Is it our beliefs that keep us in check?

Question

On my last question a person said that without our beliefs, we are all basically the same: animalistic, having the same basic needs for survival and all seeking sexual gratification. So is this true? Is believing something is wrong what keeps us from doing it? Or for some, is it merely the understanding that others believe it is wrong?

Answer 1

Not true. Very Skinnerian. Very Calvinistic.

Some fundamentalists seem to believe this, but Christians are called to believe that since we are made in God's image, we are basically good and loving. Our needs are more than just the bottom tier of Maslow's heirarchy: one of our basic needs is to love and be loved, and I don't mean sexual gratification.

Our beliefs are corillary to that, but not the only source of our so-called higher nature.

Answer 2

Well....we ARE all basically the same. We are all mammals.
Of course we have the basic need to survive and the need for gratification. Sexually and spiritually.

People have a conscience regardless of what religion they are. You don't need to be a Christian or Muslim to KNOW what is right and wrong.

Its a person's upbringing and their own individual experiences that dictate how they make decisions in life.

Its not morally right to believe that someone that doesn't believe in God will choose to do bad things.
Even people that believe in God do bad things.
Its called sin, isn't it?

Answer 3

Lawrence Kahlberg, a child psychologist, developed a moral theory that describes six levels of moral understanding. At the most basic level, "morality" consists of seeking benefit and avoiding punishment. Level two is cooperation for mutual benefit. The third level considers the opinion of others and is often called the "good boy/girl" stage. Most people eventually arrive at Level 4, which bases moral decisions on the authority of established social laws, civil or religious. And there are some people who do things according to fundamental principles (like justice, sanctity of life, peace, etc.), regardless of what the law says.

Each level requires a further layer of mental abstraction, and is incomprehensible to those who haven't reached it. The principles can't be taught, only modelled. People can also operate below their achieved level depending on the seriousness of the issue. Difficulties can arise when one tries to motivate another person on a moral level that he doesn't understand.

Two people may do or avoid doing the same thing, but they can have completely different motivations based on their moral paradigm. One may believe in self-preservation, reputation, social wisdom or deeper principles. These beliefs help us to behave, but they operate very differently in our lives.

Answer 4

I don't believe mankind to be innately evil. I believe that while there is some part of each of us that wants what we want regardless of how it affects anyone else, that there is also within each of us an innate sense of love that reaches out to others. I believe that this sense of love for others is what leads us towards civilized communities when there are none. In the absence of any established laws or morals, I believe that this innate love, which is stronger in some than others, will exhibit itself in actions based on what we call morals. The actions will instead be based on what will or will not hurt someone you love. Laws are extrapolations of this. Instead of what will or will not hurt an individual, it is what will or will not hurt the society as a whole. Unfortunately at this point in history we have gone too far in legislating.

Answer 5

This is a great question! As mammals, we need food, water, shelter, and feel the urge to reproduce.
I have my own set of guidelines that I try to live by. I don't compare them to other people's beliefs, because someone could say 'No sex unless I'm in love', while I say 'No sex until I'm married, because I know I'm not ready yet.' To be honest, some of the things on my list of guidelines would make other teenagers flinch. But, I don't really care what they think. Most girls in my high school wear tight pants. I wear my pants the size I am, not three sizes too small.

Answer 6

That's a good question. IF we were "evolving" I would think that the weak, timid or meek people would be totally destroyed by now, and the only thing that keeps them going usually, is their faith or a lot of prozac. I happen to believe that only the power of God can keep a person truly in check and this why people who are "religious" fall very hard sometimes from their pedestals and commit horrible sins. Sometimes even a person's moral "standards" will not hold them steady in a time of trial they need the power of the Holy Spirit and true conviction and understanding that God loves them, is cheering them on and willing to give them the power they need to overcome sin and temptation. Sin is fun it was designed to be that way...........anyone who denies that is a fool. It just so happens that it is also destructive and so a wise person understands that and seeks help from the Lord in prayer to overcome temptation. that's my humble opinion on the matter and what I live by.

Answer 7

Religious Faith always seems to lead to war.

Boston Globe -- James Carrol

"The Republican attack on Kerry's religion goes hand in glove with George W. Bush's exploitation of religion for narrow political purposes. Bush salts his public statements with religious references as a way of preempting challenge... If Jesus is his political philosopher, or if the heavenly father is his adviser on Iraq, then Bush has to explain neither his despotic politics nor his disastrous Iraq policy. "

What's all this 'keeping in check' stuff. Would you all be murderers without faith? Scary stuff.

People of the Mafia have strong religious faith and the head honchos get preferential seating in church.

Answer 8

I'm not sure it's OUR beliefs per se... sometimes what keeps me from doing something is societies beliefs in something that keep me from doing something...

Example... I smoke (hey, I'd already be going to hades if I believed in that) and I have no problem with it... but around my family, I choose not to since they don't believe it... Ok, so that's an earthly example but I was trying to post something simple that wouldn't get reported...

Answer 9

I don't think I need faith to keep me in check. I think that anyone one that has sense of morality can do that. My faith is a deeper and more important part of my life. I don't even know how to express all that it is to me..I am what I believe. It is like my sight and hearing. I couldn't perceive my life without it.

Answer 10

the understanding that "society as a whole" deems certain behavior innapropriate and not in accordance with what has been acceptable this past millenia (give or take a few centuries)