Critically evaluate the claim?

Question

Critically evaluate the claim that the only relevant test for any religion is that it makes the believer feel good and that it helps the believer to be good. Do you agree? why or why not

Answer 1

No that's not the reason, God said to believe in him and the one he sent! Jesus and that he raised him by his own power from the dead, now if you believe this then God will send his HOLY SPIRIT INTO YOU And that's will make you feel good that's for sure but no other religion does that, they are all rules and regulations, not Grace in Jesus name by his spirit, You need that spirit, to be born again, go read John 3.

Answer 2

Hitler was a Christian, and professed to be doing the work of God. Killing Jews might have made him FEEL good, but most moral people wouldn't consider him to BE good. Sometimes, a religion is an excuse or permission slip to BE BAD. Consider the Crusades, Inquisition, witch hunts, Fred Phelps, etc.

Answer 3

I always thought that the notion of going to Hell for eternity was a pretty dam good social control. For those whose religion entertains this notion, anyway. Old Testament is replete with laws that keep people in line--the ancient Israelites must have thrown enough stones to fill the Titanic to the main deck.

Answer 4

Religion does not help someone be good i would say it is the opposite. Basic teachings and modern knowledge will make a person be rational thinking and good. And just because it makes someone feel good does not make it anymore true. And jsut because they feel good does not justify making others not feel good. It is a stupid claim that somehow just because it makes you feel good it is somehow true.

Answer 5

I see no real evidence to that effect . Why the wars in gods name
did he validate killing and misery or is the choice made out of good feeling?

Answer 6

This is sufficient for pragmatist objectives. If one believes in "truth" then affectations of religion aren't to be considered as evidence in its favor. (Nor are the negative feelings it brings, either).

Answer 7

Well I am a Christian ....and I can tell you it doesnt always feel good . when God exposes an area of sin in my life to me( as a matter of fact today has been one of the roughest days in my most recent memory .......have had to give up a certain person for awhile.......who is one of my biggest sources of joy in an effort to find God's will for us while we spend time apart to pray and consider some important issues.)LOL. I have been crying all day!!!!!. but YES . learning to do what is good and right in God's eyes . and want to do that because I love Him because He first loved me enough to send His son Jesus to die for my sins and save me from hell. .....I dont call myself religious though . I call myself faithfull.......there is a difference between religion and faith ...and when a person has Jesus Christ living in their heart ........whether the person feels it or not .......it is Christ who lives through them . as they repent and allow God to transform that person into a new creation ...... alive in Christ.

Answer 8

I do not agree,my religion is not a test.

Answer 9

NO! There are too many fanatic religious people running around out there that are NOT being "GOOD" people!

Answer 10

The apostle Paul foretold a time when some professing to be Christians would apostatize from the true faith, not wanting to hear the truth of God’s Word, but desiring to have their ears “tickled” by things pleasing to them, and would therefore listen to false teachers. (2Timothy 4:3, 4 ; For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories 1Ti mothy 4:1However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons )
Religious leaders tickle people’s ears by condoning practices that appeal to wrong desires, such as sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, and drunkenness. The Bible clearly states that those who approve of such things and those who practice them “will not inherit God’s kingdom.”—1 Corinthians 6:9, 10What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. 1 ; Romans 1:24-32 .Therefore God, in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness, that their bodies might be dishonored among them, 25 even those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature; 27 and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.
28 And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting, 29 filled as they were with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless. 32 Although these know full well the righteous decree of God, that those practicing such things are deserving of death, they not only keep on doing them but also consent with those practicing them. Obviously feeling good is not a test of true religion as what makes one feel good very often goes againt what the Bible teaches. However, as to be expected, true religion does make one a better person. It will produce in one godly qualities that will cause them to stand out among others because of doing what is right in all circumstances. One endeavors to be clean morally, spiritually and physically.
They are better than themselves without true religion, not self-righteously better than others. Luke 18:9-14 But he spoke this illustration also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who considered the rest as nothing: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his breast, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me a sinner.’ 14 I tell YOU, This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.”