Why can't we be good people because we want to, why do we have to be good people because "God" tells us to?

Question

I am so sick of hearing about God.
Don't cheat, it's a sin.
Don't steal, you'll have to answer to God later if you do.
Blah, blah, blah

Why can't we just behave, because it it the right thing to do? I find it sickening that humans are such an "advanced" form of life, yet we still (in great numbers) believe in fairy tales.
Does anyone else feel the same way???

Answer 1

You don't have to believe in a god to be a good person.I treat others with respect,believe in helping my fellow man,and teach my children to do the same.No invisible being scares me into doing this,I just follow my conscious.And,no I don't believe there is a god.

Answer 2

I agree. There are certain things like don't lie, don't steal, don't kill others - that are just common sense. IMO, behaving is the hallmark of an intelligent human society. I, too, have a hard time believing that people wouldn't behave if they didn't have the threat of God hanging over them. Admittedly I am a bit tired of the man in the sky fairy tale.

Answer 3

That is great and all, but history has proved that people don't " just behave". The idea that you will have to later answer to God is not meant as a mere threat but an inducement that appeals to reasonable people to reconsider their way. The only thing advanced about humanity is our depravity. No matter how much it is debated or argued against, we will all have to stand before the living God and give account of our lives.

Answer 4

in a way yes, but not so adamantly as you. God created you and gave you your ideas and thoughts and they are yours to do as you choose. if you want to be a good person, truly a good person, that is great and you will be just as much like christ as any fundamentalist. however, if you want to be bad there is a good chance you will create much hell right here on earth for your life. personally, i don't believe in hell although i do believe in heavan. to me, you have already been saved by the mercy of christ and you will be included in heavan just as anyone who tells you what a great and magnificant christian they are. but never doubt God and Christ's love for you and the power of love in general because whether you want to be a good hearted person or a bad hearted person can have a profound outcome on many peoples lives in a way you may never know. of course, though to suggest that christians are the only ones who advance ridiculouse claims; your question notwithstanding, is as close minded as the people you ridicule. if you want fairness you should perhaps take a quest for understanding and be a little more fair yourself. remember the greatest principal that christ spoke on is do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Answer 5

Ok...let's talk about "right" and "wrong."

If there is no "God," what makes "right" or "wrong?" Popular opinion? We know where that gets us - history is full of horror stories about what happens when "popular opinion" decides "right" and "wrong." Auschwitz, the Killing Fields of Cambodia, the conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis, slavery - all examples of allowing the "majority" to decide what's "right" or "wrong."

As for us being "advanced" - man is anything but. We may be the most intelligent, but there's little evidence that intelligence is actually beneficial to survival. The dinosaurs ruled 60 million years - we've only been here less than 100,000. Don't go claiming we've got some upper-hand on nature quite yet.

Answer 6

EXCELLEN T QUESTION!!!!

good bloody point.

I grew up with Bushido, which is a code of honor inherent in martial arts.
If you want to be strict about it im a buddhist...

but i was taught that we all have a responsibility to be good to each other, that its hard work, and we do it for no other reason but because its the right things to do.

There are loads of people who cannot live without the comfort blanket to tell them what to do, most in the form of religion.

sorry, not really an answer, more like a confirmation of your question.

But a good Q.

Answer 7

I don't believe in god as such, but I'm open minded to there being a god,
I believe that if you are horrible to someone then it will come back at you in some other form,
I believe in honesty and being truthful, but not if someone would get hurt by the truth,
I believe your mind and your heart has to be open to receive as well as to give
I always repay what I recieve, as well as sticking up for what I think is right

Answer 8

I believe in God but I don't believe in doing the right thing because God tells me to. I act based on what I believe is the right thing to do as a compassionate and moral human being using my own free will. Faith and your moral compass are two different things in my mind.

Answer 9

We don't have to be good because "God tells us to". God gave us free will to decide for ourselves what's right and what's wrong. Everyone has a choice whether or not they are going to steal, cheat, lie, commit murder. Sure He hopes that we will do what's right, but he gave us the power to make our own choices and it's up to us to take responsibility for those actions.

Answer 10

God had to come here to pay the cost of Sin because we don't have any way to be anything but evil. It's what we are. In order to be acceptable to God we must not have sin in us at all and you can see that none of us is good. Look at the world and what we do to each other. If you find it all just fairy tales then go your way and leave those of us that believe to our fallacy. It won't hurt you if we trust Christ. I happen to believe we have reason to believe. from the organization or our basic design (DNA) to the detailed prophecy, God has shown us that He is there. So go ahead close your eyes to Him. That won't hurt me either... Jim