Can we distinguish what is good or bad for ourselves or do we necessarily need to believe in a god, in a holiness of a book or to join a specific religion?
2007-07-30 22:12:32 · 14 answers · asked by Enndarien D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Logic and empathy are the basis of morality, not the mythology of our simian ancestors.
Empathy allows you to care how your actions affect the rest of the universe. Logic allows you to figure out how they do so.
That is how everyone should decide what is good and what is bad.
The existence of God is completely irrelevant to true morality.
2007-07-30 22:17:55 · answer #1 · answered by scifiguy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We can distinguish what is good and bad by ourselves, but religion makes everything a little clear. Choice is what we have and to teach is what we must. Because a person can only distinguish between good and wrong if he is taught what morality and good is. Religion is a way to solidify these beliefs, and give them more substance on which to stand.
2007-07-31 06:34:21 · answer #2 · answered by Faust 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion isn't required, it's just useful.
As soon as humans form a society for the common good, they are tempted to 'cheat' for their personal good.
But what is cheating? Communist think personal wealth is cheating. Some societies felt it was just good manners to share one's wife. So we need a rule book. Religion evolved to fill this need. (among others)
Also, humans are pretty tricky. We will often 'cheat' if we think we can get away with it. The all-seeing judgmental God inhibits this behavior.
2007-07-31 06:11:26 · answer #3 · answered by Phoenix Quill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If good and bad is relevent to us, then how we feel effects it. This didn't work in Nazi Germany, for instance, since it was the general feeling that Jews were bad and that led to horrific mass murder. To be short, we can't let our emotions decide what is good and bad because our emotions control us, not the other way around. The idea of good and bad must be something highter than us, only something an infinite God can know for sure, not us with all our flaws.
2007-07-31 05:18:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem with deciding for ourselves what is good or bad by experience, as has been posted earlier, is that what is good for you may be bad for me. If I feel that rape is acceptable, that would impose itself on the victim of this horrific crime. Religion does not restrict human conscience, but give it freedom by establishing the boundaries in which it can operate.
2007-07-31 05:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by papadon60 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just know that before the law was passed to Moses, there was no sin. There is sin because there is law. Lord God clearly specified to Adam and Eve that they shouldnt partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, that was the law. Moses was given the ten commandments, that is the law.
2007-07-31 06:54:35 · answer #6 · answered by StingRay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course we can determine right and wrong on our own, without religion. Right and wrong are human concepts . . . we're human, we get it.
Religions would have you believe they have a stranglehold on morality but that's yet another myth perpetrated by religion.
It would take very little experience for the golden rule to become evident to most of us.
2007-07-31 05:16:09 · answer #7 · answered by Seeker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the bible says that the "gentiles" even though they had not the law, they still had them in their hearts. yes you can be "good" w/out religion. the difference with being good and having God is (i know you heard this before) w/God you can have salvation, w/out God there is no salvation.
2007-07-31 05:21:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morality is older than your gods.
Here's a guide:
hurting others = bad
helping others = good
no gods needed.
2007-07-31 05:19:04 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamstuff Entity 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes because God gave man a sense of right and wrong.
.
2007-07-31 05:16:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋