If there was no god and EVERYONE knew that, do u think there would there be good in this world?

Question

*correction* If there was no god and EVERYONE knew that, do you think that there would be good in this world???

Note: I know that some peoprl don't believe in god, but there's a lot of people that do and because of that, they do good thyings.... so wif those people would know that god is not real.. do you think that they would continue to do good things?

Answer 1

Excellent Question.
Overall, I think there would be little difference. So much evil is done in the name of God and if your premise was true then most likely this would stop. However, currently many people are only restrained from evil acts by fear of God's retribution, so evil originating from this would likely increase. (Some of the responses to your question bear this out).
I guess many people don't think that someone can be a good person without God. Patently that is not true, otherwise you saying that all atheists are bad people (and probably many Buddhists for that matter).
If we could be assured that there is no God, the basis of our moral and ethical system would change. Most likely we would adopt a system similar in most respects to secular humanism.
In society we are pressured to conform to certain standards and if we do not, the law or mere peer pressure reacts to any infraction. If you rob someone and are caught you are put in jail, if you behave in anti-social fashion you are shunned by the rest of society.
This phenomenon exists now, with or without the existence of God. Clearly things would change - there would be no more swearing on the Bible for instance, so perjury would be pretty much a thing of the past. It would simply become lying.
Remember good is a human term (so is evil). It only exists in the human psyche.

Answer 2

Let's entertain the counter-proposal briefly. Suppose that one of the religions, past or present, is absolutely correct. Suppose that there actually IS some kind of divinity that has some kind of ethical code. It doesn't even matter which one it is. Choose your favorite.

Probably goes without saying, but no matter which religion you pick, the vast majority of people, past or present, do NOT follow it. Although many will have heard of and rejected it, many many more will simply have never even have the slightest inkling it exists. What did ancient Babylonians know of Christiantiy? What does your average present-day Ethiopian who has lived his whole live within walking distance of the place he was born know about it even now?

So the question then is, does good exist in any of these people who follow false religions or none at all? I think most would have to concede that there is SOME there, however little. It would seem, then, that no belief in a real divinity or attendance to a 'one true ethical code' would be necessary.

One examples I like to cite to underscore my point is the parable of the 'good Samaritan' in the Christian New Testament. It's interesting mostly because even most Christians don't entirely get the context. In the story, the only person who helps an ailing man (presumably a Jew) is a Samaritan (one of the enemies of the Jews at that time). The Samaritan in the story was a nonbeliever and in the framework of the general theologies of Christianity would go to Hell after his death. But the non-believer is the only one who helps. This suggests that (at least to Jesus) the 'one faith' is not the sole repository of goodness.

Remember that - the 'good Samaritan' is in Hell. So, too, must be plenty of other good people. So it goes.

Answer 3

Read some neo darwinist theories like that of Richard Dawkins or Robert Write's The Moral Animal. Many very intelligent researches have thought long and hard about this type of question and have come up with some fairly sound reasoning along these lines. I don't know if they are correct but it makes for some interesting conversations at dinner.

Answer 4

Well the world came mighty close to that at the time of Noah except they ignored the true God and worshipped other things or persons or entities besides God.

Man is a corrupt being so that any goodness is relative and essentially humanistic.

Without a real standard for goodness as we have seen in man's history. Or let me rephrase that. When man ignored the real standard for goodness; (i.e. a healthy and living respect for walking with a real God. And by so doing that impacts the way one is good to his fellow man), Then man slowly sunk into perversity and wars and violence. Ironically each situation could be defined as good in its relative position.

Answer 5

I would say a definate no. If I knew 100% there was no God, I would kill, steal, hurt whoever I want and not feel quilty about it. Humans, by nature, are all sinful creatures. It is God's love and Spirit who puts the goodness and love within each person, even if that person do not believe or realise it. It says in the book of Genesis that God created men and He declared them good. God also created us not to be like robots but to be able to make our own decisions. This is where Satan managed to deceive the humans, by making something look good on the outside, but leave out the critical bits which is normally a small percentage. He also managed to deceive people in believing that he and God does not exist. This give more power to Satan to have control over us.

To be honest, if there was no God, there would be no life on this planet.

Answer 6

It is true that some people refrain from doing bad deeds as they fear god.
But at the same time there are people who do good as it makes them feel good and seeing people help them make other people want to repay the debt and in the course of returning the favor they realise the true aim of Life, that is helping each other and living in Harmony.
Thus even in the worst of times, Hope will always be there in the form of Good People, God or No God.

Answer 7

Sure. Of course, there'd be bad too - just like it is today.

But I'd like to think that if we all gave up God there'd be by degrees more peace in the world, since so much violence and hatred is motivated by the a belief in God's supremacy, etc.

I also think we could get past, by slim degrees, several social problems that hinge on the suspension of control over the people, for it is the God principle that allows, in many respects, for people to accept systems of repression as they are.

Answer 8

Which God? once you're speaking appropriate to the christian God and are a christian your self, did you communicate approximately that residing decrease than that god could be as enormous a ask your self to the so-talked approximately as christians? could he be a brutal dictator? could he be liberal and loving - and make sparkling what's glaring to a pair persons: that so-talked approximately as christians interpret an historical e book to in wonderful condition their present day prejudices? you are able to start to desire he did not exist. He could think of it hypocritical that many christians stay in luxury: 2 automobiles, enormous abode, entertainment, greater nutrition than you are able to consume or drink - stuff imported from international locations the place there are those with not something, residing short and brutal lives.

Answer 9

One's religious beliefs have no baring on their character.
I've seen plenty of religious types (even on TV) that have evil natures. Many, in fact, are just trying to promote their own agenda, not God's.
Yes, there would be good in this world.

Answer 10

yes because some people have goodness inside them. They do good things for the sake of doing good things and to make life better for others. THey do not do good deeds just out of fear of punishment if they dont.