If there was no religion, no God/s, would we still know right from wrong?

Question

If so, then whats the point of it all?

Wow, okay, this is why I told myself to forget this religious cr*p for awhile but, anyway, since I have to explain myself further, what I meant to say was, do we need to have religious laws to tell us right from wrong or can't we just use plain old laws minus God? What's the diff? By the way I believe in God, whoever she is. :)

Answer 1

Absolutely.

Religion and God(s) are not responsible for our development of a "moral compass." Morality is determined by society and as society changes, so do morals.

The Marquis de Sade stated it nicely, "Moral science is simply geography misconstrued." What might be acceptable in Los Angeles would be considered wrong in Bangkok and vice-versa.

Many have suggested that religion is an invention in order to lay a moral framework. If you think of Santa Claus and the threat of no reward if you didn't obey your parents, you can see the similarities.

And to your question of "what's the point of it all?" I'm not sure what you're referring to - but if it's "religion" then you could always go with what Karl Marx said: "Religion is the opiate of the masses."

He was stating that the promise of a "great reward in the hereafter" kept the worker (proletariat) in line and complacent with their station in life which then benefited the wealthy (bourgeoisie).

Definitely good stuff to think about and discuss with a group of friends :-)

Answer 2

Everything all people believes is improper to a few measure. The reality calls for perfection, and that doesn't exist. People who've overtly looked for the reality all their lifestyles, could have extra of the reality, than people who have not ever discovered a rationale to take a look at. Intuition is the experience that's used within the non secular subject. Science can't use their materially centered senses to appreciate the non secular. Psychics honestly do realize a little bit approximately the non secular, however are made a laugh of, on the grounds that they do not have a superb connection. A superb connection does now not exist. In the long run in conjuction with a higher intuitve experience, we will be able to have used hypnotism, and dream research, to increase even extra our abilities of the non secular. We could have the quality and most up-to-date in non secular suggestions, and coaching technigues. We will realize plenty extra then, than we all know now. That does now not imply, we should not have a few reality now.

Answer 3

The Golden Rule is pretty universal. Treat people with respect and consideration and they'll do the same for you. I don't need someone with a stick and a carot to be able to remember that.

As for meaning, it's overrated. Have you watched any TV lately? Pretty meaningless, yet people watch, and even talk about it. Sometimes life is just life. To expect validation from the universe just because you have feelings and memory is rather arrogant. I find meaning enough in trying to leave the world better than when I came in.

Answer 4

I'm reading a book called Social Intelligence.

In it, the author mentions a study where a group of monkeys could get food by pulling on some chains. They brought in an additional monkey and when they pulled the chain that gave them the most food it shocked this one monkey.

The monkeys *stopped* pulling that chain. Some choose to pull another chain (that did not shock the monkey) even though they got only a little food. Others, stopped pulling the chains completely (and thus stopped eating) for days.

Bottom line, they felt *empathy* for the seventh monkey and were willing to make sacrifices not to harm him.

Obviously, no religion was involved in this 'moral' behavior.

That said, religion is not strictly about morality, it is about transforming the mind. Moral action is one *process* that allows you to transform your mind.

Answer 5

You have hit the nail on the head, with great accuracy.
What IS the point of it all?
I am a long-term non-believer, an atheist, for at least 50 years now. Do I know right from wrong? Of course I do. I know how to lead a civilised and law-abiding life. It's not difficult. I do not need a fantasy world of false promises to frighten me into behaving with civility.
You are on the right path. Keep going.

Answer 6

I have no religion, and I know not to kill or steal.

No religion has a monopoly on morality, no matter what some of the charlatans out there may preach.

The Christians had a code of morality, as did the Jews, as did the Hindus, as did the Sumerians.

Today's religions didn't really invent anything new. They just took common sense and framed them in religious texts.

As for what's the point...well, that's a good question. Some cynics believe that the point of religion is to coerce people into acting the way they want, rather than enforce a common morality.

Edit: I am somewhat amused by Sean's comment, but mostly it saddens me. Sean's outlook seems to be that without someone to tell him how to live, he would resort to violence and crime. A truly moral person doesn't need religion to be moral.

Answer 7

If you are saying this in a historical context, you need to realize something:
If it weren't for Judeo-Christian morals, western society as we know it would not exist.
People may know right from wrong, but without religion, there is no real motive for people to do what is right. There are a lot of non-religious philosophies that try to come up with reasons for doing what is right other than religion, but they can't. It's really kind of sad, how people run away from God... It seems like they want to justify what they do, so they create their own gods.

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure I know right from wrong and I did not learn it from any religion. We learn from our own actions and the consequences of such.
Religion has their own perspective of what is right and what is wrong and we don't need them to force that upon anyone, so in that sense religion is not needed, in my opinion.
What matters, I believe, is what works for us and what does not. Only individuals are capable of determining that about themselves, as they know themselves best.

Answer 9

Yes, we would still know. As children, we are instructed in the ways of right and wrong. Not because we know of God or have a religion, but because our parents understand how to live righteously, so that's what we are taught. There are a lot or MORAL people who don't go to church, have a religion....but they do believe in a higher power, but it may not be God. So, yes in my opinion, we would still know right from wrong.

Answer 10

Yes, Right from wrong is taught by parents, grandparents, peers, teachers and own inheirant nature. There isn't a valid point ...that's just it. Religion is even hand me downs... You become what your dragged in and forced to listen to....Depends on where you came from, then later, kept or toss away