Does morality need religion?

Question

a lot of god answers, hard to decide

Answer 1

I think its more the other way around.





you ever think we're like some weird life sized Sims game on someone's god's computer and he's gone off to get a starbuck's and we're just running amok in the background??

.

Answer 2

Squeaky and Dreamstuff have the best answers, so far. Let me add that morality is something we humans invent on a continual basis anyway. Look at the code of Hammurabi and the Mosaic law. These were specific to particular times and places. Then look at later Hellenic and Roman law. Again, you will see some similarities to others, but also many interesting differences. The same is true today as well. For example, not so long ago slavery was considered "normal" or at least lawful in many parts of the world, including the US. But now we think different, and we flatter ourselves that we think better. Maybe we do in that case. Morality is our invention, and we're still trying to figure it out. The fact that religion gets in the way only confuses people.

One day, when humans generally recognize that religion and morality are our inventions perhaps we'll begin to make better decisions (and not rely on holy books for "dead" answers).

Answer 3

By all means, no!

Morality is a more basic principle, existing within the hearts of all mankind. Some follow it, others don't. However, religion nicely transforms the rules understood in the heart into law. This helps people who aren't as insightful into the nature of morality keep on a good, but not perfect path.

Because, morality is different for different people. Moderation is the key. Some people can drink alcohol all the time, such as celebrations and parties, and have no problems, while others abuse to rid themselves of mental anguish.There is no single absolutely wrong action, it's all in the application. For instance, killing someone is generally bad, but if they're trying to kill you, and defending yourself will kill him/her, it's ok.

I used to be Christian, and tried to follow the rules, but it gave me a hard time. Some things just didn't make sense, didn't feel right to me. Some time later, for many reasons, I left Christianity to persue my own spiritual journey. Now, I am more moral than I ever was as a Christian.

For some, religion inhibits morality.

Answer 4

No. I figure that if people can pick and choose what religion they want based on the values that that particular religion or church has, then they have enough sense to hold themselves to a set of morals on their own account...look at it as cutting out the middle man! LOL

I think I'm a very moral person, and I'm an atheist.

Answer 5

Not necessarily. PR China is an atheist state and it has shown significantly less moral decay than USA, which boast with motto 'in God we trust'. On the other hand compare Albania, which is completely decayed after decades of hardcore communism and state atheism, and Saudi Arabia, a religious state.

Thailand is a religious country with Buddhism as the official religion, there are millions of monks, but we know why some people travel there.

Morality works as long as there is some deterrent mechanism which compels people to abide to generally accepted rules. That mechanism is often lost with atheism, but it's not because of atheism itself, rather it's because many atheists see morality as a remainder or an offshoot of religion so they reject it.

I personally know many atheists who are have better morals than some religious people. Rumours that moral has decayed in Europe only after the French revolution are false. It has been down long before, with the Church being involved in numerous scandals, and mass graves of aborted fetuses behind walls of convents were more than a common sight.

Answer 6

no definitely not.
A person without any religious training or experience can be a very moral person.
As an atheist, I need to be able to look at myself in the mirror at night and ask myself if I did right that day. If I didn't I must do better tomorrow. I have no one to judge me but my own conscience.
Religion only teaches you morals by demanding you obey the rules by using fear- fear of hell and fire and brimstone. And the church dangles heaven as a reward for doing good. Such nonsense. I want to be good because I want to like my self, to respect myself, and to have others respect me.

Answer 7

Yes, morality need religion. but only those religion which have true & uncorrupted revelations from God. Because God set up some standard of morality.

Answer 8

Religion has nothing to do with our sense of right and wrong. As a species, we are social animals, as such, in order to function as a group, we must share common ideals or else the social structure breaks down. To make it simple, subconsciously our sense of right and wrong is basically "I am a part of society, if I cause harm, I will be viewed by the rest as a threat and will be ostracized and possibly punished" for the sake of maintaining order and preventing the break-down of the social structure.

Answer 9

Morality is more fundamental than God.

Belief in God does not grant morality. Disbelief in God does not eliminate it.

True morality is based on logic and empathy: the empathy to care how your actions affect the rest of the universe and the logic to figure out how they do so.

If God exists, he can either agree with morality or disagree with it. He cannot create or determine it.

If God's decisions are based on morality, then he will not condemn people to eternal hell for lacking faith in him. If he does condemn people to hell for that, then God is immoral.

When religious people say that God sends all non-believers to hell or that faith in Jesus grants eternal salvation, what they are really saying is that the deity they worship is immoral.

Even if such a God exists, he should not be worshiped by anyone.

Answer 10

Does morality need religion?

You are using loaded terms.

We have a law and it isn't enough that we have the law, we have to have punishments as wells; people need "motivation" to do things.

Don't think of it using loaded terms, it only obfuscates a matter that should be fairly clear. Anarchy or Order? To make a world of anarchists orderly, you have to set up a code of conduct and punish offendors. Humans have to break the rules...

So yes, morality needs religion. Morality needs the law. If there is nothing to ENFORCE morality / conduct, then no one would follow it.

Answer 11

No, even before you are taught about god and faith you are taught morality.
You are taught to share, you are taught that you should be nice to others, and that you should not hurt others because they do not hurt you. And slowly these ideas are built up in yourself and you became matured individuals. This is morality. You don't really a religioun to teach you morality. All you need is a healthy and balanced society and parents.

Thank you
Raaja