended by peoples need to prove what would be nothingness if it didn't involve a heresy against Christianity. If a religion that showed itself as guidelines rather than a false promise and a manipulation humanity and life could find itself easily on track. Godlessly, our worl would prosper and grow, become powerful and intelligent, but lack soul and true emotion, we have to stray away from Christianity and stop killing ourselves, I am trying to do such a thing, but am having quite a hard time in my crusade against Christianity, I need help.

Answer 5

Society would likely do very well indeed in the absence of religion. It is little short of insulting to predicate the behavior of others on the threat of divine punishment. People do have brains and they do use them. It takes only a brief experience in life to realize that failure to respect others and to live together cooperatively and peacefully is far, far more comfortable than the alternative. It does not take the concept of an angry, punishing God to teach that stealing, lying and physical assault is not the best approach to life.

Answer 6

You have missed the whole point of Christianity. There is one God who created all things and all things were perfect at that time. But he also gave man the right to chose. Man chose to sin, break the law, and so man fell into sin. Ever since, all men ever born, except Christ (God/man), have been sinful since concpetion. We know of sin because of the law which is revealed in our hearts (conscience) and in the Bible. We are all law breakers. Some sins are more obvious like the ones you mentioned. While most others are not so obvious and have no civil laws to protect against. But the penalty for all sin is death and eternal damnation in everlasting torment and separation from God eternally with no possibility of getting out.

However, God loved you and everyone who was ever lived here so much that he gave his one and only Son that whoever belives in Him will have eternal life after we leave this place. We do nothing to earn God's favor, it is a free gift, mercy and grace. But those who choose to turn away from God face are already condemend and face the judgement of God when they die.

Answer 7

That's true. I believe it was George Washington that said. The only way a democracy will survive is thru the peoples belief in their gods. I don't know the quote word from word. but i do know he used the word gods. not god, But the one thought i have is Wouldn't more people be forced to face their own hate and bigotry if they did not have a religion or old book to blame in on.

Answer 8

Actually, Christianity could do better at holding the line. By upholding some of the ten commandments and waffling on others, depending on what's convenient, they send a clear message to the world that "anything goes," there are "no true believers" anyway.

Answer 9

No civilization has every been able to exist without a god. It always crumbles backwards into chaos and cannibalism and destroys the very fiber of all existence and distance of humanity.

There must be a concept greater than man, for man to live up too, even in the most brutal of times.

Answer 10

Our morality en masse has greater. issues look worse by way of fact of concentration in the media. a lot of people think of that our international is largely a cesspool of deterioration, yet this seems an Abrahamic faith end. Screamed approximately on the pulpit, repeated by its followers. They make it sound like by way of fact our international is so undesirable, that we do want some variety of divine intervention. yet its in simple terms no longer that way. hundreds of years in the past, there have been no humanitarian companies the international over. there have been activities to butcher people. women have been seen no longer something greater desirable than basically a vessel to enhance a mans seed. there have been slightly any faculties that enforced morality.