Is it possible to be morally religious and secular at the same time?

Question

It's a very good thing that Christianity and Judaism have been secularized. In fact, we can use that to say the West was the first to develop secularism. But have we equated secularism with absolute atheism? Has Western society suffered ethically and morally as a result of the decline of Christianity? If so, how can we use the beneficial and positive aspects of religion to improve our society, while enjoying all the benefits of secular democracy?

Answer 1

It's possible to follwo religious rules while not believing in the ultimate reason for doing so. I followed buddhism and Dao for a long time even though I find the metaphysical parts laughable. But for the VAST majority of humans this would be impossible.

Answer 2

Most all of the Christians I have ever known regard secularism as demonic. The definition of secularism is "the view that public education and other matters of civil policy should be conducted without the introduction of a religious element." I personally think this is a fair approach, if we want to take a multicultural/global view of the world and how we should treat everyone. As far as improving society with religion, I think the best way to practice any religion is to be an example for people to see, rather than a self-proclaimed evangelist running around trying to convert people and judge everybody. Then if and when people say, "why don't you ever get mad?" or "why are you always doing things for people?" you can share your faith as the driving force behind your behavior. If anything, in my opinion Western society has suffered ethically and morally as a result of too many Christians being too hypocritical and judgmental of others, and then having to try to cover their own bee-hinds when they turn out not to be so perfect either, and "fall from grace." There's even a verse in the Bible where the prophet says to David after his particularly unGodly behavior in the midst of his profession of faith, "because of you God's name is blasphemed."

Answer 3

I don't really know what "morally religious" means. Can you be moral and secular? Of course. Can you be religious and secular? In my mind, religion means all the rules and regulations, so I suppose you could be so caught up in the rules that you miss the meaning and then you could just be a secular rule follower. Can you be a person of faith and secular? No. Paul tells the church in Romans 12:2 to not be caught up in worldly ways but to let God transform us and to focus only on Him so that we will know His will for us. That doesn't mean we should walk around with our noses in the air and our eyes pointed heavenward all the time. Faithful people can be kind and generous and they can have many friends, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, whatever. The thing is that we must be so full of God's love and light that we can't help but radiate it on to other people and those people can't help but see that we're different. I've heard many stories where a person wasn't stuck up or preachy, the person was just himself - the full self that God had made him to be and other people around him wanted whatever he had. Our job is to show the love of God through our actions and our character. Not through our mouths and the wonderful things we can say. It's just to let God work through us. I don't think we can fully enjoy "all the benefits of secular democracy" and be believers in God. Yes, we can still have fun but there are some things that we must choose not to participate in out of love for our God. AT THE SAME TIME - we cannot make rules and laws that require everyone in our country to follow the same moral standards that we believe should be followed. That's not right either. I don't know if I answered your question, but that's what I think...

Answer 4

It is possible to be a moral, secular person. The term religious has to do with belonging to a religion. If you are an atheist you can still be a moral person, but religion has to do with spirituality and belief. If you do not have either of those things, you are a moral secular humanist.

Answer 5

*Sigh's...Ill try to keep it short; I don't feel like typing much now.

Yes, everyone has their own concept of morality, but it is God's that counts.

Yes, society has suffered from their turning away from God.

Offer the Bible as an elective, from a historical and scientifically unbiased viewpoint. I bet many would take it, regardless of their parent's religious views, and finally our children would be learning some morality in school, along with their daily helping of liberal bull$hi+.

Answer 6

No, there is confusion about the terms but the only people who are confusing the terms are those with an axe to grind.

And for the last 300 years at least the absolute reverse has been true, every social advance from the repeal of slavery to women's rights has come about despite the oppostion of the churches.

Answer 7

Yes, most people are, it's called self righteousness.

Christianity is not based on "morality" and is not a religion (man's way to reach to God).

Christianity is God's way to reach to men, based the the moral perfection of God the son's propitiation of sin. Man's depravity, unrighteousness and God's grace to save them.

Answer 8

The U.S. of A. did for years, until the leftist started whining that they weren't getting enough attention. WHA, WHA, WHA. As to your question about the suffering from the decline of Christianity? Darn tootin it has. YBIC

Answer 9

Read Bill O'Reilly's Culture Warrior

Answer 10

Luke 16:12 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to tho one and despise the other."
These are the words of Jesus.