Is morality possible without religion??

Answer 1

Absolutely, in fact this is becoming more and more accepted even by religious folk.

Atheists statistically participate in no more crime than religious people (in fact slightly less if prison records are to go by).

If there were clearly more than the average amount of atheists behaving wickedly, then one could argue that religion is the reason people are acting moral.

However, Darwinian science actually suggests that everyone is likely to be built with a sense of morality in them - to help them stick together and look after the group (in order to ensure their own survival).

Answer 2

Yes morals are possible without religion. If you have something you strongly believe in and help guides you through your life then you have true morals. Don't think you have to be part of a religion to satisfy what other people think or to make you feel like you belong. As long as your morals benefit you to the point you do good then thats all that matters.

Answer 3

Without question. I almost have to ask is it possible to be moral with religion. There are a lot of religious people who swear by the existence of god who are pretty amoral.

I do not believe in any gods, but I do follow a philosophy that claim there are evil deeds. (We don't have sins) Here are some of the major actions we consider Evil Deeds;

Going against the virtue of selflessness.
Being unreasonable.
Using evil intentions to guide your actions.
Being cruel and destructive.
Taking advantage of kind people.
Talking secretly against your parents and elders.
Showing disrespect for your teachers.
Engaging in rebellious actions.
Framing the innocent.
Slandering your co-workers.
Being deceitful.
Lying to your relations.
Being aggressive and resentful.
Taking things for yourself whenever you wish.
Not knowing right from wrong.
Talking behind people’s backs.
Making your subordinates work so that you can gain favors.
Being ungrateful for others’ help.
Harboring conflicts and grudges.
Looking down on less fortunate people.
Drinking and starting fights.
Competing with your siblings.
Being an undedicated and dishonest son.
Being an unruly and wild daughter.
Creating conflict in the household.
Not respecting your spouse.
Delighting in boasting.
Being jealous.
Not providing for your spouse and children.
Being rude to your uncles and aunts.
Neglecting your ancestors.
Going against the wishes of your elders.
Committing destructive actions.
Being narrow-minded.
Letting hate and love cloud your judgment.
Swearing at the well and the stove.
Taking food from other people’s bowls.
Injuring children and life in the womb.
Engaging in subversive activities.
Carousing on days of chanting.
Being angry on days of the new and full moon.
Facing north when crying and complaining [complaining to the North Star fortunes].
Crying and mourning at the stove [complaining to the Fortune of the Hearth].
Using fires from the stove to light incense [improper use of fires belonging to the Fortune of the Hearth].
Wasting firewood.
Getting up in the middle of the night naked [refers to passing a contagious illness]
Slaughtering during harvest festivals.
Cursing at shooting stars.
Pointing at rainbows.
Pointing at the three lights [sun, moon, stars].
Gazing at the sun and moon for long periods.
Hunting during the months of spring.
Facing north while swearing.
Killing turtles and snakes.
Delighting in stealing and grabbing from others.
Plundering.
Giving rewards and punishments unjustly.
Being boisterous, unruly and without a sense of shame.
Being unkind to subordinates.
Threatening others.
Swearing at Heaven and other people.
Swearing at the wind and rain.
Delighting in arguments and competitions.
Participating in gangs and secret societies.
Listening to the gossip of your spouse and opposing the will of your parents.
Forgetting old friends when you have new acquaintances.
Saying one thing and thinking the opposite.
Coveting riches.
Lying to your supervisors.
Spreading rumors and lies.
Framing your subordinates.
Helping guilty parties.
Swearing at the gods.
Going against the harmony and flow of things.
Abandoning your relations.
Saying that the gods are helping you to do unethical deeds.
Not returning what you borrowed.
Asking for much more than is appropriate.
Indulging in excessive sexual desires.
Exhibiting compassion externally and harboring evil thoughts.
Ruining the livelihood of others.
Leading people astray with false teachings.
Measuring with a false ruler.
Weighing with a false scale.
Mixing the artificial with the real.
Prospering from unethical dealings.
Being cruel to people who are kind.
Ridiculing those who are retarded.
Coveting.
Starting quarrels

Answer 4

Certainly; Being "religious" is not what makes you a moral person. If that were so, you would not have "religious" priest, teachers etc. molesting children, misusing money and the list goes on!

However, it is not possible to be moral without "spirituality", because biblically speaking, it is the Holy Spirit within us that is our conscience/guide, that even when we do wrong or act outside of God's will, brings us back to what is right and cause us to repent.

Awesome question!

Answer 5

Not only possible, but I believe more likely. Religion prescribes rules, which can and are interpreted to cause division, diversion and disharmony- in other words, if you're not part of the "right" group, you're part of the problem, and do unto others can go right out the window. Being conscious and mindful of how you effect your environment through your choices and actions seems to bring out the best in people- a more heartfelt "morality" to me, rather than following a religious rule.

Answer 6

Certainly! Morality is not synonymous with religion. I think a more apt question is hypocrisy possible without religion? Morals are just a facet of humanity and to tie it to religion is just a way for people to make themselves feel superior to people that can think for themselves! Of course that's just my opinion...

Answer 7

A large percent of Christian's are Hippocrates. Your morals are something that you learn from childhood and can be just as good or better from an atheist as they can be from some who is religious. I'm not saying that religious people don't have good morals or bad. I just believe that they are separate issues.

Answer 8

The Secular Humanists claim yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism

The Vatican says NO.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07538b.htm

Answer 9

Morality is a pointless goal. Morality is the greatest form of suffering that we do to ourselves.

Thanks, but I'll pass.

Answer 10

would religion exist without it's false interpretation of morality?