Just because you can stand on a soap box and spout your beliefs does not make you any more moral than anyone else. It is your actions that define you, not your belief in a religion or in God.
2006-11-20 04:41:14 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I just read the posts to this question and I am surprised, pleasantly, by the number of religious believers who responded from thier arm chair and not the soap box....and I apologize to anyone the tone of my question may have offended. I have been reading these posts too long!!!
2006-11-20 07:07:10 · update #1
I don't believe I'm moral because of my religion. Religion and morals are two different things. A person could be an atheist and have morals. I believe I have good morals because of my behavior, the things I do and how I treat others. Such as regardless of a persons religion or lack of I would never try speaking down to them.
2006-11-20 05:38:31 · answer #1 · answered by MJ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a big difference between religion and believers. First, religion is a type of practise you follow. It does not define who you are and how you treat people. Being a believer, does not mean that we are any more moral than any other person. We Christians and Non-Christians are all sinners. Its how we live our life, to glorify God, that defines us. For example, if you saw an old man sitting at the side of the road, begging for help and you clearly saw that he was starving, would you help him? I would, not because it would make me feel self-righteous, but because God has changed my heart and I genuinely care! We never know from day to day what will happen in our life. So, having said that, I want to treat people the way I would like to be treated, that is the values and morals that God teaches us. To love all people, we don't have to like the way each other lives or like what we do, but God does instruct us to love unconditionally as He loves us.
2006-11-20 12:59:49 · answer #2 · answered by swtsoulsearcher 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's not that simple.
The religions that developed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel taught (teach) that there is no other source for moral behavior than divine authority.
And the morality expressed by those religions is rather...situational.
The idea that one can live a moral life not based in divine authority comes fom the Greeks, who also invented secular law.
BTW, this is where the "battle" is being fought. It's not a battle between cosmic forces of good and evil, but between what we have inherited from two very different traditions, each of which have been incorporated into Western thought.
2006-11-20 12:58:45 · answer #3 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let me outline the assumptions you just made:
1) ALL religious people think they are moral, but not only that, that they are BETTER than everyone else.
2) ALL religious people stand up on a soap box and "spout" their beliefs to others.
3) ALL religious people are hypocrites because they do not practice what they preach.
4) NO religious people comprehend the fact that in order to claim to be moral they must actually BE moral.
Did I miss any?
Good grief....
2006-11-20 12:46:52 · answer #4 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Religion aside no one has the right, God given or otherwise, to judge another person. That is God's job. All you can do is live life to the best of your knowlegde. Treat others as you yourself would want to be treated. Stand up for those who can not stand up for theirselves, and pray to God that you're doing the right thing. Morals are different for everyone. Me personally, I don't want to be lied to regardless of my feelings. I would rather have the truth hurt, then be told a lie of any degree. I was raised in a Baptist church, but now I do not attend a church of any denomination because, when the time comes I honestly believe that I will not be judged on whether or not I was in church every Sunday and Wednesday. I'll be judges on what I did in life, and how I spent my life. The way I see it a church is NOT the house of God, the great outdoors are. You can find religion anywhere, what you choose to do with it is up to you!
May God Bless you and your family.
Gentle_Hands
2006-11-20 12:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What defines what is moral?? I haven't heard much agreement on that subject. I believe that my actions are to be judged against what my God says is right and wrong. I think that is very clear. I see the harm in the things God says are wrong. I see the damage caused by so many things that people do. To me, the morality laid out in the Bible seems right. That is the only standard by which I want to be judged. I don't claim to be any more moral than anyone else. I am only going to be judged by God, so I have no need to tell anyone else about my ability to be "moral."
2006-11-20 12:45:12 · answer #6 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let me ask you a question:
It's 1938. I am a Gestapo officer. You are a German Jew.
"Why should I not kill you?"
What is the answer?
Because it's wrong?? No. Don't forget...it's 1938 and I am a Nazi...and I have the right to believe what I want. You are a Jew. A rat. The scourge of the earth. The reason the German people are suffering. Those are my beliefs. Der Fuhrer says kill you...
Why is it wrong??
There is no proper atheistic answer, because if there is no God, no moral absolute can exist.
The answer to "why should I not kill you?" is obvious and the only true moral one: "Because God says it's murder. Thou shalt do no murder."
Get it? I didn't think so.
2006-11-20 12:48:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Definition of "Moral":
of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical (Amer Heritage Dictionary)
Religious people are concerned with principles and distinctions between right and wrong. Therefore, they have morals.
EVERYONE stands on a "soap box" and tells others about their morals everyday. Your question is a perfect example. Your morals compel you to ask this question. The question is, what morals do you adhere to?
But, you are correct that ACTIONS backup your morals. This is called integrity. Integrity is of supreme importance.
.
2006-11-20 12:46:21 · answer #8 · answered by nbasuperdupe 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We are ALL sinners - Christian or not. I do not judge others - I'm not qualified - only God is. As Christians, Jesus has directed us to spread the Good News so that others may be saved. We do try to follow God's rules and hold ourselves to higher standards. Sometimes we fail, but after we fall we do get up and try again to do what is right.
I'm sorry if someone has obviously turned you off with a "holier than thou" attitude. But please don't paint all Christians with the same brush. As a whole I believe we have the best of intentions and aren't trying to judge you. We are saved by GRACE not by deeds. We talk about sin and encourage you to turn away from it and to turn to God because we want you to share eternal paradise with us! God bless.
2006-11-20 12:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by WonderWoman 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because their moral code is set up by an outside authority and not their own will. By conforming to their code they show love and respect to the Being they believe gave them the rules. An atheist has no such authority just their own feeling on what is right and what is wrong. Jim
2006-11-20 13:33:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋