How would you interpet the quote below...?

Question

"without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. but for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." - Steve Weinberg

How would you identify yourself within it's context?

Rev. Albert Einstein
IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING AGAINST JESUS!! just who or what are you defending!
And if you so with to make personal comments,
PLEASE feel free to mail me, I am an open person, I would that you be also.

Iron Handed Faith, your very words say it all!
Please if you to discourse you point with me then all you need do is open to the world.

Thank you Clipper a pleasure to be reminded of the meaning of Natural Law, so many forget.

Very wise word Sophiaseeker

Dark Parable words of beauty

Glad to see your still in the land of virtual living, Bruno

Well 'Ace of spades' your answer will be the cause of deep reflection!

Please feel free to burst your twinkie filled bubble. 'Iron Handed Faith' But as for being open to the word the fact that you have to call me out in public and not in the private of an email shows you are closed to the words of others!

Answer 1

A person whose morals were informed by his childhood-religion but has the same capacity for good and evil then as I do today.

Due to some of the passionate responses, I realize that some of our psches have trouble dealing with the fact that religion can be used for a negative ends; and more importantly how each one of us has the capacity to use it as such, if we haven't allready done so.

Regardless of such a fact, the first class of people"Good people doing Good things", the enquiree might agree to, would still exist in a world with Religion, as it does today, and of those 'Good people doing good things', some very well may be religious without destroying the integrity of the quote.

Capacity is the question dear Watson! Not Religion! Fire can destroy rainforests, but it can also help us survive the Winter; if it be contained properly. Wouldn't it follow that 'religion' if contained properly, can do the same???

Answer 2

I think what the quote is saying is that we would figure out right from wrong with or without a system to define it. Further, the more compelling religious arguments to me are those that acknowledge that we have a propensity towards goodness, rather than those who claim that we're more interested in being 'bad'. The very fact that morality is an understood concept seems to stem from our interest in 'good'. Otherwise, it wouldn't matter to us at all. I agree with the statement to a point - that we don't really need religion to dictate what is good and bad. But a lot of people use faith as a means of carrying them through the exercise of what each one means in the context of their own experience. I think that can be valuable.

Answer 3

If somebody would not have somebody else to hold directly to, he's destined to spend continually in an eternal lonesomeness. If the guy can't connect with the international sufficient to not be on my own, how can he work together with a society as an entire, without love, somebody will ultimately perish.

Answer 4

I believe in good and evil. What I think the quote is getting at is that people caught up in religious beliefs tend to demonize their opponents. They began to step outside of their own conscience--it's like the old cliche "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." People can lose sight of whether an act is good or bad because they are so caught up in the fight--as their religious leaders have doubtless told them to be.

I don't let religion determine my actions. I will occasionally make mistakes, but I alone am responsible for what I do. I just hope it is mostly good. : )

Answer 5

LOL.

Religion is a way for the preachers to distort facts and collect their own herd of sheep.

Where else can you afford to ask people to take passenger aircraft and drive into twin towers of commercial centres.

Where else can you tell people to part with 1/10th of hard earned money on something as disguised as the pastor's salary hike and welfare !!

Answer 6

I expect this is a quote from a Jewish man. I fail to see what Jesus' behavior has to do with it.

Our prisons are 75% Christian filled
Our population is 75% Christian

Atheists are 10% of out population
Atheists are 0.2% of our prison population


I tend to agree, therefor, with the quote.

Answer 7

well..what he said..is still not a trip to heaven.
FOR no man righteousness can EARN HEAVEN. period.
for what he is saying is no different than all other religions rolled up into one..which is a new world religon soon to come..if not here already.

the blood of JESUS paid for sins.
and by FAITH IN HIS GRACE>..you got salvation
the good deeds are the byproduct of our RE ACTION OF GOD FORGIVENES TO US.
read romans 5 and 1cor 5:17-21.
we are already FORGIVEN..past tense.
it is by FAITH in JESUS blood is suffient for your/our sins, for you diseases/ for the curses removed (poverty and DNA diseases) and more.
read Ps.103:1-5.as well Isaiah 53 again.
it is written..in past tense words.
and JESUS said..IT IS FINISH!
SO BY FAITH in JESUS is the door..and the way and the LIFE into Enternity.

Answer 8

I don't think the quote makes sense. The idea of polarity, absolute good and absolute evil, are religious concepts.

All human beings are capable of doing both good and evil, right and wrong. Regardless of religion.

Answer 9

So I'm supposed to comment on the theory of a Jewish born atheist...


Before "religion" I was a good person doing evil things...and I have met hundreds who are the same way...there goes Weinberg's theory...

Answer 10

By the same logic, for the bad people to do good things, it should take religion.