Think of all religions while answering. Thanks.
2007-03-27 06:39:14 · 16 answers · asked by remy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The most important inflouence in becoming an ethical person is one's parents, and what they teach you.
This can be put in terms of religion, or without religious terminology.
Divine authority is not the only source for ideas about good and evil, right and wrong.
ETHICS, the branch of philosophy that was developed by the Greeks, is just that: is the study of value, or morals and morality. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right, wrong, good, evil, and responsibility, without relying on divine authority.
My Mom, who was my most important teacher about ethical behavior, didn't use religious terminology when she was teaching me right from wrong, though she was, and is, a deeply religious person.
She taught me to think about whether what I was doing was fair (even-handed, not self-interested), whether it was compassionate (by asking me to put myself in the position of others), kind and thoughtful (asking myself what another person wanted or needed), and so on.
The MOST important thing that she taught me about right and wrong was that being able to meet my own eyes in the mirror without flinching was the best yardstick to determine whether I was living my life in an ethical fashion or not.
And she taught me to value my self-opinion above that of others.
She taught me that being ruthlessly honest with myself was the single most important step in living en ethical life - that I had to be honest with myself about why I do what I do, and to examine my ACTIONS as being the expression of my ethics...that if my behavior didn't support my self-image, I had to change my actions.
None of that was expressed in terms of religious belief.
2007-03-27 07:32:59 · answer #1 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think that religion *CAN* make us better, if we allow it. But this means taking the time to understand the teachings of that particular religion, the concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, and making a choice to want to be a good person. For those people, religion can offer a framework and support system for living a life of being good to yourself and others. (And, as we all know, religion can also bring out the darkest aspects in humanity, too.)
2007-03-27 13:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
A truly good and civilized perosn can exists without any connection to religion - and religion will not make such a one any better...morally.
But being good and morals is not the point. It is a relationship with the Divine.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-03-27 13:53:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religion is a manmade box that doesn't help anyone in eternity. Jesus on the other hand definitely makes us better and changes everything!
I think that I am honest enough with myself to admit that I'm not a good person when left to myself. I am selfish and lazy and insecure and lonely..... When Jesus came into my life, He has begun to help me overcome those things and to look around me and try to help other people and be a productive member of society. Without Him I was a wreck, ready to kill myself rather than continue on in my muck.
2007-03-27 13:43:37 · answer #4 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak of my own personal experience.
I have almost always been a "Good" person, (not perfect).
What my faith gives me is strength to keep doing good works, teachings to help better know God, and an environment that helps me stay within the Grace of God.
Religion gives to me, it does not take from me......Strength, Peace, Hope, Love, are all given to me through my faith.
And the net result, I do more good now than I did before.
But I am in the over 40 group, if I read this when I was 18, I would have thought It was "way out there" then.
Peace and God Bless you!
2007-03-27 13:49:06 · answer #5 · answered by C 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
sometimes religion can make us better. It depends on how the person takes being religious and how if they believe in heaven and hell. If they do then they would probably want to be a good person and not go to hell. I am a very religous person and knowing that i could go to hell scares me and makes me want to be better. HOPE IT HELPS.
2007-03-27 13:43:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are you serious?There is no such thing as an inherently good person.Look at any child,and ask yourself why parents must say: "no,that is bad or wrong" over and over again during their formative years.It is to teach them to be a good person,as all of humanity is born with the Adamic sin nature.
2007-03-27 14:06:51 · answer #7 · answered by kitz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a question open to one hell of a long debate.
You question if a "if one is a good person he will be good anyway" - well depends what boundaries you set for a good/bad person.
I've known very bad and immoral religious people, and not just people who practice religion, people who actually preach it. I.e. ministers. On the same token, i've known plenty of good people who strictly following the teachings of faith. Same goes for atheists.
2007-03-27 13:50:02 · answer #8 · answered by jkkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjk 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It keeps people happy (or angry, as the case may be) and give people a sense of purpose. It also causes problems. But people would find excuses to wage war and hate without religion. It's our species' tribal nature to do so.
2007-03-27 13:42:14 · answer #9 · answered by yodadoe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who said that religion makes us better? I can think of just as many examples of it making people worse as I can for it making people better.
2007-03-27 13:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋