A friend just ask me if you have to beLieve in God to have moraLs. I thought yes, but now I wonder ~ is it possibLe to not beLieve in God and stiLL have moraLs and vaLues ?
2007-09-11 18:13:19 · 19 answers · asked by Jamie D BABY! 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
You don't have to believe in god to be a good person. If you are a kind and caring person because you want to. You are a better person.
2007-09-11 18:16:57 · answer #1 · answered by Haplo 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's interesting that this question popped up because I was confronted with this very topic at work by a Christian co-worker. He knows I don't believe in God so he asked me whether I thought I could be a good person without this belief. I was a little floored because I've never equated a belief in god to being a good person, and couldn't figure out why anyone would. Because someone doesn't believe in god doesn't mean they will go out and be serial killers. Fear of burning in hell is not be what keeps me from murdering and pillaging.I won't do these things because they are wrong - with or without religion.
I believe it is important to be a good and moral person because that is what is required to be a productive member of society. Goodness and morality are contracts with society, not because of religion. If believing in god makes one a good person, how do you explain the corrupt priests and the greedy evangelists we all hear about? When people are bad and immoral, they tear at the fabric of society and if unhindered can create an imbalance. Justice and rule of law is important because it creates equality between people of all beliefs (or no beliefs) and enables us to live in a safe and prosperous civilization.
No - a belief in god is not required.
2007-09-14 00:19:45 · answer #2 · answered by the_dragyness 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does a person have to believe in God to be a good person? Not at all. A lot of religions try to lay claim to being the basis of morality, because it would make their religion seem more credible. This is simply untrue. If it were, every person who isn't a Christian would have committed a crime by now, since without religion they would not be able to tell right from wrong. Religions teach morals and this is good, they are just not the source of them. The simple fact is, morals are nothing more than a side effect of evolution. As we evolved, we had a better chance of survival when two or more humans banded together and cooperated with one another. Ever hear the saying, "survival in numbers"? To keep a group of humans together for any amount of time, they had to get along. In order to get along, people had to practice moral behavior. Morals in their most basic form are basically what we judge as good and bad when looking at how it effects us. If these ancient people would have lied cheated and stolen from one another, how long do you think they would have stayed together in one tribe? If during our evolution we would have stood a better chance of surviving alone, as a tiger does when trying to survive, our morals would be much different today. Ancient man was more like a pack of lions, sleeping, hunting and reproducing as a group. Of course, there are going to be exceptions to this, because we are emotional creatures and at times our emotions override logical thinking and common sense causing us to act immorally. I hope this has given you a different perspective, than the one your friend offers. From her perspective, anyone not religious is just as likely to kill you as help you. Without a religion to guide us nonbelievers, we have no morals and can not tell right from wrong. How would you like to go through life seeing others this way. I have to believe that inherently, everyone has some good inside of them, or what would be the point? Their would be no reason to try and coexist peacefully along side of other humans. I might as well become a hermit if morals were not inherent, for all the good I would gain from being a member of society.
2007-09-12 02:00:19 · answer #3 · answered by Danny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
of course it is. i've had my doubts here and there and one time it got really bad and i was an atheist for about a week, but i was still a good, kind and caring person. i still had the same morals- the only difference was that i lost a reason for it (God). If you think God is all about being a good person and getting to heaven...you've got it wrong. Yes, being a good person it good, but God also wants a personal relationship with us. You did come across the term "love" at least once in the Bible, right?
2007-09-12 01:18:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A person does not have to believe in God to be a good person with morals and values. It just won't get you into Heaven. We are judged by our works after we have been SAVED. Jesus is the only way to God. Ask Him!!!
2007-09-12 01:41:10 · answer #5 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is possible. I bet there were nice people with good morals included in with the people that drowned in the flood of Noah's ark. Their problem was that they "took no note until the flood came and swept them all away." (Matthew 24:38, 39)
If you don't believe in God, then this life that you toil over is all you have. The Bible promises that those believing in and serving the true God will inherit everlasting life. That is what John 3:16 is all about. Add to that other scriptures like Psalm 37:11, 29 that shows specifically that we will be living on earth forever in perfect paradisaic conditions.
However, faith is only one thing that is needed. We need to take in knowledge of the true God of the Bible, and then work in harmony with what we have learned, regardless of what the majority of mankind is doing. "As the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:16)
If you have any further questions, drop me a line.
2007-09-12 01:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by peaceablefruit206 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, of course not. I have a really good friend who is an Atheist (which means he doesn't believe in God), but he is the kindest person I know. All people have morals.
Sure, it makes life easier if you do believe in God, but if you don't believe in God it doesn't make you a bad person.
2007-09-12 01:19:42 · answer #7 · answered by poeticjustice 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone thinks himself or herself to be basically good. Even criminals plotting their next crime think themselves to be basically good. So if we use our own standard for good, we will always adjust that standard so that our behavior qualifies.
Moral is more than just good deeds. Moral includes motive. It is doing the right thing for the right reason. Most people behave as society has trained them. Since infancy we have all been praised when we do something praiseworthy and scolded when we do something unacceptable. By the time we get to be adults, we don't need direct praise or scolding. We just go by our learned feelings.
Feelings make a very weak foundation for morality. Feelings are not moral authority and don't create an obligation to do the right thing. Without God, we just do what we feel like doing.
God is necessary for morality, not because He makes the rules, but because God is an authority over us to Whom we are obligated.
2007-09-13 06:10:55 · answer #8 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, I don't think you have to believe in God to be a good person. Obviously there are many people that do not believe in God who are law abiding, productive and moral people willing to help their fellow man and do good.
2007-09-12 01:19:10 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are people with basically good morals all across the religious spectrum. (not saying PERFECT, but basic law abiding, good citizens)
It is not necessary to believe in God to have morals.
It is an ugly stereotype to suggest that people who don't believe in God are amoral.
2007-09-12 01:17:52 · answer #10 · answered by queenthesbian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋