Do we need religion to give us moral direction?

Question

I see plenty of BAD examples of humans with positions in the church - Catholic pedophiles, Mark Foley, Jimmy Swaggert, etc. And I also see plenty of people without religion that treat other people with dignity, honor and respect - living by the Golden Rule if you will.

I see many people on Y!A with posts that indicate that atheists are immoral or indecent. What gives?

Why is it so important for politicians to roll out their religious credentials?

Meant Ted Haggard, not Mark Foley - sorry.

Answer 1

religion is man-made. knowing that god exists is absolutely impossible. there's no way to prove that mary was a virgin, that jesus was god's little boy, that mohammed (an illiterate merchant in arabia) spoke to god, etc.

the bible was written by people. it is no more a "source" of god's existence than literature proves king arthur exists.

a belief in religion does nothing for people who want a moral compass.

the entire school of utilitarianism is incompatible with god and it is most certainly a theory of ethics.

Answer 2

As it turns out, the world actually isn't evenly divided between Good people and Bad people. Religion does go a long way toward instilling morals, and many of the commonly accepted ethics of Western Civilization are based on the limits formerly imposed by the church. Even disbelief (atheism) seems to come with a set of required beliefs. As if somehow, science were a golden chalice that could immediately bestow knowledge, rather than a long arduous journey of trial and error.

Feel free to take that with a grain of salt- it's always been deeds, not beliefs, that define a person's character. I've met several good people within and without the church, and there's going to be assholes everywhere you go. Remember, the nice country pastor with a heart of gold who works soup kitchens three nights a week isn't likely to make the six o'clock news- just not sexy enough.

But to bring it back to Politics- 30 seconds is a terribly short period of time to convince anyone that you are a person of character. Instead, they associate themselves with an institution that MOST americans see as a positive core of values. Then they're free to spend the other 25 seconds of the commercial disparaging the opposition.

Answer 3

A: no, we don't. And it is interesting how up and coming candidates have decided to play the religion card.

You'd think that the far right would have learned it's lesson when Bush left them bare naked by the side of the road. Google the name David Kuo and read about it...

I know plenty of people who are not far right fundies, and their morals are just fine. They treat people with more respect and dignity than some cons.

I could do with a bit more down-to-business thinking in our politicians and a lot less religion.

Of course, I always believe in benevolence toward the poor and helping others. That's just common decency.

Answer 4

First off you know what, you're right to an extent. Although you're dead wrong on part of your assumption.
To explain what I mean. Bad examples, u bet, but most all of these bad examples are people that have religion but they don't have a personal relationship with the One who is the "Way the Truth and the Light" Only one person claims this and that's Jesus Christ Our Lord who died on the cross of Calvary. So therefore they are not, i repeat are not a member of the church. And by the church I mean all those that are born again through Jesus Christs shed blood on the cross.
And you may not like that analogy but Its the Truth.
Furthermore there are those who truly do make mistakes that are christians but, BUT have asked Jesus Christ to forgive them.
You see its so easy for you to sit back and make condemnation and ridicule and jest on those who stumble and fall, but friend lets open your closet and see what hiding there. You see Gods Truth "The Holy Bible" EXPOSES the darkness by His Light. Therefore we have no other answer for you than to say that His Word Supercedes and Overcomes All that which is Evil. And if its in a persons heart, yes its evil, but mostly the outward actions is what we condemn others for when we should at the most be praying that God would wave their souls and they not be condemned to a devils eternal hell.
Jesus Said, "By this (Gods peoples love for one another, not terrorists activities on each other) shall ALL MEN know that you are my disciples (followers) IF, (BIG WORD HEH) if ye have love for one another.
So friend, lets show the love of Jesus Christ to others, but if we're not saved and born again through Jesus Christ, then of course there will be and cannot be that Love shown.
That's what's wrong with the United States of America Today. We need more people in Action than just cheap words.
so my word for you is to Hear Gods Word which is the only way you can really (Truthfully) understand why the pedophiles, Rapists, Murderrs, Terrorists, Abortionists, Liars, Backbiters, Gossipers, Back Stabbers, are the way they are, because remember this. "THEY ARE OF THEIR FATHER THE DEVIL."

Answer 5

No.

Ted Haggard stepped down.

As for Jimmy Swaggart, there are other good prominent church leaders - even they make mistakes - Billy Graham comes to mind.

Here's a thought. You can be 'good' without faith, but, I'm guessing that those of faith would have addtional ideals of morality. An example is pre-marital sex. Today, it seems that society in general has been desensitized to this (they'll do it anyway) being morally wrong. People of faith, especially Judeo-Christian faith would be quick to point out the immorality of it.

The problem is, many people will follow only the morality they see as acceptable to them, rather than the morality laid out for them in the Bible.

This is what happens when you separate morality from faith.

Answer 6

That's the problem. Politics is the Religion to many people. They don't Trust in God. They trust in their politicians.

Poligion = the deadly marriage of religion and politcic.

Answer 7

not religion but use the values and morals the founders of this country used to form this great country . You don't have to believe in God to practice morals of the ten commandments

Answer 8

We need faith, faith in a higher calling, or belief, whatever that maybe, it maybe faith that there is no higher calling, the point is is that there are different ways to be faithful that don't meet the Christian definition of morality.

Answer 9

No, religion has been an excuse for some of the most immoral acts committed in the US(slavery). I am not slamming religion, but there are plenty of people that claim to be religious, but are anything but.

Answer 10

Wrong question. The one you meant to ask is, "Does religion give us our moral direction or does it come from somewhere else?" Are you brave enough to answer that one honestly?