Why do Religious Assume that Non-Religious People have NO MORALS?

Question

Some of the world's most infamous people/ organizations are religious, like the KKK (yes, it still exists to a degree. Check out their creepy website.)


The U.S. is another example (sorry to the Americans for whom this does not apply :(). America has one of the highest percentage of Christians, and yet it also has the HIGHEST RATE OF TEEN PREGNANCY IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD.

Also, do not forget that the majority of lynching of African Americans during the 1950's were performed by WHITE CHRISTIANS. Did you know that 15% of the U.S.'s population were a part of the KKK? (5 million)

******Considering this, why do some people ask whether non-religious people have any morals!?!?!


Clearly, there are a quite a few religious icons that have not performed quite up to notch either (Oliver O'Grady, anyone?)

Answer 1

I've seen the documentary about Oliver O'Grady before.



It brought a week of nightmares...

Answer 2

I am a teen in America, and you are completely right, we are rated highest in teen pregnancy and that is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me. I am not in the KKK and I do not think that I know anyone that is because to be honest I don't even know what the KKK is. I am a Christian though. Just because I am a Christian though, does not mean that I think that non-Christians have no morals. I have a friend who is an atheist, do I wish that that was different of course, can I change her opinion on the subject, probably not. It is her choice to make whether or not she believes in Jesus Christ our Savior in Heaven or the Lord our God. Do I think that she has no morals because of it, absolutely not, she a good person at heart and most times a good person to be around. The times that I think that she is not fun to be around has nothing to do with her religion, it's just that sometimes we have differences in opinions, as does everybody and there is nothing wrong with that if you ask me.

Answer 3

Your question has merits. Still, I try to avoid lumping people together as a whole, but rather to form my opinions based on how an individual acts. I have my own religious beliefs that differ from many others. I don't assume that those who believe differently than me are immoral. Quite the contrary. I am a Christian, yet I have seen many immoral Christians. I have also seen many atheists and agnostics who have had very high moral values. It is an individual thing. Whether one is moral or not has no bearing on one's religious beliefs, contrary to the assumption of many. It has to do with an individual's personal moral fiber and character. As to your last statement about the religious icons that have not performed up to notch, you are absolutely correct. As a Christian, I am bothered by those claiming to be Christians who bring shame upon the name of Christ by their immoral acts. No matter how we believe, the world would sure be a better place if we all had good morals and character.

Answer 4

I don't think Christians think non-religious people are amoral. It's just that we believe the only absolute truth in morality is found in God and His Ten Commandments.

Human morality can become situational ethics, and of course, some of it is great and makes a lot of sense. But when humans start deciding what is moral and what isn't, then it becomes a judgment call on whose idea or right and wrong are correct.

As far as Christianity and politics go, they aren't even in the same ballpark, so please don't assume that since we Americans are known as a "Christian" nation, we are all Christian.

Answer 5

There's an old Southern saying that just about covers the situation: "A cat can have her kittens in the oven, but that doesn't make them biscuits."

If someone blantantly disregards God's commandments (as in, "Thou shalt do no murder"), then they can call themselves Christians, but they aren't. The KKK can claim that they are Christians, but their attitudes and actions are diametrically opposed to that of our Lord Jesus.

As far as the teen pregnancy issue is concerned, that's got nothing to do with the US having a high percentage of Christians. It has to do with sexual permissiveness, the constant bombardment of explicit television programming and other media images, and raging teen hormones.

And I try not to assume anything about anyone -- atheist, Christian, or alien from Mars. I've known some very moral atheists and some so-called Christians whose lifestyles are an insult to the Lord Whose Name they profess. Morals are man-made, and anyone can be moral, even if they aren't necessarily religious.

Answer 6

I don't think its fair to blame religion. I mean really if you brought all that Muslim extremists have done and label all Muslims as terrorists then you have just taken their religion and done the same thing you say about all Christians. I know of gay people who are extremely conservative so no I do not think that those without religion or that are not Christian are immoral. Some aren't and some are, just like there are some Christians and Muslims etc that are immoral. Humanity will do what it wants and what it deems right in its own eyes and we will make every excuse to justify it even if it means slandering the name of our God in the name of our cause. God loves all people and he doesn't want Christians or any other religious groups to claim war or other bad things in his name. He created us all and he loves us all no matter what the sin.

Answer 7

I don't think there actually were lynchings in the 50s, though I could be wrong, but you are surely wrong in your numbers of adherents to the KKK. There certainly were intimidations of southern blacks to keep them from exercising the right to vote and the basic right to be human.

I don't much like questioning your assumptions, as I myself am a Usian atheist, but I can't avoid basic facts. I don't know about the teen pregnancy rate in this country, but supposing you are right, I could not blame it on christianity. We have many social problems that cannot be tossed off on religion.

Answer 8

Because they can't imagine people being good and nice to each other without a terrifying deity commanding it.

Sick.

Of course, rational thinking shows clearly that cooperative behaviors are in one's own best interest, but on the other hand the country's average IQ is 100, meaning there are a LOT of stupid people out there.

We need to teach people to think. Obedience doesn't help people solve problems or realize things.

Answer 9

Over 1000 ****** were lynched in new York city during the war of northern aggression.tens of thousands of northern ****** were murdered by white Yankees over that four year period of the war,. theirs five times more KKK members in the northern states right now then in the Southern states.and the KKK simply wished to have control over their states.to keep it white controlled,to protect their way of life.so that ignorant ****** wouldn't control them.when they integrated the schools the level of education went down and now you have all kinds of violence from the ****** in schools.I had to quit public school.because of all the violence, pistols pulled on me, my car damaged, had to fight them all the time.when they took over my school.that is what they were trying to avoid.its reality man, you don't like reality do you?****** or way different from whites were somewhat civilized.so we wish to not be around uncivilized people.most American people or Christians,so whatever Americans do .most will be Christians. what about the half a million people dead now in Iraq because of a Christian Bush?is that all the Christians fault?

Answer 10

Basically it's because theists would like to believe that their morals come from a god. The idea that their morals are based on philosophical and sociological theories which were incorporated into their religious doctrine makes them feel less special. So it should, since the theories their morals are based on are thousands of years out of date.