God believers, if the belief in God is causing order in society, why do we need police?

Question

Plenty God believers think without the belief in God, people wouldn't have consequences for their behavior and the world would be horrible.

Which society would be more peaceful

A. A society with mostly God believers with no police or judicial system

B. An Atheist society with police and and judicial system

The USA is majority God believers. Imagine this country with no police or judicial system

Answer 1

Yawn.

Answer 2

It doesn't really matter about belief in God, its a question of whether or not there is an existence of God. Christians believe that we are created with the understanding of what is right and wrong, that it wasn't a coincidence that we all know deep inside that there are laws of nature.. not by happenstance.

Constantine basically hosed the entire Roman empire while simultanously throwing Christ followers on the wrong path for the next 1200 years, simply by combining Christianity with politics. Before that, Rome still had laws against wrong things, they still punished people. The government is an institution that serves to bring peace to society, but the laws come from somewhere. As a God believer, I maintain that without God there would be nothing to legislate... because then we are just creatures of chance without ultimate purpose.

Answer 3

A belief in God is not what drives people do be good. It is a devotion to that belief which allows people to think things over. You cant just say "God believers," you need a more clear definition. It would be the same as if i said that society B, the police were inactive. You cant expect people to follow the law if there is no reason to.

If you believe that society requires a physical presence to remain in order then you are wrong. The problem is that most so called "believers" only label themselves as such. A society full of devout believers, who were actually true to their beliefs would be just as well off as a society with a physical enforcer to maintain laws.

It doesnt matter what you believe, the fact remains that true believers actually practice what they believe. You say that the majority of the US consists of "God believers" but that's just a label, and its a label that most people dont live up to.

Answer 4

Option A does not guarantee a society without crime. Remember that god-believers are forgiven for their trespasses on others. Hence, we will still need a police and judicial system to arbitrate.

Also please look at the statistics of the makeup of the current prison population. You will find that there is an over-representation of god-believers in that population compared to general society. I think you will probably need a larger police and judicial system to deal with a society of 100% god-believers.

Looking at the same statistics, you will find that atheists are under-represented in the prison population, so that if we assume 100% non-believers in a society, we should do with less police and judicial system.

Answer 5

The key word is *MOSTLY*. As long as there is free will, there will be those that oppose what is right. Even if you start with only one, that person will persuade others to join his cause. In Humanity, the revolution is far outweighing the ones that follow the truth. Hence, all the religious debates over a single sentence that includes the word "Christianity". It's all a matter of opinion.

To answer your question, B. It doesn't matter which religion (or lack of) you choose, humanity needs police and judicial laws, because of the forementioned free will.

Blessings

Answer 6

See, I think you have it backwards. I live right in the buckle of the bible belt. I have religion forced down my throat all the time. When people find out that I do not believe in any form of organized religion, I am treated like a leper. I have endured this since I was 8 years old and started asking inconvenient questions about the Bible during Sunday school. Oops. I probably shouldn't say any of this since I am pursuing my teaching degree. I wouldn't be hired any where around here if it got around I didn't believe in Christianity. See, there you go. I am the one who could be unemployed due to my beliefs. Are you? No. So what are you complaining about?

Answer 7

Although most americans are God Fearing the fear of a super power or punishment in the hereafter is not strong enough to stop one from committing heinous crimes. It is a punishment that will happen much later after death.

The judicial system works better at keeping peace in society. It can show and demonstrate the punishment for a specific crime immediately. We tend to fear what we can actually see a little more. The only fault with this system is it diminishes the moral code of society. It does not instill morals or provide a reward system such as heaven.

Answer 8

I've never heard any Christian suggest that their be no police or judicial system. Also, the people who set up the American constitution and government were Christians. So without God and Christianity, this country would be worse, just like the Middle East which is full of hate and chaos.

Answer 9

I'm an atheist/agnostic, but I think religious people would argue that the belief in God gives people morals and keeps them from raping and pillaging like a bunch of wild baboons. I don't think they would argue that the belief in God will eradicate sin, so we would still need police because people are fallible even if religious.

Personally I think they just don't want to admit that if you steal, kill, etc. you will piss off society and you are probably going to get your face bashed in by someone else. I think that's really what causes the natural laws of society, but God believers wants to think there are some supernatural forces at play. It's just evolution mixed with cooperation mixed with survival of the fittest.

Answer 10

WHAT YOU DON'T GET IS THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BELIEVING IN GOD AS IT DOES THE PERSON. Just because someone believes in God doesn't mean that they're good. Questions like this are stupid. You have good people and you have bad. There are great Atheist and there are bad Christians, it all has to do with free agency.....not GOD. I Don't blame GOD because there is a hateful Christian, who doesn't have a clue how things work anymore then I don't hate Atheist because they choose not to believe in GOD. I choose my friends by how they treat me, and how I feel when I am around them. How they treat my kids. I have had both Atheist and Christian in my home. I call myself a Christian yet have other Christians tell me that I am not a Christian because of my beliefs, is that because of GOD? NO....GOD can't make people do anything that they don't want to do, just like your parents couldn't get you to do the things they asked if you didn't want to do it. You are you, you have choices that no one can make you do but what you want to do. don't blame GOD OR PEOPLE"S IGNORANCE of either or......people are NOT PERFECT! the only PERFECT PERSON I KNOW OF IS GOD AND HIS SON!

Answer 11

Oh Black Atheist, I'm a Black Christian! Was there not the need for law and order even in the days of Christ on Earth? People believed in God since Adam and Eve were created haven't they? There were always soldiers, or some group whose duties were to quell violence and keep order, all while living a Godly existence. God in His Infinite Wisdom knows these things and made available people with the desire to do these things. He even knows that you do not believe in Him, but He loves you and keeps your path in line with Christians in hopes that you will come to know Him! If society were MORE Godly, we would still be in a sinful existence because it is MAN's nature to sin. NOT God's! As for option B, I'd rather live in a nation of suicide bombers. At least THEY know there is a God!