Tell me if you agree with this argument about religion.?

Question

1. The most important part of religion is the morals it preaches.

2. Practicing these morals leads one to live a rich fulfilling life.

3. One can practice these morals without religion.

Therefore, one can live a rich fulfilling life without religion.

Answer 1

1. No. The most important part is finding and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

2. Not necessarily.

3. Yes. But good morals only last in this life. Salvation is for eternity.

Possibly, but again, there is eternity to consider.

Answer 2

I do not. You've oversimplified the lives of both atheists and religious adherents, I think, in such a simple three step deduction.

1. The most important part of religion, in the view of at least many of the religions I've followed, is its ability to what has been characterized as the "God shaped hole" in the heart, that looks to be filled by something that can tend to a person's spiritual needs. "God calls and helps" is a saying out of a movement I belong to.

While morals are certainly an important aspect of any religion, it is far from the most important part. Spirituality is more like an additional faculty - a sense like an eye, or a nose, or an ear - that religion's most important work is fulfilling - filling the God shaped hole.

2 & 3: A person can practice morality without religion, certainly. But the non-believer should be humble enough to recognize that the hundred thousand year development of human ethical sensibilities is deeply intertwined with religion and religious thought. Even when you think you are practising morals without religion, you quite likely aren't, in some very real if indirect ways.

Answer 3

"The most important part of religion is the morals it preaches."

Disagree. The most important part of religion (or at least of Christianity) is restoring a sinner to a right relationship with God or, put another way, restoring spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead.

"One can practice these morals without religion."
Agree somewhat, but not having any religion means there's no consequence for breaking one's "personal" moral code. Furthermore, it's not enough to say, for example, that it's wrong to steal unless you have some framework for determining what stealing (and ownership) are in the first place. For example, there is much disagreement about whether such things as taxation and the use of eminent domain constitute "stealing".

Answer 4

Actually I would say that serving God (and His people) is the most important part of religion. Religion is not so much about rules as it is about that. People who truly serve God will naturally follow the guidelines He's given us.

It is possible to be a good person, and have a "fulfulling life" I suppose, but not nearly as fulfilling as if you do all that God wills. Mother Teresa for example, was probably one of the most fulfilled people ever to live. I'm not saying you have to do exaclty what she did, but if you want to experience her level of happiness, you have to give her level of effort. Religion is not about doing the minimum. If that's what you're asking that's fundamentally the wrong question, and you're missing the point.

Also, as a Catholic, I will also add that the church offers the sacraments (reconciliation, eucharist, matrimony, etc.), which are tremendous sources of grace and inspiration, and can only be obtained in the church.

Answer 5

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the most religious group. They focused on doing the letter of the law without accepting the heart of it. If Jesus isn't the most important part there is nothing rich or fulfilling about our lives. We're just existing with some good times mixed in.

Answer 6

No, there are discrepancies in your thinking. All that you say are unproven assumptions. For example, you assume that traditional morals are the most important part of religion-like chastity etc. That is a very important thing to live, in fact one of the most important parts, but it is only one of many things that God expects. I'm not exhibiting much cogency, sorry. You see, living morals is only a little part of a much larger picture. Religion keeps those morals in place. It teaches you to be like God. That is the only way to be the happiest and fullest in life. That can't be done without spirituality and religion. Talk to LDS missionaries, they will explain it better. I promise you it will help you see what I mean.

Answer 7

No, I don't agree.
Because most people can't practice those morals without a religion. If they could, I would agree with you.
You ask the majority of people why something is right or wrong, their answer is something along the lines of "Because God says so" or "Because the law says so". Most people can't think things through rationally.

Answer 8

#4 since we have morals without preaching, therefore the most important part of religion is NOT the morals it teaches, but the love of a deity and the hope in the future that the faith gives you.

Answer 9

the most important part in religion is and should be believing in God, the one and only who created us and created the universe, and will judge us, it is also doing whatever he is ordering us to do.
What ever God asks us to do leads one to live a rich fulfilling life, so the whole thing is related.
Religion is the way of living by believing in God, doing what ever we're asked to, and avoiding what we must avoid. it's easy and simple.
i would advise you to read the Quran, you'll find the logical response of all your questions.

Answer 10

This is true about RELIGION. There are many caring, moral atheists.

God wants you to have a RELATIONSHIP with Him. So, for Christianity, your logic would fail. #1 would be "The most important thing about Christianity is having a RELATIONSHIP with Christ."

ANYTHING that leads you away from Christ leads you to Hell.