Is it possible to be a moral person and also religious?

Question

Morality means the judgment of right and wrong behaviour according to conscience. Religious folks mostly seem to judge behaviour according to whether it contravenes the imagined orders of their deity, rather than on moral grounds. So, is it possible to be moral and religious as well, or is morality the sole preserve of atheists?

Norm: Sorry, theists are amoral because they don't exercise morality (judgment according to conscience).

Julia: I commend you to study a little meta-ethics and you may see why your answer didn't really answer the question.

Answer 1

It'd be easier to drive a camel through the eye of a needle.

No, seriously, there are moral believers who somehow manage their way around the notion that obedience to a supreme being is a valid substitute for morality. I think it'd be interesting to hear them speak about this, and it might be a good way to start training the other believers to recognize the value of a more grounded morality.

Excellent question, by the way.

Answer 2

Now THIS is an excellent and relevant question. I think it mostly depends upon how supernatural/superstitious the religion actually is. For example, I believe there are millions of moral Buddhists. Buddhism is less supernatural than other world religions.
Judaism is interesting because, although of the Western ilk, it is much more open to question, debate and rationality than Christianity or Islam. I'm not sure many Jews think the Bible was EVER meant to be taken literally.

Answer 3

Of course it's possible to be "moral" and religious. Atheists and Christians actually follow pretty close to the same moral code: Don't lie, don't steal, don't commit adultery, et cetera.
And actually, there are some things that Christians choose not to do, even if they're not specifically named as a sin in the Bible.
God IS my conscience. Your own mind (and SOCIETY) is yours. Each of us still fail occasionally.
Honestly, if all things were accepted by society, do you still think you would make moral judgements correctly? I'm not saying this to be mean. I'm just wondering.

Answer 4

If you are morally perfect, you understand the difference between the right and the wrong on your own conscious, that is if you are enlightened, then there is no need to follow the religious norms set by someone else.
And what you say an atheist is more moral? how's that?
Chances of a religious person being moral are still greater than an atheist, as all the religions teach only the moral lessons.
And religion does not tell anyone to close their minds. It tells them to broaden their consciousness and to become/know god themselves.
(Misinterpreting religion is another story).

When people attain full consciousness/enlightenment, their moral code is same. Religion professes this code to all people, so their is no moral conflict. Whereas atheists and darwinists can possess different moral codes (if any) conflicting with one another's. Then how can you say they are moral?

Answer 5

A religious person has to be a moral person.
If not, it is better for him not to have any religion.
Moral codes of conduct come from and have been taught only by the great religions of the world.
But a religion has a birth, a maturity - when it produces the fruits it was meant to produce - a decadence and finally a death.
If we judge the existing religions which are in their state of decadence and death, we will of course see many objectionable things in them.

Answer 6

Yes you can. The fact is, morality is not what saves a person. The boat can be slowly sinking, and all mankind will perish, good or bad, if they do not make use of the lifeboats provided for just such a disaster.

No. You cannot buy your way into heaven with tithes, keeping of traditions or rules, rituals, moral behavior or good deeds.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

High morality is a fruit of your salvation, not the instrument.

Answer 7

Yes, i do believe u can have one without the other but, People put them together all the time, some even try to make their own morals based on their religious beliefs.

What is religion ? (the American heritage dictionary defines it)

- The life or condition of a person in a order.
- A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
-A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Off topic, but i think another great question would be is Atheism a religion?

Answer 8

It's possible to be moral and non religious as well. There are many Atheists, Agnostics, Free Thinkers, and Humanists who have more morals then some religious people.

Answer 9

You can b however u want.We r lucky to b given the choice to do so.It's all up to u if that is what u want then u can.U can do both or u can choose not 2.I think if I was a person that practises the bible then I would use both n have the conscience.Right now and b4 I've always kept myself out of trouble with my conscience.I feel it's more thinking for yourself that way.Not a book telling me what to do or what I should do.That is why we r given the freedom of choice.Bye 4 now

Answer 10

I think it is very possible given your definition of each. Morality leads to religion and religion leads to judging others.

I try not to pass judgment or to be religious, but I do try my very best to be a person of Godly morals and to have a personal relationship with God.