For Atheists?

Question

In all honesty do you think the world would be a better place without christianity and other similar religions? Although christians have caused alot of misery, they have also created moral standards such as no killing or no theft, although we may still have social standards like this, do you really think that a potential serial killer wouldnt commit the act if not fearing eternal damnation? I as an Agnostic try to think that even without christianity and such people would stil know killing and such isnt a good practice, but not all people are the same. What are your thoughts?

"Define similar religions"- i am refering to religions that belive in simalar things, judaism, islam..

p.s i know morals were around before, but i mean wouldnt more people ignore them unless they feared punishment? i know that it would be better if people were naturaly inclined to do good, but thats not how it works with every person

Tricia R- i used the word "potential" killer, and like most people that respect the world and such, im sure they were christian at eraly stages . I used to be a christian so im not looking for a maybe, im just saying that i dont regret being a christian for the first 15 or so years of my life because i learnt something from it

Answer 1

Yes, it would be. Because evolution would have eliminated those weak enough not to handle the world as it is. Because of religion, even the weak are allowed to survive.

Answer 2

I believe the world would be better off without any religions. All religions have caused misery. They do not project any moral standards, I do not need a faith to know that I should not kill anyone, as a human I have respect enough for another human not to hurt him/her in any way. If I go through all those commandments I find I do not need them to prove or disprove my moral standards.

For that matter I respect everything on this planet, animals, the products of the earth in every way. I would not and do not need some religious teaching to be a moral person. That is ridiculous. And when did a murderer have any fear of any damnation that stopped him/her from murdering another? You make no sense.

You claim agnosticism, if you are searching for a 'maybe' - then don't ask an atheist.

Answer 3

No

1. The social standards were in place long before Christianity. At best, Christianity codified them, but they weren't even the first to do that. Hammarabi, for example, predated the bible.
2. The concept of "forgiveness" of sin makes Christianity a liablity. How many crimes were committed with the concept that God would forgive those sins. (Criminals "find God" all the time) I see crucifixes on gang members all the time.
3. You brushed past that "lot of misery" concept pretty quickly. It's a significant point. 100 year war, Spanish inquisition, slavery, etc. were all justified biblically.
4. I sincerely doubt that any potential serial killer stopped for fear of God (see #2). However, there is documented cases of serial killers killing because of God (i.e. Jim Jones, David Karesh, Manson)
5. Religion has directly interfered with advances in medicine (Galen), science (Galileo), and even hygene (Bathing was a sin, probably contributed to the Black Plague). Lack of religion never has.

Answer 4

I have a question in response to your question. I could be categorized as a potential serial killer. In fact, most of the men I meet and interact with on a daily basis are convinced that I AM a serial killer (women seem to adore me, but that's another point entirely). I have no fear of your eternal damnation. I don't believe in it, and accept the fact that if it is a reality, I will undoubtedly be headed that way.

Why then, have I not become an actual serial killer?

Answer 5

Sorry but Christianity did not invent morals and ethics.
As far as serial killers, BTK was a deacon at his church. Believe if god has nothing to do with morals. The jails are just full of believers.

Honestly, I think the world would be better without religion.

Answer 6

Define similar religions. Violent religions like Christianity? Sure, do away with all the violent religions. I don't mind Buddhists and Pagans and such, but I'd definitely appreciate it if all of the horrible religions were obliterated.

Answer 7

This is the big lie that before christianity there was no morality. Do you really think that the civilisations of Egypt, China, Greece and Rome could have developed without a system of morality and ethics to underpin their laws.
Life would have been too uncertain and chaotic to allow any sort of civil order.

Answer 8

Christianity never made 'moral standards'. Lots of people already knew their moral defaults before the Bible was written.

I believe it HAS helped some people, but it's also twisting other people's lives. There are lots of parents who force and raise their child in their own beliefs (mostly Christianity), but I believe thats a wrong thing to do, until they can decide for themselves.

Answer 9

Ok, Moral standards were not created by Christians. Hammurabi's code were moral standards pre dating Christianity and Judaism. Eye for an Eye. The world would be much better with out all forms of religion, we know better enough. If Theism is a guide for morality then why are prisons filled with Christians and Muslims and not Atheists?

Answer 10

The same argument can be made of the Ancient Greek religion, n'est ce pas? After all, they produced all those incredible thinkers, architecture and fables. Does that mean we're worse off by not having Zeus and Athena around? I don't think so.

Religion infanticizes the mind and excuses adults from growing up emotionally. If we can eliminate this crutch, it can only turn out for the better in the long term.

Answer 11

I do, yes. Moral standards are created by communities, not religion. People are born with an innate sense of morality... and believe me, people in religion don't have as great a sense of morality as you might think.

Let's take a look at the recent spate of serial killers... the BTK killer was an active Lutheran; the gentleman who killed the Amish children was also active in his church (a youth minister, I believe). You can say they aren't true Christians, but who are you to say what they felt in their hearts?

I believe that the repression preached by religion is detrimental to our country, yes. Look at the percentage of Christian-identifying prisoners in our prison system (more than 90%) compared to non-believers (less than 1%). Look at countries with a high non-believer population... much lower crime rates, rates of divorce, etc.