Can you be moral without Jeebus?

Question

We've all seen a Fundie ask how Atheists can be moral without the promise of Heaven/threat of Hell. Is this a way of them telling us that you CAN get to Heaven by deeds? If not, then why would they be moral?

I thought that since many use the term G_d, I should maybe do something similar for the Junior version of him, out of respect or whatever.

Answer 1

Of course. The overwhelming majority of people on the planet get along just fine without Jesus or Christianity. Not everyone needs a god, book, or list to tell them that it isn't nice to lie, steal, hurt, and kill people. Non-Christians are naturally good, and figure that out on their own. People who only behave because they think a God will smite them are dangerous and scary.


Can one who worships a sadistic, immoral, killer Jesus-God who drowned, plagued, and slaughtered millions (more than Hitler) conspired to have his own kid/self brutally beaten and killed, and repeatedly COMMANDED his followers to kidnap, rape, hurt, and kill others, have morals?

Answer 2

Absolutely, however being moral is not, or should not be your goal.

Morality, is nothing more than living within the guidelines of society. If you live where marrying 12 year old girls is legal, and normal, and you do so...you are being a moral person.

One gets no extra points for being moral. We are called to seek truth, to live to a universal truth, a right and wrong as defined by our Creator. To seek that truth, and when that truth conflicts with morality...choose truth.

To have Good and evil, Truth and falsehood, Right and wrong, you must have a definition of those terms, and the wisdom and discernment to determine which is which. The only model that fits these criteria is God's.

Now, no Christian believes you can get to heaven solely by deeds....the relationship of deeds to faith varies by denomination......but no one teaches deeds alone...some do to teach Faith alone..

However, it is axiomatic in Christianity, that anyone with true Faith, doesn't put that Faith in a basket and hide it away. It emerges in that persons life...as deeds and works.

Now, why would non-Christians be moral? All people are Created by God, we all have God's wisdom, and we are all alive because God breathed life into us. That gives a very powerful 'instinct' (not a particularly good word here, but you get the point) to act 'good'.

Now, since our laws and morals, are evolutions and extrapolations of God's Laws...descendants if you will...and we are born with a minimum of God's wisdom in us already....acting moral, in a predominately moral society...is normal.

Hope this helps...if you were looking for a serious answer..

Answer 3

It's a common theistic argument that human morality is proof that God exists. It's also claimed that morality could not have developed naturally.

Human are social animals who depend on their group for survival. Human groups depend on their members being sociable in order to function. Obviously, humans with an innate moral sense will be better suited to life in a group than those lacking it.

This is why people usually have an innate moral sense, I think, which is then honed by their group into a functional standard of behaviour.

Answer 4

your good point is already made so i'll tell you a story - ganesha's dad went away from home for a while to chill out and smoke some pot , when he returned to his wife he found she has given birth to a child ( he obviously tooka big bag of weed) - he was quite pissed off that the child existed and chopped the kid's head off. When less stoned he realised as a king amongst gods it was actaully him who has imacualtley impregnated his wife while he was away and he'd chopped his own kids head off - so he ran into the local woods and klilled the first thing he could find to get a replacement head for his dismembered child - turned out the frist thing he met was an elephant and that is why ganesha has an elephant's head.

Answer 5

Of course, millions of people are very moral and law abiding, without Christianity.
Perhaps, those who need the threat of Heaven/Hell, just haven't allowed themselves to mature enough to become responsible for their own actions and need someone or something to blame it on.

Answer 6

Of course you can.

I know some non-believers of different stripes who are the most honest, caring, and genuine people in my life. I also know some fundamentalists who talk a great deal about the Bible and their personal opinions on God, but who do not hesitate to lie when it suits their ends and who show me over and over that they really don't feel the need to love and care for people who are not members of their church.

I think it is very sad that some people only pursue a relationship with God to avoid going to hell, but that seems to be the reason for many of them.

Answer 7

All people have some kind of morals. This is no different than one relogion telling another that because they believe differently the other is going to hell.

Answer 8

We don't do it to get to heaven. We do it because it's the right thing to do. Why, I sounded like a christian. Most Christians say deeds don't matter. It's the belief that gets you into heaven.

Answer 9

Yes. God created humans as moral beings. Morality has been hardwired in humans. Humans know instinctively what is right and wrong.

Answer 10

Do you mean Jesus?
Yes, you can be moral without Jesus.

Why do you spell His name like that?
Is it a way of mocking Him and those of us who believe in Him? I'm sure that you know the correct spelling of His name.


Deke is wrong. I do not need Jesus to keep me in check. I am a good person and would do the right thing if I believed in Him or not.
I, too, have a moral compass. I know right from wrong.