Is a God required for people to believe in treating people how they would want to be treated, to endeavor not to intentionally hurt others and to try to make amends to others for any mistakes?
Why do religious people believe that the universality of human experience somehow isn't enough to instill those values?
2007-05-29 08:23:41 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Why would it be necessary that I believe in a higher power if I have those values?
Couldn't I simply believe in karma, the principle of cause and effect, i.e., that the law of averages suggests that eventually one's harmful actions will be reciprocated in some form or other, and wish to avoid any wrongful behavior being reciprocated to me?
2007-05-29 08:33:05 · update #1
So Ruth, you're saying that those principles can't be passed down to children as a result of the parent's experience?
That there was no way people would know it was wrong to hurt others without a God? They couldn't figure out from having been hurt by someone else themselves in the past?
Are humans that intellectually limited that they couldn't figure that out without a God?
2007-05-29 08:36:36 · update #2
The incentive to be a moral being even without believing in God is found in the observation that humanity is a collective effort, and that in order to attempt to insure that your own life is a good one, you act to ensure that you don't unfairly impinge on the lives of others because otherwise they have no incentive to consider how their actions may affect your life.
2007-05-29 08:53:45 · update #3
I don't think all athiests or agnostics are not moral people. I just can't figure out the logic.........if you believe in no higher power than yourself, what is the basis of your morality?
If there were no higher power--there would be no reason to live by any standard other than your own.
2007-05-29 08:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by Cherie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why would someone who basically believes in nothing be moral? Why would you want to be if there is nothing that restrains the strong from taking from the weak? If people believe they can do whatever they want without any repercussions, they'll do it. History is full of those type of people. And we'll get the chance to see it in the next few generations of kids coming out of our school systems. The decline has already started in case you haven't noticed. Violence is everywhere. It's no coincidence either.
2007-05-29 15:41:08 · answer #2 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Morality only comes from spirituality? LMAO...
Apparently, some religious people assume that an individual must be afraid of consequences in order to do the right thing. I hate to say it, but if God is the only thing keeping you from doing bad things...You're still a bad person.
As an atheist, I do the right thing because...(drum roll, please)...IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Not because I don't want to go to hell, not because I'm afraid of God's judgment or Karma, but because I genuinely care for my fellow human being and want to maintain a high quality of life for myself. Is there a right and wrong even when there's no person or book to tell you which is which? Absolutely. That's pure morality - morality decifered for oneself, not morality dictated to you by someone/thing you've never even met.
2007-05-29 15:35:06 · answer #3 · answered by Athena 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Just like conservatives believe atheists are liberals--a la godless communists.
I don't understand why people are so willing to become sheep to some god they can not see.
Conservatives seem to tout the rugged individual as the soul of their party and the collectivist as the enemy, but think nothing of being herded to join some group every Sunday to beg for forgiveness for some thought or deed that may have offended some non existent Deity???
Call me crazy...
2007-05-29 15:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by Curt 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The irony is that there are repeated cases of 'religious' types that show no signs of having any morals whatsoever.
Look at history - some of the most brutal atrocities were committed by 'christians' during the crusades, and all throughout the years.
Up until the present day.
Who Would Jesus Bomb?
2007-05-29 15:28:56 · answer #5 · answered by Joe M 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
morality is in the eye of the beholder, some Christians often have trouble looking at themselves honestly and learning from their mistakes unfortunately. Look at the history of Wars and the oppression of poor people throughout "Christian" nations(it's the same with most organized religion because often religion becomes the cause of immorality and not the cure).
2007-05-29 15:29:47 · answer #6 · answered by gunkinthedrain 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't view atheists as immoral, some of the nicest people are atheists. The difference between the two is eternity and we all have that choice to make. Why are atheists so touchy about religious types, I don't try to preach and I don't condemn anyone. Condeming isn't my place.
2007-05-29 15:35:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't think so at all. My cousin's husband is atheist, and he's far more moral and "christian" than some of the religious zealots in my family.
I think the majority of morals it is learned at home from your family than in church/temple/mosque/etc.
The Catholic church had little to do with my moral upbringing. I learned what was and was not acceptable from my parents, and my own gut feelings.
2007-05-29 15:32:29 · answer #8 · answered by tiny Valkyrie 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My guess is that many fundamentalists cannot imagine someone behaving morally without the threat of eternal punishment from a vengeful God hanging over their heads. Human ethics and altruism are alien concepts to them.
2007-05-29 15:36:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
If you have those values you must necessarily believe in a Higher Power, whether or not that Power is called God.
2007-05-29 15:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋