Absolutely not! But that doesn't seem to register with all those self-righteous, holier-than-thou pea-brains who think that being a non-believer makes someone totally self-centered, selfish and most likely evil. Thank you for the question.
2007-09-15 10:54:25
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Absolutely NOT! A person can be moral (obey laws that are standard to society as well as retain morals within a family group). You don't need a religion to tell you the difference between right and wrong... we figure that stuff out without religion as we group up.
If religious faith/belief was the only reason we have morals, we'd still own slaves.
2007-09-15 11:04:13
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answer #2
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answered by River 5
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No, you don't. However, without faith in a power above us, there is nothing that really holds you to your morals or even caring about right or wrong. Only the fear of getting caught or what other people might think. If you can break through that, you can do absolutely anything because you have no ties but what you are taught by your society. Morals are not innate. They are drilled into you by your family and social group.
2007-09-15 10:53:27
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answer #3
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answered by Sharon M 6
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No, most people are intrinsically moral beings, who care about their fellow humans without any formal command to do so. Humans are naturally empathetic.
Religion is necessary to help control those who are not born, or cultured with this innate understanding.
Religion can also be used to justify horrific violence, it is a two edged, moral sword.
2007-09-15 10:55:01
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answer #4
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answered by hog b 6
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No. If someone had honest parents, who brought the person up in righteousness, with senses of morality and limits, no matter they were atheists, they will have raised a kid with a human sense of descency. / Faith doesn't necessarily has an issue with righteousness, at least not as much as with salvation. A person isn't saved through his righteousness, but through mercy. And this is another subject.
2007-09-15 10:51:46
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answer #5
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answered by G., Brasil 2
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Absolutely NOT! If you believe in a power greater than yourself and live a moral life, you can't ask for much more. If you need or want to associate with like-minded people, organized religion can be very helpful - if you can find a religion that matches the way you think.
-MM
2007-09-15 10:49:35
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Logic and empathy are the only true basis for morality, not the dictates of ancient mythology.
2007-09-15 10:53:38
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answer #7
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answered by scifiguy 6
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it defeats the purpose if you need to believe in a religious faith in order to be moral
2007-09-15 10:50:01
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answer #8
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answered by Luken 5
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No, and its really sad that many people still believe this. Atheists (and other non-believers) can still be good citizens because they naturally know the difference between right and wrong.
joe_citizen_66 is actually right. atheists make up only 0.2% of the prison population, while they make up around 10% of the total population.
2007-09-15 10:47:34
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answer #9
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answered by Uliju 4
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no. that would suppose that noone that wasn't religious would be able to be moral.
and if that was the case, pre-religion there would never have been a moral person to found religion.
also, let's not pretend religions have ever staked their righteousness to their historical morality.
2007-09-15 10:48:19
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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