Can we be trim up the BS but keep the values?

Question

My meaning is this. Some people need the crutch of religion. I don't want to call them weak but they need some sort of external emotional support. Is there anyway to generate this without religion? Can we give that blessed and cared for feeling without the lame rules and bigoted indoctrination? Religion causes many people to live good lives but it limits them tragically as well. This is not a "can we be good without god" This is always answered as yes but this "yes" is a "is it possible" question. Of course is possible. However a better question is "can EVERYBODY be good without god" Or do some people deep down need its support?

Answer 1

Everybody can be good without alot of things: churches (building churches diverts money that could be used elsewhere), roads (see churches), houses (no homes, no reason to kill to defend them,) etc etc etc.

So the question is not can we be good without 'x' but what does 'x' provide that determines it's value, and how many people, or opinions, does it take to 'value' something.

Does everyone have to like apple trees in order for apple trees to be 'good'? People who are allergic to apples, or have had a bad experience with them, certainly don't think so, but apple trees weren't made for them, they were made for the people (and other entities) who find pleasure, and happiness and joy and other such expressions from them.

Jesus didn't come down for everybody, he came down for those who wanted/needed him to come down. If you don't like the fruit being offered, politely say 'no thank you' and move on. Fundies and other 'jesus-lovers' would be well-advised to remember this advice as well.

Answer 2

I dont think you have studied enough religions to ask this questions. Their are religions that do not have "God" in the way that the western world understands it. There are also religions that have no rules or very limited rules which have nothing to do with the way you live and do not limit their followers lives in any way. If people were looking to religion for emotional support they would be able to get it from the people around them so there must be another reason people look to religion that you have not yet considered. If people didn't need religion, it would not have persisted for the thousands of years it has, also the people who you say are incredibly limited would just forsake it and do what they wanted to do all the time but since they don't it must be necessary, at least for them.

Answer 3

If religion was simply a matter of external emotional support we could probably get way with subsituting reruns of Dr. Phil.

Religion is much more. Without this external moral framework for guidance, we are left to develop our own meaning for our existence. Ultimately, we come to the realization that all of our efforts are arbitrary and subjective. We discover that life is absurd. There are no moral reasons, principles. There is not good and bad. Just an existential vaccuum! The result is despair. So now we seek help. We find Dr. Phil is willing to see us, but when we tell him we want to kill ourselves he tells us, as an existential psychologist, that he can't really offer you a good arguments to the contrary!

I'm not trying to say that religion must be the answer. But it is not irrelevant. I would like to think we can trim some of the BS, but only if we approach it with reverence.

Plus, maybe there is a god!

Answer 4

WOW! Good Question. This one took some thinking.
Why do you think a belief system is a crutch?
The 'rules' are God's, is God lame?
If you want to remove God from the equation, who then will you be good for? To what propose?
In the old Testament God made it the people's responsibility, not a choice to come and worship Him. If you want to be a Christian, then why wouldn't you want to go to church and Worship Him with other believers? What rules limit you from being a blessing and a caregiver to/for others?
If you think that this is what having faith and beliefs is all about, then maybe you need to get into the Bible more and see what God really wants from you.
After all, if you're a Christian, it's all about your relationship with God that you should be involved with religiously.

Answer 5

Keep in mind the reasons that gods and religions were created, to fill the void of understanding within the human mind. In the past this had more to do with the natural world around us (thunder, earthquakes, etc) but now it means more of the internal lack of understanding or void within the self. While, yes, everyone is capable of existing without a deity (because if it was not possible for everyone, it would not be possible for anyone). However, I don't think that most of us are ready to release the grasp we've placed on the external forces in our lives, especially as it refers to a deity. Releasing it means that we have to internalize the emotions and perceived shortcomings. As long as there is an external deity, we can say it was fate or "God's will" or something similar. Yes, everyone CAN be good without god, but most of them are not ready to release that grasp and internalize the responsibility.

Answer 6

Values require a God quite simply because there is no other way to say whether the values are right or wrong. It's not a matter of emotional support or scaring people with visions of hell.

Lets say that murder is wrong. That's a statement the vast majority of people believe. But why is it wrong? Why not kill someone who makes you mad? No one can tell you why save that God (or what ever diety) said so. If you take away the diety, then you take away the moral reason, and therefore murder is not neccesarily wrong.

The same is said for theft, rape and sex crimes, assault, and cheating, lying, and perjury. No one can tell you why they are wrong or unlawful without bringing a deity into the discussion.

No one can be good without a God. Sorry. We would just be animals with no moral thinking and the only law would be survival of the fittest.

Answer 7

I think that some of the answers and questions here prove that some people desperately need a god to keep them in line.

How many times have you read questions from Christians claiming that Atheists just want to live like animals, or asking what stops an Atheist from committing murder and stealing.

These questions give us a glimpse into the life of the Christian on the other side of the keyboard. It shows how much they rely on tradition and an instilled belief in God to keep them from committing atrocities.

Logical people would be fine, but many people would go nuts and create problems for us all. In that regard, religion is doing us a favor.

Answer 8

Good question. Many people need structure, and religion can provide them with that. However, some people can find that in relationships, and vocations. I can't imagine a situation where someone would necessarily NEED god to function, but the belief certainly does quite well for many people who need SOMETHING.

Answer 9

Why can't we take the BS of non-religion and do all the
good works and be nice and :) at everyone and kiss everyone
a s s and cut your neighbors lawn in the name of godlessness. Godlessness is such a crutch to everyone
especially the weaker members of this society. We should
never limit ourselves without God because we are such good
folk. Ooooooooh, how sweet and sugary you all are. I loooove
you ooooooooh so much. :)

Answer 10

What are exactly the "lame rules and bigoted indoctrination" if one is Hopi (say) or Eastern Arapaho? How is their religion a crutch?

HTH

Charles