One can have standards and behave morally without the threat of eternal damnation. We all know that most people believe in God yet it hasn't made much of a dent in deterring bad behavior. Atheists don't believe in God, heaven or hell, Why aren't the jails filled with these Godless heathens?
Ted Haggard was a God fearing bible thumping leader of a mighty church, and it didn't stop him from doing drugs and cheating on his wife with another man.
Morality is in the hearts and minds of people it can not be coerced into existence.
Is fear of hell the only thing keeping you from killing, raping, and stealing? If you learned today that there was no God, would you run rampant in the streets and begin a life of debauchery? You probably would if God was the only reason you behaved.
Pantheist
2007-09-29 06:01:48 · 17 answers · asked by Equinoxical ™ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
@ tekmiro - same question, yet you felt compelled to answer it. I'm not an atheist.
2007-09-29 06:09:59 · update #1
I understand those with weak or non existant morals will do wrong regardless of a Faith in God, those who can't make a moral decison with out threats aren't moral at all.
We expect children to be like that. They require guidance to learn the proper path and stay on it. Adults have to be responsible for what they do , not just pawn it of on "we're all sinners and fall short", that's a cop out for people who desire to do wrong.
Hell doesn't frighten me because it doesn't exist. "God" is to believers the stern parent that doesn't allow his children to grow up. How can you be expected to ever be good and moral when you are taught that you are born to sin and it's not your actions that make you worthy, it's your belief. With Christianity all is forgiven and the only requirement to heaven is acceptance of Jesus as lord and savior.
If there were a Hell, any God that would allow good people to go there is cruel and unworthy of love or praise.
2007-09-30 02:09:52 · update #2
As the Apostle Paul said, 'The love of God constrains me.'
2007-09-29 06:10:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I used to have an Atheistic point of view. I stayed away from drugs, alcohol, and sex when I was younger not for God or for the hear of Hell, but for me. I had good morals but I did nothing for God, I really didn't think about Him of talk about Him or even really believe in Him. I came to know Jesus as my lord and Savior and that made me even a better person, on top of what my morals were already. All the things that are difficult for me to overcome came within me, but that strength is a gift from God. I do everything that I do for God now, not because of fear of Hell, but because of thankfulness and Love of God. Many people do believe out of fear but some also believe out of love!
Great Question, star for you :)
2007-09-30 09:46:43 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs. Bear 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You know..sadly you may be right about this, and the day for the TRUE answer to that WILL come. Also there are PLENTY of people in jail that are also atheists, or confess to some other form of belief, or non-belief. A person can always SAY they are a Christian, but it is HOW they live out their lives that determines whether or not they REALLY are that which they proclaim. **Sigh** Someday the world will really be able to see what humanity will be like in utter chaos. For a day is coming in which God will withdraw totally from our world. What a sad time that will be for Humanity.
2007-09-29 06:13:08 · answer #3 · answered by maranatha132 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope...I'm not afraid of Hell because it's not a place...it's a condition that will happen to those who are not saved in the end of our world. I look forward to heaven, but I don't live an immoral life because I want to go there...I don't live an immoral life because I want to live a Godly life. I believe that obedience to God shows that I love Him. To know Him is to Love Him!
I know that I cannot do anything to be saved, because the best I can do is still filthy rags to God...I am saved by His Grace and my faith that He is God and is a God of love and mercy. Jesus paid the price for you and me. I am grateful that someday I will be with God in Paradise, and later on the New Earth.
Those who choose not to follow God's plan of Redemption will be given the separation from God they want...thus, they will no longer exist.
2007-10-06 20:32:24 · answer #4 · answered by Jalapinomex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear His4life,
If we examine the Bible, in which God has hidden truth, we find that in ourselves we have no strength, wisdom, or ability to keep ourselves from sinning. A person may "appear" to be very upstanding and moral but we cannot see into his/her soul.... God does not only look at outward actions but He sees our thoughts....
The Bible says, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20).
In Matthew 5:28 we read, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
God says, "20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mark 7:20-23).
Morality is good but "morality" does not keep people out of hell. Only salvation through Jesus Christ can deliver a person from eternal damnation.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
2007-09-29 06:47:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your extended question. Morality has NOTHING to do with what religion (or lack thereof) that a person professes. Even if somebody claims to follow a religion that teaches morality, they can easily come up with some sort of exception as to why those moral codes don't apply to them (e.g. it's OK to kill heathens)...
2007-09-29 06:08:29 · answer #6 · answered by crypto_the_unknown 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
But not the Heaven or Hell outside of Earth.
2007-10-07 05:47:11 · answer #7 · answered by smkeller 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell does exist ...and staying out of hell is an excellent reason to follow Jesus.
...if a fireman came to your apartment and said the building is burning and you must follow me an obey my instructions ...would you say ...i dont believe you and you are just trying to manipulate me ...besides ...wheres the smoke ...wheres the fire? ...leave me alone.
this lady went to hell with Jesus to show her what it is about. ...this is her story ( the truth is the truth ...God's rules ...not ours.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mBm9JRggXOY
God IS in control ...it is personal conscience ...that God created when He made the human personality that limits a lot of evil.
even athieists have a conscience (though they dont acknowledge that God planted it in them).
...plus the fact that God stops a lot of evil people from doing what they really want.
in the book of Revelation it says that there will come a day when God removes his Spirit from the earth ...it goes on to describe the result being rampant terror , murder and chaos ...the people on the earth will have none of the protection from evil that people now take for granted (and dont understand that it is God protecting them now)
in the Bible it clearly states that "all have sinned" ...it further states that " the wages of sin is death" and that all unrepentant sinners will go to hell when they die.
God's creation ...God's rules. No exceptions
in Matt: 7 Jesus clearly states
..."13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
jesus said more about hell than he did about heaven in the bible ...He came specifically to keep people from going there...he gave specific instructions about it... http://www.allaboutgod.com/plan-of-salvation.htm
Jesus also said in Matt:7
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.
accepting Jesus as Lord means following his teachings as well ...a christian that will not forgive will go to hell just as fast as someone who hates God ...and willfully sins.
2007-09-29 06:43:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is sad that we still need carrots and sticks to keep some people behaving correctly.
Those people who need those carrots and sticks, are not internally moral, for without these promises of rewards and punishment, they cannot behave correctly.
I put it to you that other people who do not believe in carrots and sticks and yet behave correctly, are the true moral beings.
2007-09-29 06:26:58 · answer #9 · answered by CC 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How nicely said!
I do not need an old book full of fairy tales to know right from wrong. Empathy evolved as a way to protect ourselves; what we saw hurting another we came to realize would hurt us as well -- and vice versa.
I live a more "moral" life than many religio-nuts, and I don't have to hide behind it like a hypocrite. Neither will you find me crying and asking my followers for forgiveness when the truth comes out and I am left looking the fool.
Honesty is the best policy, no?
.
2007-09-29 06:08:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
I have a very good relationship with God. I do what I do in a desire to please Him yes, but also because it feels bad to do wrong. I do not fear hell, or God.
peace
2007-10-07 01:26:36 · answer #11 · answered by Linda B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋