I have heard many say that they are basically good people and believe that they are going to heaven but are not a member of a specific religion. The questions is:
What standard do you base your Good and Evil on? How do you know what makes you a good person?
If you say society, you must realize that most of our laws are based on Bible laws. Murder is wrong "Thou shalt not kill".
So what do you base your morals on if not some type of religion?
2007-02-22 03:47:02 · 22 answers · asked by TG 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"The "Golden Rule" seems to work well enough for me." The Golden Rule is from the Bible
No religions or cultures predate the creation. The knowledge of good and evil was introduced to the world in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the tree which they were commanded not to.
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:" Genesis 2:17
Prior to eating the fruit, Adam and Eve had no knowledge of what was good and evil other than what God told them not to do.
2007-02-22 04:18:37 · update #1
I'm not going to "heaven". It doesn't exist.
Our laws aren't based on Biblical laws. The concept of valuing life and opposing physical violence has been around longer than Christianity and in many cultures and philosophies that Christianity didn't touch.
2007-02-22 03:50:05 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The answer to your question is really quit simple.
Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Or in other words
Respect for the Individual.
A small child can come up with this concept all by its self when not taught religious flim flam. This simple beautifull concept has been around long before any organized religion.
Why? Because it can make sense to anyone.
But wait.... What about masochists and strange people?
Think about it. A masochist wants to be treated the way he wants to be treated right? Then the masochist under the golden rule would recognize that other want to be treated as they want to be treated. If he respects the wishes of others , his chances that people will respect his wishes goes up.
THE GOLDEN RULE. Awesome... Please don't dilute it with your commandments and such. The golden rule already covers all of them.
2007-02-22 12:00:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, good question. I can just say this. I am a good person because I do the right thing when I can, I encourage the best in people, I think of others feelings more often than not and if I don't it's probably because they didn't think of mine first. I can't even kill a spider anymore because it's done nothing wrong to me...therefor I scoop it up and put it outside. I try my best not to judge the book by it's cover or judge before I know someone. I try to give second chances. I forgive people for the wrong they do to me, it takes awhile but I try not to ever hold a grudge forever. That's only a few things I can think of right now.
2007-02-22 12:00:43 · answer #3 · answered by Jenny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, it is very silly to say that the Bibe invented the idea that murder is bad. Those things you call "Bible Laws" have existed in one form or another everywhere, before the bible was written and in places that had never read the bible. For example, Japan's laws are basically the same as ours, but their laws far pre-date ours, and have nothing to do with Christianity.
Plus, if you are a Christian, you can spend your life killing, stealing, raping, and everything else, but you will supposedly go to heaven if you accept Christ as your savior on your deathbed.
The "Golden Rule" seems to work well enough for me.
2007-02-22 11:55:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You got something backwards. Society is not based on bible laws, bible laws are based on society. The more universal truths a religion can take and pretend to invent, the higher the following.
Conscience, I have a conscience, is that God talking to me? ok.
If religion is the only thing keeping you in line you may be a sociopath.
2007-02-22 11:55:38 · answer #5 · answered by Sara 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The laws of society are not based on the bible. Laws forbidding murder and such things existed before it was written. Morals are generally innate and come from instincts that aid the survival of individuals and the survival of society
2007-02-22 11:59:29 · answer #6 · answered by murnip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really our laws are based on Bible laws? OK then let's look at it:
is adultery illegal...no
is not honoring you mum+dad illegal...no
is working on sabbath illegal...no
is coveting illegal....no, in fact it is encouraged
Is wearing clothes made of 2 types of cloth illegal....No
The religious+bible laws are based on societies laws...you have it backwards....people were finding their own path between good and evil LONG before the bible came around
What do I base Good and Evil on...well my parents taught me to think so i work it out for myself...I don't need threats from some Dude in the clouds to figure out..."Jeez this guy cut me off I wanna kill him...look I am not religions so it's ok"....I judge and try to act with respect, decency, justice,etc based on what I think is right...not what some dude from thousands of years ago said
Do I steal...no....would I if I was gonna die of starvation...yes....would I think that is wrong...NO, would I feel bad for the guy I stole from...yeah but hey I gotta live. According to religion that means I go directly to Hell.
I base my system on my own mind, heart and the conditions of the situation. Which is why I know killing is wrong but if I have to kill to survive then I will kill. It is how a person acts, are they greedy? selfish? giving? conscientious? Do they show respect for others or trample on them?
Anyone who needs a book to tell then right from wrong...is just plain sad and a waste of biomatter.
EDIT: The golden rule does NOT come from bible..the bible's version came from the pagan rule of three which is that whatever you do shall come back to you 3 fold..do good and good comes back, do bad and bad comes back.
Good and evil did NOT come from a tree..if you believe that then you MUST believe incest is actually the way to go since we would all be incestous brothers+sisters.
2007-02-22 12:01:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I understand that you are pointing out that God made the moral laws. But, religion is man made. Religion is Man's way of trying to please God and control others. Jesus Christ, is God's way of reaching down to man.
My morals are based upon the teachings of Jesus. He has two commandments Matthew 22:36-40. He said, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all of your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All of the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments. When you do this, it causes you to treat everyone with love and respect. Not because it's a rule but because you want to.
We are all born evil. Our acceptance of Jesus, and His death on the cross for our sins is what makes us righteous in God's eyes.
Jesus is not a religion He is a relationship.
2007-02-22 12:08:32 · answer #8 · answered by 4HIM- Christians love 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question is insulting and condescending. I was brought up with a clear sense of right and wrong and I've never lost that and I have no interest in heaven, God or the bible. My conscience is my sole moral guide.
2007-02-22 11:59:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Most of our laws" are absolutely NOT based on Biblical law. Our legal system comes to us primarily from the Greeks and Romans, who were not Christians or Jews. The U.S: Constitution, for example, is based far more on the Iroquois Six Nations Confederacy than on the Bible. You need to educate yourself about the world that exists and has always existed outside the Bible.
2007-02-22 11:57:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋