Does being the best human being lead to being the best religious person?

Question

From the answers I've received from previous questions, there seems to be a consensus that the greatest teaching COMMON to all religions it this: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. or Love your neighbor (and enemies) as yourself.

Now if all religions (major and minor, including atheism) agree that this humanistic commandment is the greatest COMMON teaching -- it surpasses differences in religion and sects, differences in opinion, differences in ritual -- and it overrides other teachings such as our ideas about salvation, reincarnation, enlightenment... then it begs the question:

In your opinion, what is the one human trait or instinct that erodes, blurs, disables this primary teaching [a teaching that cannot be reinterpreted in any other way]? And is this instinct just as COMMON to every single individual on the planet as the teaching is?

I'd like to thank any and all answerers in advance.

To add...

isn't following the Golden Rule, common to most religions, make you more religious than others who follow just the lesser rules, and don't follow the first at all or rather infrequently? wouldn't you in fact be more religious if you treated everyone equally, than a guy who attends religious services but doesn't follow the greater rule?

Answer 1

I don't really believe in those teachings. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..it sounds nice, but it doesn't cut it.

You should do unto others as they would like for you to do unto them. Small difference, but in practise it's a huge difference, because we don't always know how others want to be treated.

The biggest problem is selfishness. Our selfishness can sometimes even be a virtue, when we do acts of kindness, we also do it because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Selfishness is not always bad.

But our selfishness is the biggest reason that "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" will never work.

What would work is this: My freedom ends where other people's freedom starts. If anybody would follow that simple rule, in all their acts, deeds and behaviors, then this world would be a better place. Even selfishness can't ruin that rule.

Answer 2

It does seem that most religions include a "golden rule" within their dogma or tradition...but I would not go as far as to say that the "golden rule" is a primary condition for determining how good of a relgious person you are.

Ancient traditions,especially, are so based on the survival of the culture that they have many bigoted and racist traditoions that follow it.

Relgion is a means through which culture is passed down, and maintained. And the ancients understood that in order to maintain a culture you must exclude and destroy the subcultures around you that might enter the mainstream.

I think that the fear of these 'rising subcultures' is the "trait or instinct" that you speak of that "erodes, blurs, [and] disables" the golden rule.

Answer 3

To answer your first question, being the best person you can be doesn't necessarily have anything to do with religion. What makes a good person is how they treat others, not only other people, but other species. How they act in private as well as in public. Respecting and honoring other people's rights to their own beliefs. Being a loving, caring, considerate person.
The one human trait that would erode all of that is greed, in my opinion. I think that everyone is tempted by greed at one time or another, but not everyone gives in to it.
I hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

not intentionally.
you can be a humane & benevolent person, but not religious. But other people would judge you of your actions so if your actions are good & christian, they'd brand you as religious.
i dont know about being the BEST, coz the word itself is a bit vain & conceited. no1 with Good disposition would think about himself that way, on the other hand, bigots believe so that's why they often judge people outside their religious guidelines to be unchristian & unworthy.
We all follow rules in & out of our religious affiliations, & so is our Government that we call LAW. in the Homes alone, parents give guidelines what the children ought to be doing, the responsibilities we need to do, not just for ourselves but for our other siblings.
it all starts there, then as we grew up we open our mind to different sets of rules, either we learn them or resist them. in the end you are molded through these. You are who you are, & as long as you know you are guided by your conscience, nothing or nobody should tell you otherwise.
You can be the BEST you can be, but never the BEST above anybody else. & nobody should tell you the same.

Answer 5

The common thread in religions that miss the basic point is to follow the Golden Rule. The basic point of the Bible is that we are all sinners and cannot earn our way to heaven by good works. We gain heaven because of God's love, mercy and forgiveness available through Christ's death and resurrection. He took the punishment that we deserve for our sins. Accepting that is the key to not just religion, but to a relationship with God for all eternity.
However, to answer your question, SELFISHNESS is what gets in the way of doing good to others, which IS as common or more so than the teaching to do good to others.

Answer 6

I think you mean the best human being at being moral and kind rather than being the best human being at running or something like that. I think that the best human being probably contributes the most towards other peoples and the worlds well being. I dont think that the best human being will go on to be the best religiouse person however. I think the best religiouse person is the one who spreads the world about their religion the most and practices the religion the best. I think that the 2 things are seperate. most religion think that if you follow the religion it makes you a better person but i think not. just my opinion.

Answer 7

If you're catholic, it probably does. I'm not catholic so it really doesn't. Being religious means that you do do do all the things that are necesary to getting in good with God and eventually- when you die- getting to heaven. But I'm a Christian. I know that there is no work or series of works that can get me in good with God. You really think all that crap is going to impress the creator of the universe? Not so much. All we have to do is claim Christ's sacrifice and we're white as snow! Cuz know what? I'm neither a "good person" or religious, and yet I know I am saved and loved!

Answer 8

What faith do u have self belief in ? i do no longer likely comprehend yet yet in line with risk none. Are you a tricky center non secular guy or woman who is going to worship on a daily basis ? No. Do u pray on a daily basis ? No. what variety of a relationship do u have with the god u have self belief ? working example :- a friendship, a father - son relationship ! How do u describe urs ? Umm.. good? Do u have self belief that different religions can carry approximately eternal life or do u think of that for the duration of straight forward terms ur faith does that ? i assume different ones too and mines. Do u appreciate different religions different than urz ? specific I do. Do u comprehend different religions and their coaching or do u no longer even difficulty u to income them ? i do no longer even difficulty to income them.. What teachingz from the different religions different than united statesdo u relatively like plenty ? Judaism Do u talk to God ? sometimes. Have u even been descriminated consistent with ur faith ? No. Do u see God as a guy or woman with physique and stuff, or do u see him as this capability in this international no longer precisely like human shaped ? Neither. Have u ever puzzled ur very own faith's ideaz ? Yeah.

Answer 9

The one human trait that erode, blurs and disable is pride. Pride is what causes all of us to distance ourselves from this great teaching. It is when we begin to focus on our self serving desires that we begin to hurt others. I would say pride.

Answer 10

Gimme an F! gimme and E! Gimme an A! gimme an R! Whaddaya got? FEAR!!!!!