Why must people believe in some kind of deity to be considered a good person?

Question

I understand the desire to believe in something bigger than yourself---I do! We all fear the finality of death, the idea that one day we will not exist.

One advantage of religions is virtually all of them lay down rules on how to be a good person. Of course we need to have standards like that; I don't argue with that in the least. However, I think (and I know I'm not alone) that it isn't a requisite that you must believe in god to follow these rules. People can still be good and compassionate to their fellow human beings without praising [INSERT NAME HERE].

Thank you for your answers. I realize there are plenty of good people, religious or not. Regardless, a lot of people think that you have to believe in something to be a good person. Why must we believe??? Can't we just be good people???

I don't understand how it makes sense to believe in god because it answers how and why we got here. It may be an answer but it definitely isn't proof---and it isn't provable or disprovable. We can't EVER determine the existence of god. No one has ever seen one. If no one has ever seen god, the onus is on the believers to show god exists. Why should anyone accept that view when there is absolutely no evidence to back up that claim?

storge70, by goodness I mean doing what is right. The idea of compassion for others, for instance---something that is pretty much present in all cultures. Not a new idea

Jeanmarie, YOU missed the point. I'm not just referring to Christians. I know what Christians believe having grown up in a western country. My question is why must people feel believing in a god is necessary to be good. Belief is not a requisite.

Answer 1

according to christians god is the only thing keeping them from murdering children and stealing from old ladies

Answer 2

No. I do not believe you have to believe in anything in order to be good. You can be good as you want or bad as you want on your own.

I believe that you should question how we got here and try and find all reasonable explaination that you can but in the end if you find no reasonable explaination.... (which there isn't one) you have a good choice to make. I mean if we evolved from monkeys or just plain dust on the ground, Science would be able to re-create us now ... not perfectly but exactly as we are.

I believe not so that I can follow some rule book, or belong to some church that gives us guidelines to live by. I believe because with all my faith and even all my reason this is what makes sense to me.

I believe in the fall of satan, the fall of man, the work of Jesus on the cross dying for my sins because someone had to do that. I believe in the bible lasting all the many years it has just as it is and I believe that I cannot be good enough to get in to heaven but I must believe that there is no other way but to believe that God found a way for us humans/sinners to be with him in perfect rightousness and in his perfect justice there could be no other way.

I believe because I understand free will, faith and the need for a savior.

Answer 3

I think your right.....
But many people need to follow....whatever they choose.. they can not stand alone. They fear the unknown and feel the need to fit in nice and tidy. Personally I think I'm a decent person with no religion who doesn't mind a bit of a mess and sometimes even creates one:) We may need the rules religion(man) has brought into our lives..but couldn't we have figured this out eventually...that being a good person, giving person, right person s better than a bad, evil, selfish one?? I fear the early power holders thought far too little of their fellow man kind.

Answer 4

I once knew a philosophy professor who was a self-acclaimed atheist. However, his actions, kindnesses, and universal love, mimicked what I would consider to be "Christian values." For him, his connection to humanity was enough to make him a good person. For others, the belief in some kind of deity acts the catalyst. Why? It's all in the individual's system of belief, whatever that may be.

Answer 5

You have missed the meaning of being a christian.
We believe what the bible teaches like as in no one is good.
The bible says, "your good works are filthy rags to God."

We have the 10 commandments that show us what sin is. And "All sin and fall short of the glory of God" What was the reason Jesus came to earth? He came for 1 reason alone, not to be a good teacher, no to be an example on how to live, not to get married and have kids. He came to die for the sins of the world.
So we as christians say All sin and no one is "good" compared to a sinless God.
†

Answer 6

this happens regularly, fairly if the couple is youthful and purely beginning out of their lives and careers. Assuming the area is great and the time, like college or a clean activity, is purely as great, that's somewhat asking to plenty, to assume the like to final. Married human beings get divorced all of the time, and that they stay area with the help of area, which of direction, might desire to be the clarification at the back of the divorce. lol different couples chop up up, love regrettably, for many individuals, isn't eternal, yet regularly fleeting. in spite of if whilst we are in love, we have faith it to be so. all of us % business company and companionship, and human beings close to to us. In long distance, you may constantly stay in touch, recently, yet you nonetheless % some particular guy or woman on your life, till you should stay at residing house, with a good e book or television etc. no longer the ideal thank you to spend ones life.

Answer 7

By whose standards do you know what good is? And do these standards change? How often? every 50 yrs or so? When people marry their pets and people get an extra set of genitles and it is common place and they enjoy this, can this be good? .... since you prob wont answer this question, perhaps I should ask the room this question.

Answer 8

there are a lot of good, loving people on this forum that do not confess believing in some kind of deity.

I do but that does not mean that i think that i am special. just forgiven.

Answer 9

Huh? Whose rule is that?? Good people come in all colors, all flavors, all stripes and all varieties. We theists certainly don't have the corner on that market!

Answer 10

I'm gonna just say something vague and anonymous here for a second:

Without virtue, we couldn't be virtuous.