if as some of you have said, " you can't have morals without believing in god." then why aren't all atheist criminals and why are some criminals believers?
2006-12-11 08:55:53 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually, statistically most criminals are believers. Even taking into consideration that there are more Xians in North America than Atheists, Per Capita there are more Xians in prisons than Atheists.
2006-12-11 09:00:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No where is it said that you cannot have morals without God. Morals are something that is taught in the home.
Being a christian is more than just knowing right from wrong. It is faith in all that you do, it is serving the Lord.
Yes men and women do awful things and then end up in jail or in a mess, normally this is when they start praying and come back to the Lord. I would think that many of them knew him before. The ones that did not well then some of them do when the chips are down. We are all sinners, it takes hard work to not be naughty and to do the right thing.
But if you turn it all over to the Lord all things are possible!
There are few atheist as a true atheist is suppose to not believe in anything and yet most of them believe in themselves which make it nil and void for them to be a true atheist.
Even if you are a atheist you would still have the ability to make a good choice in the things that you do in life, would you not?
God Bless
2006-12-11 09:05:59 · answer #2 · answered by ChristianNanny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and I think that that statement (you can't have morals without believing in God) is incorrect.
Everybody, whether they realise it or not, has morals. These morals are based on their beliefs, knowledge and also how they have been brought up.
Christians beliefs are obviously based on God. Therefore they have Godly morals.
That's not to say other people can't have them too, it's just Christians have a relationship with God and feel lead by him, while others have just "picked" them up.
Just because somebody is a Christian, it doesn't mean that they are perfect. We have problems! The only difference when we have problems is that we can call on God to help us and save us.
All atheists aren't criminals because they have morals too. Even if they aren't always the right ones.
Some Christians are crims because, although they may have morals, God doesn't stop us from making our own choices.
2006-12-11 09:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by bezzy_mack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they do have some morals.
I am a Christian and I think one CAN have morals without personally believing in God.
How ?
Well, I do believe in God.
And I believe in what the scripture at Genesis 1:26 says about us humans being created in Gods image. In other words, we somewhat reflect his qualities.
In Romans 2:14,15 it speaks about that natural law, that is our conscious, which, functions as a standard of moral.
This conscious can be trained, right or wrong. So a persons conscious is influenced by ones enviroment growing up and onward.
Now, whether a person believes this or not, is a choice. But I do believe this. So everyone can, even a non-believer, have morals. :o)
2006-12-11 09:18:35 · answer #4 · answered by volunteer teacher 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, my brother I think you would have to offer that question to those who think this way and ask them to explain it. I for one have never taught this and I am a Catholic priest.
However, let me offer some insight into this question. The mistake is to believe that morals are the special product of Christianity. The gift of making right choices from an informed conscience (which is morality) is in all of humanity and not just Christians. Hence, the deeper meaning to the phrase in Genisis that man was made in "the image and likeness of God." The Buddhist, Hindi, Jew, Athiest, Islam, Wiccan, etc. etc. can and does make right choices. And so, it is within all and not a specific religious group.
This is not to say that man is the source and standard of morality since this power is within him. Nor is the society he lives in its source. We know from our human experiences (both personal and as a species) we have made ignorant and evil choices before. So, the ability to choose what is right is from a absolute souce, which is God. Therefore, it is not of our own making and is a gift to man.
Yet, with this gift of making right choices there are a myriad ways of understanding how it is to be exercised and that is through one's culture and religion. So, a Christian and other world religions may have similarites, but their cultures do shape what they believe is morally acceptable. Still, it is important to realize that culture or society is not the standard or guide for determining what is moral or not. As St. Augustine states, "A thing is still wrong even if everyone is doing it. A thing is still right even if no one is doing it." That determinant comes from a Supreme Being who gives His divine law, which is understood by us in Natural Law, and is even further understood in Civil Law. But it all begins and ends with God whether one believes in God or not. I hope this offers some insight. May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john
2006-12-11 09:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by som 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The explanation is that God created all of us to be good, not evil.
The natural law (human instinct?) was written in the heart of every man by God.
Man went off the track when he sinned, became corrupt, and found himself unintentionally enslaved to Satan, sin, and death.
God sent his son to restore things.
Thanks to Christ, mankind is no longer under the dominion of evil, and now, even unbelievers are able to make free choices, and often do what is obviously good.
Then again, humanity is good, not perfect, so even believers sometimes make poor choices, and end up in big trouble.
The Christian nature of western civilization used to set the tone for good behavior. That seems to have changed in recent times, and today's standards of morality reflect that fact..
2006-12-11 10:00:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most atheists know right from wrong...and so do criminals. it's the fact of actually BELIEVING in THE ONE AND ONLY GOD that's the point. Immorality is a sin...everybody sins, the fact of the matter is actually asking for forgiveness of that sin that makes us "believers". and the most AMAZING fact of this is that God sent his VERY OWN son to this Earth that we live on and DIE so we can have that opportunity to ask for His forgiveness of that sin, so that when we die physically we will LIVE spiritually in Heaven with Him! it's an amazing feeling my friend!! :) anymore I'll b glad to answer!! God loves you soo much!
2006-12-11 09:22:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, that is a very difficult question. i am a christian and I have never told or herd as a mater of fact that you cant have morals without believing in God, but Good things are from God. that is the only way I know how to answe your question.
2006-12-11 09:45:20 · answer #8 · answered by honkytonk honey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has given everyone a SENSE of right and wrong, that's why most people agree on certain things as being wrong. The difference is that the Christian has the Spirit of God in them, guiding them to be more like him. Christians' desires become more like his. But as long as we are alive in the bodies we WILL sin, sometimes to the point of breaking the law.
2006-12-11 09:02:30 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's simple, human nature, no one is perfect, of course thier are criminals in EVERY religion there is, and their are some really good people in a lot of religions, but is any of that going to get you to Heaven? We need to believe in God go to Church and follow His commandments.
2006-12-11 09:28:35 · answer #10 · answered by lalalala 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋