Could religious bodies continue to exist and do good work even after everyone stops believing in gods?

Question

I think even the most militant atheist would concede that churches and other religious bodies aren't all bad - some can and do perform a useful social function in a charitable role. However, religious belief is clearly dying out - churches are being turned into retirement homes and where they are still used, they are nearly empty. So, even though people don't believe any more, is it possible that the churches could morph into purely charitable organisations so that we retain some of the sense of community and common purpose that religions tend to be quite good at?

Answer 1

You made a pretty broad statement that "people don't believe anymore" which I think is false off the bat.

But hypothetically speaking, my answer would be: perhaps for a time, but in the long term, no.

I think perhaps you are referring mainly to protestant churches which tend to spring up and peter out fairly rapidly. I think you'll find a more optimistic picture in many Catholic, Jewish, and Eastern Orthodox churches/temples.

Answer 2

Here is the problem. Whether or not you are religious you must either believe in a Creator that always was and always will be or you must believe that matter that makes up the physical universe always was and always will be. Neither can be explained or totally understood and both seem just as unlikely.

But to the more important issue, thiest or athiest?

By believing in God (creator) you now have a source for goodness. A final moral authority. The founders of America had this belief. This is called "moral absoluteism". It is the acceptance that God is the highest moral authority and His and only His judgement is final.

By accepting athiesm, you eliminate the final moral authority. You eliminate moral absolutism and in its place substitute "moral relativism". Moral relativism is the acceptance that there are no moral absolutes or right and wrong are relative to the situation.

In Theism, right is always right and wrong is always wrong. It atheism, right and worng can be changed. Or in other words they don't really exist at least in the sense most people think of right and wrong.

In the socialist movement, athiesm is paramount. It is so important to the movement that all religion is outlawed, all clerics disgraced and all houses of worship desecrated. The only moral authority is the State. So, in other words, they eliminate God and substitute the State in the role of God.

The danger in this is that individual people are not at all important anymore. The collective is more important than its parts. So if situations call for the killing of mentally retarded people or crippled people or old people becaus they are unproductive, then so be it.

If the state determines that the needs of the state are better served by changing the course of a river so be it. Even if thousands will die of drought. If anyone speaks up against any decision the state has made or policy it chooses to pursue, they can be arrested and imprisoned, exiled or even executed. There is no appeal there is no recourse. The morally relative state can never be wrong.

In America, the belief is that all men are endowed by the creator with unalienable rights. That means these rights come from God and are morally absolute. They are not granted by any government and no government can take them away. All men are created equal means every person is equally precious. The infirm, the elderly the sick, the healthy, the smart, the dumb the rich and the poor. It is the moral absolute that only a belief in a creator can provide that protects us in the USA. It even protects us from our own government.


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Answer 3

I think you are not seeing a complete decay of religion. In my area, there are some churches that have become retirement homes, but that is because new churches were built to accomodate the members.

Still, I'll entertain your position for a moment. While many churches do well as far as charity work is considered, one needs to balance this with harm done in the name of religion, such as warfare and destruction of entire cultures.

Answer 4

the 2nd 2, and others. existence can no longer purely be created from no longer something. working example, i do no longer think interior the huge bang theory because of the fact if the earth formed from a tiny speck, the place did the tiny spec come from? something else: a million)you're nevertheless alive right this moment is a huge one. you may desire to've been killed in a vehicle accident that killed somebody interior the vehicle in front of you or something. 2) God continually solutions prayers (merely undergo in thoughts, merely because of the fact something did no longer ensue the type you will have asked would not advise He did no longer answer. He merely mentioned no, or no longer yet/now. in case you have an interest in faith, attempt analyzing the e book The Case for Christ. I examine the pupil version. Proves plenty from an atheist's attitude. Very cool! God bless!

Answer 5

Without people actually believing in the religion, I do not think they would still be able to make as many charitable contributions because they would not believe in a god that would reward them for their good deeds.

Answer 6

According to Romans 1, people believe in 'gods' (plural) because they "suppress the truth with wickedness" (verses 18 and 23). Wickedness in the Bible means concern about justice for the poor. Therefore, religion with God as its raison d'etre is the only way that genuine charity occurs, according to the Bible.

Answer 7

Yes. Churches and religious groups are not all bad. they do a lot of good in the world, provide a sense of community, support, etc.

But- you don't need to believe in god to enjoy altruism. I an my family are involved in many non-religious organizations that help others.

Answer 8

Many atheists are good at charity work also.

Answer 9

Methinks thou doth suspose too much.

Answer 10

Mind as well turn them into something useful : )