Is religion moral?

Question

Theists are often inclined to say that, without religion, we would be reduced to immoral, unethical animals. However, is not following the laws laid out in, say, the bible simply obeying rules? God could’ve commanded that people with red hair be tortured, or that disobedient children should be stoned to death – Okay, bad example, but you get my point. Obeying laws is not tantamount to morality.

Furthermore, there are some things – slavery for example – that the bible not only refuses to admonish, but frequently condones. These days we know that slavery is immoral and unethical. From where did this new direction in our moral compass spring if it was not from a biblical/religious perspective? Could it be that we are capable of morality independent of god and religion? After all, if we were obeying the bible word for word, I’d have been stoned to death a long time ago or perhaps sold into slavery…

Matt D: Men do not live without morals. You cannot have one without the other. The same goes for animals. Wolves do not rip each other to pieces for a very simple reason...

My point was that morality is a human construct. It is not god given, nor is it derived from scripture. 2500 years ago the "moral" thing to do with disobedient children was to stone them to death. This was a law issued from god, no less. In what way could this be conceived a moral act? To admit that stoning disobedient children is immoral is to deny the law of god. Yet you would do so because you know that stoning children for simply being children is inherently wrong. Where did this new moral code spring from? It certainly wasn't god...

Answer 1

It depends on the individual, no one follows religion anymore. They just follow tradition, like going to church. This is good for maintaining culture. I think alot of the stuff the bible says is immoral which is why no one follows it anymore.

I find that religious diversity is essential for a cultural heritage and would not want religion to be completely obliterated. I think it would be best for it to be continually secularized until we have something like Christian Atheism or Muslim Atheism or Jewish Atheism. making the belief in gods irrevelant, but also maintaining a culture of our ancestors.

Answer 2

Let's face it, there is a good way to live (God's way) and there is also a bad way to live (Satan's way)

There is a saying that goes..."the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Taking the wrong road seems harmless at the time, but leads to a future of misery and sorrow.

Religion is moral and reading the NT scripture can change a man within a short space of time. Basically it helps to restore a persons's faulty moral compass.

It is only foolish men that take the bible at face value. Allegorical stories and parables are designed so that people with intelligence and wisdom will see the hidden truths.
Imagine a world without morals and standards, it would become a hell on earth. You don't have to obey the bible word for word, but see that it was written in the spirit of the times.

Those were wild times, when men were depraved and doing terrible things to each other. Some of the highest achievements of man came from times of spiritual enlightenment, political order, peace, debate, culture, philosophical free-thinking and exploration. Contrast these ages of enlightenment to the dark-ages of spiritual corruption where nothing much happened except warfare, butchery, torture and bloodshed. Can men really live without morals? Yes but they become savages very quickly.

Answer 3

Yes, the morality for most people is a human construct.

"Could it be that we are capable of morality independent of god and religion?"

Yes, but it is a trivial morality. A morality independent of a higher moral authority is like a game we invent for ourselves in which we make the rules, change the rules as needed, and then judge ourselves. How can we lose? We do what we feel like doing and then set the standard so that no matter what we do, we fit the standard. This is why even criminals plotting their next crime think themselves to be basically good.

Without a higher moral authority, our moral compass is more like a Ouija board.

The Bible doesn't really give rules, it outlines the moral authority of God and our obligation to respect that authority. The rules are: To do that which is just, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God (Micah chap 6). The first two we know already in our hearts.

Answer 4

Neither. people without faith share the comparable varieties of policies. those with faith kill, thieve, lie, etc. non secular people are not any further effectual or kinder or happier or extra ethical than non-non secular people. there isn't any such concern as 'Christian values' - Christians do no longer do something that people do no longer do - different than help the thought that it fairly is high-quality for an harmless guy or woman to be punished and carried out. Atheists do no longer undertake the classes of religions. Atheists are certainly solid and choose that issues like killing and stealing are incorrect without wanting a god or e book or record to declare so.

Answer 5

Religion tries to mask itself in morality.But all two often, as you have pointed out, religion has been responsible historically for acts having been taken that by today's standards would be very much immoral.I have said it many many times.Mankind invented morality and applied it to their beliefs.Not the other way around.

Answer 6

I think you are amazingly deep.
It's question of personal views, an athiest might say religion is immoral, but a Christian would say that religion is moral.

Answer 7

religious people are most avaricious, sinful and materialistic and visit holy shrines, churchs and mosques to apologise for their sins.

Devil is most ethical and moral, very transparent. i m devil, who wants more money, more luxury, more women, more sex, i enjoy others bleeding, i enjoy others pain and agony, atleast i m am animal who doesn't pretend like these people inundated with religious dogma and drama

Answer 8

religion is stupid and only fools waste their time just sticking to questions on religion on yahoo answers lol