Why do people think that to have morals, you must be a religious person?

Question

Can you not be "moral", if you don't believe in a god?

So, if I don't believe in a god, that means I believe in the devil? How does that make sense?

And I say "if" I am more agnostic than atheist. There is still time to "prove to me" the existance of a god...

Answer 1

They are misled.

They are confused by the difference between civil obedience (all men have this ability) & spiritual obedience (no men have this ability without Christ).

Many Christians are confused by the difference between Law & Gospel. And much of the time they are confused about what the Law is able to do & not able to do.

Proper Christian doctrine states that a person is absolutely unable to do good works--from God's point of view--without Christ. Does that mean that if I am not Christian, I can't do what looks like a good deed or civil obedience--from the world's perspective? No.

Even the Bible tells us that unbelievers have God's Law written on their hearts. For example, people know naturally without anyone telling them, that killing is wrong. The unbelieving Pharisees in the Bible are great examples of those who are able to keep God's Law outwardly pretty much "to the T", but at the same time without pleasing God.

However, that was the point. God isn't interested in someone keeping His Law merely outwardly, but wants us to trust Him inwardly as well. That kind of perfection is utterly & totally beyond all humans--that is, without Christ.

Many Christians mistakenly think that the power to keep God's Law is dumping more of God's Law on someone, but that is a lie from Satan. There are three uses of God's Law: (1) It is a gift to *all* humanity for keeping order in the world (like a curb for believers & unbelievers); (2) It shows unbelievers & believers their sin & their need for Savior & forgiveness (like a mirror); (3) It is a gift to believers to show them what pleases God, like a guide. (This last use is only for believers because it is impossible to please God without faith in Christ.)

The Law provides no power in & of itself to accomplish the Law in it's entirety--that is inwardly as well as outwardly. It is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that a person is able to please God--that is through a belief that Christ kept God's Law perfectly for us; died on the Cross & provided a perfect sacrifice to save all humanity from all their sin, death & the power of the devil; then rose again to provide eternal life for those who trust in Him.

Perhaps some Christians are frustrated that our country is slowly throwing away the gift of God's Law to them as part of "all humanity" (the first use of God's Law). Why they think the solution is to claim God's Law is theirs alone, "& you can't have it unless you become Christian" I'm not sure. As a Christian, I am perfectly prepared to share the benefits of His Law with the rest of the world & think it is a better solution to just tell the truth about it.

Have you ever heard this perspective before?

Answer 2

Its not true, you can have morals without having a religion.

But, the reason why some people think you have to be a religious person to have morals is probably simply because religions teach morals. Also if you don't believe that your actions are going to be judged then there is one less reason to be good.

There are other good reasons too:
1. Stay out of jail
2. People will like you, perhaps be good to you in return
3. You will probably feel better about yourself
4. Less negative consquences

Answer 3

i don't subscribe to that notion.
i don't consider myself to be religious on the contrary i usually describe myself as a recovering catholic,however i have a conscience and i try to do the right thing in a given situation.
this is a defining characteristic of moral behavior .doing what you know is right .and when in doubt doing what you think is right is the best you can do as an agnostic . if you need more guidance read the torah ,or the bible or if you wish to remain on the spiritual sidelines do as i did as a young man and read ayn rand she had a very Strong moral compass that to this day i cannot refute.
sincerely joe c

Answer 4

What do you mean by "morals"?

There are basically three meanings of the word:

"Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behaviour") has three principal meanings. In its first descriptive usage, morality means a code of conduct held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong, whether by society, philosophy, religion, or individual conscience. In its second normative and universal sense, morality refers to an ideal code of conduct, one which would be espoused in preference to alternatives by all rational people, under specified conditions. To deny that 'morality' in this sense, refers, is a position known as moral skepticism.[1] In its third usage 'morality' is synonymous with ethics, the systematic philosophical study of the moral domain.[2] Ethics seeks to address questions such as how a moral outcome can be achieved in a specific situation (applied ethics), how moral values should be determined (normative ethics), which morals people actually hold to (descriptive ethics), what is the fundamental nature of ethics or morality itself, including whether it has any objective justification (meta-ethics), and how moral capacity or moral agency develops and its nature (moral psychology)." Wikipedia

Sure, one can be moral if she does not believe in God. But that morality may or may not be the same as one who believes in God. For example, I think everybody believes that murder is immoral. But what about lying? Is it right sometimes, depending on the situation or is it always wrong?

Answer 5

I think there are MANY people who don't believe in GOD but who are "moral".
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Let's face it, the "majority" of people aren't religious these days BUT (without any facts to back this up) the "majority" of people are "moral".
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I think most people have basic "morals" such as being honest, not lying (or we try anyway), not stealing, not committing adultery (most people anyway), treating our neighbour with respect.......etc.
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I think these "Basic Morals" came from the Bible and much like the Laws of our country have been adopted as being the best for us in all circumstances.
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Answer 6

Cab a non secular individual have morals? particular, particularly. Do I could reject the authority of my faith so as to realize this? particularly no longer! My morals are Bible-based. i exploit the Bible, God's Holy word, as my template. it is definitely one in all the justifications why it replaced into written. it is God's handbook to us on how we could continuously stay our lives. The Holy Spirit additionally guides me too. it is nearly demanding to describe to a non-Christian, yet i'm getting a distinctive feeling whilst i know something is inaccurate or surprising. that's no longer guilt, through fact i do no longer supply into the situation. This continuously happens formerly hand. it is nearly like one in all those warning equipment that I actual have. lower back, that's no longer something it is unquestionably defined. different Christians have experienced it. perchance somebody else can clarify it greater useful.

Answer 7

Morals and ethics have nothing to do with a god, they are simply things what the general public believe. And it is a lot easier to go with the flow than against it.
In order for people to live together they must have rules that must be obeyed.
This has nothing to do with a god it is simply COMMON SENSE!

Answer 8

Dear Sister

The reason why people think that to have morals, you must be a religious person is because that is what a religious person value are built upon on morals. People who have morals know that there is a God. A nonbeliever want have such morals because they will have something else in place of God in their life. They may have Satan or something in this world that will take the place of God in their life. Think sister! Think!

Answer 9

Well if you think about it, where did our morals come from?
Can you site where we get the ideas of right and wrong? Do you think it is inherent?

God's Word gives us the standard by which to live. The Ten Commandments are what our justice system was originally based on.

What do people do who have no moral compass? Look at studies of indigenous tribes.

In answer to your additional comments:
All Biblical Prophecy that has been fulfilled to date has been 100% accurate.
If you are open to the idea of God, read and study the Bible, if you would like help with Bible study email me.
Sincerely - Redeemed

Answer 10

DECENT morals and values equal "walking with God". Anything else is just fooling oneself; really.

Most people say crap knowing that it's crap but they say it namely to make themselves feel better because truly intelligent people don't place immorality and lies on a pedastal.

Only foolish ones and rebellious louses enjoy fooling themselves, but the one who tries very hard to walk with God is the one who lacks foolishnesh. Sadly there are more fools and liars than there are credible upright, good moral and valued human beings.

It's so sad. It's called "being in denial" for those ones who like to "take God out of the equation". Either you are on one side of the fence or the other...you cannot walk down the middle.