Is it more important to follow some bogus religious rules, or to follow what you know to be right?

Question

Basically all religious rules have a bunch of religion-specific stuff that does not apply if you do not believe. They are neither universal, nor necessary. Isn't it more important to live a good life, not to compromise your own principles, and to do the best you can for yourself and others?

SteveN: this is true, but what members of your religion do isn't my fault.

Esther: I'm very happy for you. I do not agree. Have a nice day.

Jesus M: I don't know what you consider right or correct, but if it is based on a book that lists atrocities worse than the Nazi's credited to its writers and their god, I'm not interested.

NAB: My religious family did form the basis for my morals and personal beliefs. They showed me exactly what I would NEVER want to be. I now have 3 happy, healthy, well-adjusted children because I never treat them the way those self-righteous bigots treated us.

ronbo: your imaginary friend does nothing, and has nothing to say. I'm right for me and my opinion is the only one that matters.

siaosi: Me of course! I'm the only one I have to impress. I do that by doing well by my children, something seriously lacking in the modern religious world.

Answer 1

1: Don't be a dick.
2: Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

That's all you really need.

Answer 2

There are three ways to develop your conscience. The first way is by trial and error. We do something, it either is good or it blows up in our face and we don't do it again. The second way is to use reason. I know A is bad, and I want to do B, but I see that doing B will cause A, therefore I won't do B. The third way is to trust an authority, and this is where the "religious rules" come in (I prefer to call them truths). Once you have done method 1 and 2 for a while, you may notice that there is a religion out there that pretty much matches up with everything you've struggled to discover on your own. The nice thing about this third method is that it avoids the pain of method 1 and it assists the verification of method 2. Rather than inventing the wheel all over again, you can speedily absorb everything you need to know to live a good life. I recommend Christ as the best method 3 authority.

Answer 3

I was raised by open minded Christians. When I came home at 17 and told them I was 'saved" they freaked out. Good for them! That lasted for a while but I always retained by Christian beliefs until I attended an Assembly of God church with a friend for about a year. Long story how I got there but I can tell you, I was disgusted with the hate and bigotry taught there.

The experience left me running from God. I tried to deny him, i truly did, but I could never go over that fence. I think there is a God. Or some sort of energy out there.

I have one son and he is atheist right now, he's 14. Yea, I started late.

Answer 4

Yes.. I'm a Muslim (but i have a free spirit about being Muslim) and all the other Muslims tell me I'm wrong that I'm not a true believer and i ask them are you God? Islam is about submission to God, there are so many rules in Islam and sometimes i find it hard. God loves someone who does something wrong, but repents for it and God will forgive that person. I was given this life to enjoy it to the fullest, however in a good way. Not running around having sex with 100 people, not drinking myself silly (which these things don't matter to me, i can live with out them). i have a inquisitive mind and she i ask God questions and praise God, i get answers in the strangest ways.. i walk down the street and talk to God, my mother always told me that God can see everything, and i never understood that. But now i finally get it, i fear God because he sees everything and i feel guilty if i do something i shouldn't being doing.

Answer 5

Most of the rules i think are used for a guide line. I mean if your neighbor slaps you you don't literally turn and let them do it again, you just dont at fuel to the fire. I dont really believe the stuff in the bible it has been rewritten so many times interpreted through many languages. Most religious people dont follow the rules anyway they just do what every they want and do a hail mary or two

Answer 6

Where you think all that religious rule stuff comes from???50'000 years of figuring out what works and don't work-and many folks need these rules to get off on the good start--which I'm sure you GOT--from the people you grew up around--weather you like it or not--people's like you cant see the big picture---you to biz--Fighting a god--or something you say dont exist--weather it does or not-Where is your Atheist book on how people should live--??and YOUR book has been abused at badly as all the rest--Mussaliny??Hitler?

Answer 7

If you do not believe in religious rules, then how do you know how to live a good life? Where did your principles come from? You knew nothing as a baby so that you means you were taught right from wrong. So who taught you right from wrong? How do you know they are not necessary? You use Christian principles and then seek to deny them. You are lost, but dont want to admit it. Believe it or not, rules apply to you whether you like it or not. You are even given the choice of whether to obey them or not. Besides, what defines a good life to you?

Answer 8

I think though, that what we know is right, are based and taken from religious beliefs bestowed upon us when we were children, regardless of what religion you grew up with. Christian based or not...to be the best person you can be and be kind and respect others.

Do animals have religion? Yet, some eat their young or their mate and kill those who get in their way. Yes, I know, so do some humans. Remember though, their arguement is that they say 'the devil told them to do it'.

Answer 9

If love is your motivation then of what use is religion? Far better to unlearn or forget religion, scripture, and dogma then with love turn your thoughts inward to find something people have been killing each other over for centuries, ever since man sought God.

Answer 10

It's more important to me to follow what feels right in my heart. I spent way too many years following what I had been brainwashed to think. When I left all those notions behind it made a HUGE difference in how I thought of & treated my fellow humans as well as myself.

ps don't ya know those religion-specific DO apply to you --since if you don't follow them you are going to hell??? (smile)

Answer 11

Now you're talking.
You do not have to be religious to be a good human being.
Their minds are conditioned by rules and dogmas and that prevents one from explore other ideas. It crystallizes their minds.
That's why they assume that only religious people are able to do good things and the others are sinners. Stupid way of thinking.