Why do Christians believe that there is no reason to be moral without God?

Question

I have heard this as a common argument used by Christians when trying to convince atheists and agnostics to become secular.

Do they really believe this? Why?

The theory that one can not be moral without God was taught in Religious Philosophy 101 at Penn State University.

It's in the textbook,
The Elements of Moral Philosophy by James Rachels

Answer 1

They see God as the ultimate standard of right and wrong. They don't understand how anyone could behave themselves without the idea that a higher power is watching over them, ready to discipline them for any wrong doings.

Answer 2

there are reasons but not 100%
for example, there is a difference between not raping a girl and a difference between that and lusting.
you see, God looks at the truth in the inward parts, mankind only looks at the outside parts.

people might trust a person with no criminal record, but that doesn't mean that person is incapable, the internal motivation may simply be dormant and waiting for the opportunity, for when they can get away with it.


think about it, most people will do something they've always wanted as long as there are no consequences,, they are externally motivated.

internal motivation is more valuable, this doesn't sway with the situation.

who you really are is when nobody is looking. it that is true then for a Christian God is watching all the time, it makes for a more permanent change rather than situational.

Answer 3

Most of our so-called morality is based upon feelings. We feel bad when we've done something wrong, e.g. my conscience hurts me, and we feel good when we've helped someone.

From our infancy, society trains us in feelings. We're praised and accepted when we behave and we are rejected when we don't. By the time we're adults, we don't need direct praise because we can imagine praise and imagine rejection through an unfocused set of feelings we call conscience or instinct or common sense.

But a moral foundation of feelings is a very weak foundation. What we will always do is to adjust our standard for morality so that we fit the standard. That is why even criminals plotting their next crime think themselves to be basically good. We all think ourselves to be basically good because it makes us feel good to think of ourselves as good.

Some will say that evolution is our source of feelings (conscience, common sense, instinct, etc) but that makes no real difference. A foundation based upon feelings, from whatever source, will always make truth take a back seat because truth often doesn't feel good. Self delusion thrives on a foundation of feelings.

The only real foundation for morality has to be a moral obligation to a higher moral authority, i.e. God, who sets the standard and judges us in accordance with that standard.

Answer 4

i'm a Christian and that i do no longer believe that atheists are all unmoral. purely as some Christians believe that each and all and sundry atheists don't have morals, you purely assumed that each and all and sundry Christians believe that each and all and sundry atheists are undesirable without morals. you purely did the comparable concern which you're complaining approximately. You looped in a team of people into the comparable type. i'm no longer attempting to piss you off or something, i'm purely asserting it fairly is common for some to try this, purely as you probably did it your self.

Answer 5

I've not heard of this. I think what you're saying is that Christians believe that only God can be their moral compass. This is true if you think about it. God set the Bible up as a guide for morals. Man's ideas, no matter how "good" they profess to be, cannot be used as a moral compass.
This is because what is right and good for one person, isn't for another.
Secular means "of the world". Christians don't use this to try to convert people to secularism. You probably mean to Christianity.

Answer 6

I can't answer for anyone else. I think being moral is the right thing to do. God just helps me be moral. Someone has things backwards.
peace

Answer 7

NO WAY do we all believe this! That's nuts!
How crazy is that?

Ridiculous! Please do not generalize!

YOu say "used by Christians when trying to convince atheists and agnostics to become SECULAR." Don't you mean "religious"?

Where in the dickens did you hear it
'Used as a common argument"?

Answer 8

Who would determine what it means to be "Moral?"-Society?

In ancient Greece it was common practice to kill a baby and put it in clay pot and build it into ones house. This was to ward off evil. Society said this was an OK Moral practice.

See where I'm going with this. Some say abortion is murder but out society says it's OK....etc etc.

Answer 9

Because morality is based on an absolute standard of right and wrong. Societies do not provide that absolute standard, only relative standards based upon their desires. Only an absolute standard can come from an absolute God.

Answer 10

What Good is anything without God. Everything''s Better with God:)