Why do we need a god to be good people?

Question

I mean, why cant we just learn to be good, righteous, happy people without needing the supposed everwatchful eye of god looking down on us and condemning us to the lake of fire if we do something bad?

Are we that inherantly evil that we need religeon and a set of rules to follow, just to do the right thing?

When will we learn to just be good without god?

Answer 1

We don't. Atheists can be good people, and sometimes religious people can be bad.

I happen to believe in God, and I think He gets a vote in this discussion. I'm a better person because of my beliefs and because of the teachings of Jesus.

The belief that I have to answer to a higher power gives me a reason to be ethical and honest and to treat other people with kindness and respect.

You can achieve these things without God, but can you keep faith without someone or something to have faith in? I suppose you can, but it would be difficult for me to do it, and that is a very large part of the reason I feel God is an important part of my ethics and goodness.

I don't see God as a policeman or a stern overseer. I see Him as a loving source of good things and blessings. You seem to have a more negative view of God than I do. Perhaps it is the result of teachings which overemphasized punishment.

People are by nature inclined to sin. God helps us to avoid sin and offers us forgiveness when we fail to avoid it.

I hope the lake of fire is something I will never see nor feel, but I really don't worry about it. And I have done bad things. That's why I need God. And I am confident He has saved me.

Answer 2

The root of this question taps into a large problem that is pervasive in our society today. People grow up scared into a religious morality, without ever being taught that morality and living rightly is its own justification. Without this, when these people start to move away from their religion, as many do, they also begin to move away from their morality. The answer in short is that people as a general rule are looking for a group to follow. It is part of the pack mentality that has aided in our evolutionary survival. If this pack preaches to behave in ways that would be considered good, or really just beneficial to the herd, then it will survive as a social super-organism. There is a great book out there called, "The Lucifer Principle" that you should read if you are really interested in this topic. It isn't anything satanic, it explains the actions of people on a social and evolutionary level and makes alot of things make sense sociologically that you might not have gotten before.

Answer 3

Before the Flood, God has allowed human to live according to his own rational and logical reasoning. Since human had an instinct for both good and evil, God allowed them to be.
But as the Bible said, The method fails, so God has to start all over again through Noah.
This time He really interfere and He left a book as a guidance for proper living, so that human will have no excuse.

Answer 4

God has set the standard for good, so if you're good, you're following his example and his commandments. Since he is the one that created us, wouldn't he know best how we would be happy? He want's us to be happy. He created us in his image and wants us to prosper. The government doesn't love us as much and they laydown rules for us. Why do we follow them? Can't we just live without rules? The pedophile that was a substitute janitor in the Bay area thinks so? My neighbor dosn't like rules either. He set his budy on fire and then put it out and tied him up. He was left to die. Those guys don't need rules. They will be forced to follow rules in prison. It's a good thing God grants us free will. We get to direct our own step or follow His example.

Answer 5

Don't you think that history has shown that mankind cannot do without guidance from God?Why mankind have been doing it independantly from God for centuries, and have gon from bad, to worse and worse they have failed miserably, God has allowed them the freedom to try out their way and it is still failing after all these centuries, it is not a matter of being evil humans, but we were not created to be independent from the guidance of God, can't you see the mess, that mankind alienated from God has got themselves into? How much more mess do you need to see ?The rules God gives us in the Bible are for our own good, for our own happiness satisfaction and contentment that's all God wants for us. Making up our ow rules has got us deep into the mess we are in right now, I for one submit to God's rules and do not wish to be without God, for I know what's good for me. God's way from the Bible is the only good way for mankind!

Answer 6

Depending on which religion you're talking about...

Christianity doesn't say that you have to have God to be a good person, but you have to be a good person to have God.

In the bible it says that, if you're a Christian, and you sin, God doesn't even see the sin. He knows your heart. If he knows that you intend to repent, you're already forgiven. Even if you die in a car wreck before you get a chance.

Answer 7

cause we need something to scare the bejeebies out of us so what we'll do good. human nature is naturally competitive so people can be mean, but some aren't because they're scared of their religion.

for example,

for buddhists, one may be scared of reincarnating as an animal or plant or retarded human instead of a human

for christians and such, one is scared of hell

for mormons, one may be scared of contracting aids.

Answer 8

i think people assume too much. they think believing in god will help with ethics and morals but that's not entirely true...we have serial killers and rapest who are religious....so believing in god does not mean you ARE a good person. i think its an intolerant and uneducated belief to think that you cannot be a "good person" without believing in the concept of god. and society changes all the time....before we thought it was offensive for a woman to show her ankles...but today we got women in bikinis and its totally normal (unless your not at a beach).

Answer 9

I don't need a god to be a good person. I'm a good person because I treat others the way I want to be treated. It's that simple.

Answer 10

You can be a good person with out god. But You can never be Pure and perfect.