As a thought exercise... just think about it. What would be your basis for determining 'good' and 'evil'. I mean, basically, can you call someone who doesn't believe as you do 'evil' even if they are the kindest person on the planet? Doesn't it make more sense to villify those who would do you in for their own gain?
You can take a kind, humanist approach to your relationship with others and still reach a sense of peace and goodness without trying to subscribe to any particular human institution (like a 'church'), right?
If nothing else, take a moment and think through things as if there were no God... for good or bad, it may be useful to examine your belief structure.
Not a sermon... just a thought.
2007-01-12 14:10:23 · 21 answers · asked by justr 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Lots of people have a strong moral code without believing in a god. In fact, it's entirely possible that the moral codes came first and the idea of a god came later. Why not?
2007-01-12 14:14:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe in good or evil, only right and wrong.
See, if we notate something as "good", then it must have a parallel - "evil". However, the parallel to "right", is "wrong", and that makes more sense. Here's why.
Suppose that a man has lost his job and his child is dying and needs antibiotics, but he can't afford them, and no one will lend him money. Let's say this same man steals the antibiotics, thus breaking a commandment. Is what he did wrong? Yes. But, he did it for the right reason. What he did, doesn't make him "good" or "evil", it just makes it an ethical dilemma.
In the Bible, the people of Saddam and Gomorrah were "evil" because they acted like they lived in present day Las Vegas. Got smote them all down except for Job, and told he and his family not to turn around, or they too will turn into a pillar of salt....well, his wife turned around.
So, the Bible is saying two things. Evil people who do wrong are supposed to be smites. Also, if you don't do what God tells you to do, you will turn into a pillar of salt. Personally, I am Roman Catholic, went to Catholic school, and majored in Religion...and I think it's all horse ****. It's very doubtful that God would just smite people down for being bad, and then turn some curious woman into salt for looking.
Christians have killed off other religions for centuries. However, they were persecuted once too...especially in early Roman times. In the Old Testament, the Jews are the chosen people. So, who is right?
My guess is this. Live your life. Be nice to people. Treat others as you would like to be treated, and all that malarkey...but most of all, have some fun. Visit Vegas. Steal antibiotics for your kids if you are poor, and deal with the consequences later. We all have our demons and skeletons in the closet. Let them stay there...a higher power knows about them...just like Santa.
Live life by this prayer: "Dear God up in Heaven, stay there, and I will stay here...which is sometimes nice."
And live by this motto:
Take the good with the bad
Always Smile at the sad
Love what you have
But remember what you had
Always Forgive
And never Forget
Make your mistakes
But never regret."
You should all do just fine.
2007-01-12 14:28:23 · answer #2 · answered by funtasticfool 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can base good and/or evil on just that. Knowing good or evil may or may not be connected to god and/or the devil. It can be connect to the human race.
Teaching a child to be nice is taught to so the child will be nice and have people be nice to them. we do not, most of the time, tell that child, be nice because god says so. we say be nice because you are suppose to be nice.
If there was no god we could still have a bases of good and evil based on just being good or evil beause it would be what we want it to be.
2007-01-12 14:16:28 · answer #3 · answered by LadyCatherine 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Such a world would have an ever changing basis for good and evil, because it would be a world without purpose. Therefore, we can logically deduce that a Godly society would have more moral stability and a broader ethical definition.
2007-01-12 14:15:06 · answer #4 · answered by KrazyKat 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Then there would be no God, yet good and evil would still exist on one plane or the other. God is our hope for the ultimate good. At least that's how I look at it.
2007-01-12 14:19:37 · answer #5 · answered by Laela (Layla) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is about the third time tonight.
What is good for society is what is good. You should act the same way you want others to act.
Every religion has about the same sense of morality. Know why? Because it comes from humans, not god.
2007-01-12 14:16:21 · answer #6 · answered by Alex 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
OMG! Even supposing there is no God is wrong! Do you think we just fell out the sky we have had come from somwhere. Some must have created us.
2007-01-12 14:28:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ridiculous. Can not even go there.
As for calling someone evil that does not do bad, a kind unbeliever that is, they are really only unrighteous, not evil.
2007-01-12 14:19:34 · answer #8 · answered by avaddohn-Apollyon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your trying to get into the head of an atheist, good luck.If there were no God (source) then there would be no creation. No you. No me. No universe. No Internet.
2007-01-12 15:05:12 · answer #9 · answered by Del C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My basis for what is good and evil? Treat others as you want to be treated. Sure, Jesus said it, but so did others before Jesus was ever born.
2007-01-12 14:18:28 · answer #10 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋