If Christians are only moral because of belief in God, are they really moral?

Question

I'm agnostic, yet I have a strong sense of morality, what is right and what is wrong. I enjoy helping people because it makes me feel good and I see that the well-being of mankind is for the best of society.

So if you depend on a crutch such as religion to be a moral person, are you really truly moral in the purest sense?

Compare it to this - if you have natural 20/20 vision, you don't need glasses. If your vision is less, or you are farsighted or nearsighted, you wear glasses to correct your vision.
But just because you wear glasses, it doesn't mean that you naturally have 20/20 vision.

So my question is, If Christians and other religious sects are only moral because of belief in God and expectation of a great reward, are they really moral?

Answer 1

"Moral" behavior is never real when under threat of punishment... that's called duress. When you choose what is right, even when no one is looking, that is moral behavior.

Answer 2

Christianity is not necessary for morality to exist. Morality is about wanting to live a good, decent life. It's about kindness, and generosity, and love. You don't need to be Christian to live that.
Some Christians are truly moral, and some aren't. It's the same for anyone of ANY religious persuasion. Some people claim morality, but then are vicious and cruel to those who don't believe what they believe, or have lifestyles that hurt no one, but don't go along with how THEY think people should be living their lives. I don't call it morality when someone displays anything other than complete and total kindness...no strings attached.

Answer 3

Being moral is not synonymous with being Christian. There are many Christians who are immoral. There are also many non-Christians who are immoral. There are many people who have no knowledge of Christ at all and are still moral people who have scruples. One need not know God to act morally, and one need not denounce him to be considered truly moral. To act in a Christian manner does not mean that you are only doing so because of a promise of eternal reward. I feel good when I help other people. I also feel good when I see other people doing good deeds or random acts of kindness. So, am I doing these good deeds only because they make me feel good, and if so, doesn't that make me as much as a hypocrite as someone who only does it to go to heaven?

You make God out to be a fool if you think he would not be able to tell the difference between a selfless act and a selfish one.

Answer 4

Most think they need religion to be moral. Yet the bible is filed with hate. The truth is most would be a good without religion. Personally I became more moral after doing away with religion. I decide what is right or wrong Not a priest. There might be a few which are no able to lead a moral life without religion.

Answer 5

I think you are being a little judgmental toward "religious" people....first of all not all people are that are into God or their faith are "religious", secondly......why would you assume that all religious people simply do moral deeds because of a belief in a reward or a punishment? Many people of faith are just like you and have a basic sense of morality that lies within. They do good because it will better future generations or another member of mankind,or because it feels right and just. Many Christians I know not only have a basic moral value, but their beliefs play in like this......We go the extra mile or study the bible, etc... because we believe God gave us instructions on how to live our lives not to make us necessarily fear hell, but because he loves each one of us and he knows what is best....hence calling him father in a sense......it's not to control us and have us do things just because he says....but more to help us live a life that will make us happy and prosperous and glorify him. That's just me....and that's cool if some people aren't into that.......just please don't make such a blanket generalization about religion, it's a little offending.

Answer 6

Being moral doesn't make you a Christian and being a Christian doesn't make you moral.

God sets the moral standard and by obeying Him, we live moral lives. In the areas that we refuse to obey God, we are not moral.

There are people who are not Christians or religious but have morality. Morality is a believe system that gives you rules to live by.

Answer 7

I understand where you are coming from. I commend you for your statements yet; though you consider yourself moral can you say you are 100% moral? Jesus said to a man, who sounded just like you, if you are truly moral, sell what you have and give to the poor. It was because God knew where he was not moral.

Morality is not just goodness without. 100% morality is in a person, the Person of Jesus Christ. Until He comes to live in your heart, you can only come up to man's standard of morality. God living in a man is the only source of true and absolute morality.

Answer 8

No, those who bypass by using God's observe, do no longer fall on separate facets of an concern....those who imagine gay rights, gay marriage, abortion and so on....are issues that God would approve of, are not any further Christians...we've a variety of of so referred to as Christians who've under no circumstances cracked a bible...a variety of of people claiming to be Christians in the Presidential race have not a clue what God's observe says on those subject matters...they gained't get the conservative vote,,i will allow you to recognize that...we recognize a phony when we listen one...

Answer 9

You are right, a healthy mind does not need any sectarian religion. God is not a fool to get flatered by these useless prayers. He expects all his children to be non sectarian if at all he exists. Being a good human being is the true spirit of religion.

Answer 10

It's not because of belief in God, it's because they recognize that God is their creator, and because of love for Him. They wish to do nothing that would hurt his feelings