Should you still be good if you don't belive in god?

Question

If there is no heaven or hell or any other afterlife should sill be good or doesn't it matter, as you won't suffer when you die?

Answer 1

You should be a good person whatever your religion or lack of it, because we all live here on this earth and have to function with each other on a daily basis. I don't believe in a god, but I try to be as good a person as I can, not because I fear eternal damnation, but because it was how I was brought up, to respect other people and to treat them as I would like to be treated - with kindness and consideration.

Answer 2

Don't forget that for thousands of years before God was created people worshiped the Sun. With no god (yet)they didn't run wild in the streets. Most people are in favor of doing the right thing, with or without religion. Some people live their life for death. Doing the right thing should not be caused fear of being punished after you dead. That's never been a deturent against crime. Religion makes up lots of things. If there is an afterlife (still can't be proven) you don'y have a human body, you're like a puff of smoke. You don't have muscles and nerves or a brain. So you cannot feel pain.

Answer 3

Yes because when we do bad things we seem to attract even more negative things. It's kind of like the trickle down theory. You can have good morals and values and not believe in God. There are a lot of books out there that talk about this issue. Being athiest or agnostic, you still can be a good person. Being good and having morals increases your health believe it or not. People who are negative and mean cause stress on their bodies internally which shows itself by catching colds or the flus more. You immune system will go down. It's true. Religion, spirituality, morals, and values are all separate from each other. You don't have to both, you have what you want. You make your destiny.

Answer 4

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jam 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
This is just a few of the many scriptures that show that mankind is not good, that there is judgement after death & a pentaly to pay for your sins

Answer 5

The best person I ever knew died tragically and it's sad- I've know bad people that seem to have a charmed life and 'skate' on everything. If you are neutral in your beliefs, it is still important to be a good person, treat others as you would want to be treated, we are all special and here for a reason and if there is no heaven and hell...there are still people you may leave behind that can say how wonderful they remember how you were, kind, compassionate, fair and loving. So if not for anything or anyone at all, be kind to others just for your own peace knowing you tried to live as good as you could!!! :)

Answer 6

Morality is entirely subjective. The Muslim definition of "good" is different than the Christian definition is different than yours is different than mine. I think that the Utilitarians had it right: Do whatever that helps the Greater Good.

Simply put, if a decision has to be made that could potentially harm some but help others, what is the greater benefit that is derived from that decision that helps the most people in the best way?

I think that a person's sense of morality should be predicated on who else they could potentially be affecting. I do what I do, and I am what I am, based on my pure love of others. If nothing else, I don't receive any benefit from harming another, so why would I?

Answer 7

You don't have to be God-fearing person to be good. And you certainly shouldn't be good just so you can go to heaven or to avoid hell. Good is also defined by society regardless of which God (If any) is worshipped although many of us are brought up in the teachings of God and from them, come the delineations of good from evil. So the answer to your question is 'Yes' and if we are all good, then Heaven is on Earth and is right now. And if there is a God, we all get a double-wammy in the after-life.

Answer 8

Every living sentient creature knows the difference between right and wrong. And the ancient, true followers of GOD followed GOD because it was the right thing to do, not for the promise of Heaven. Because when GOD's will was first revealed to GOD's people, no mention of an afterlife was ever made, that invention came later.

Answer 9

In some ways to be good without belief in God (etc) is the ULTIMATE in being good - you have no "incentive" (eg the promise of heaven, eternal life in Christ etc.) but are doing it because it seems right to you! Obviously, society can only survive if people do good and punish bad but for an individual to choose to do good without a religious "motive" is fantastic - and obviously it does happen; all the time! Maybe those who are religious can thank God that it does - and those who don't can realise that it benefits society and hence themselves.

Answer 10

I think its better to be good without needing the underlying motive.."if i do this good deed, im going to heaven"...you should want to do it anyway and not for false reasons, i have more respect for those who keep beliefs out of it and just do the right thing for its own sake. Even if there is a heaven, the most important place we'll ever be is on this earth trying to sort out the crap thats thrown at us.