Why Is Religion Unnecessary To Be A Good Person? (followers, choice)

Sunstone · #1 02-06-2008, 03:21 PM

Why is practicing a religion unnecessary to be a good person? How come non-religious people can be kind, loving, compassionate, strong, intelligent, etc...

Willamena · #2 02-06-2008, 03:27 PM

Religion is unnecessary because my knees can't take all that kneeling.

ChristineES · #3 02-06-2008, 03:28 PM

I have found many loving, compassionate people who are completely non-religious. I also have seen people who say they have religion as being hateful.
I know I didn't really answer the question.

w00t · #4 02-06-2008, 03:35 PM

Religion doesn't seem to be able to change one's personality!

ChristineES · #5 02-06-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w00t

Religion doesn't seem to be able to change one's personality!

That is one thing we actually agree on!

YmirGF · #6 02-06-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Why is practicing a religion unnecessary to be a good person? How come non-religious people can be kind, loving, compassionate, strong, intelligent, etc...

With some notable exceptions, imho, that is just the way most people are, Phillip. Religion has a nasty habit of making people into dreadful sinners who are redeemed by the religion of their choice through adherence to the theology promoted. Religious types tend to see the goodness in their ranks as being the result of their "faith put into action" without realizing that those followers were "good" people to begin with. What do you get when a good person tries to be better? In my opinion you get the same thing as a person who always was "good" and never needed religion to give them a reason to be the way they are -- sans the religious baffle-gab.

dawny0826 · #7 02-06-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristineES

That is one thing we actually agree on!

You took the words out of my mouth! I'm with you, w00t!

Melancholy · #8 02-06-2008, 04:01 PM

We are built with some form of morals from birth, then we learn from our parents and peers of how society deems what is moral.
You don't have to be religious to know right from wrong. we learn from others around us and we also feel guilt or remorse, wrong and right instinctivly in most cases.

Religion teaches the same morals, but as one who is not religious relies on his sense of right and wrong to get on with others in the world, religious folk do it for salvation and to be with God/The creator.

Alex_G · #9 02-06-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Why is practicing a religion unnecessary to be a good person? How come non-religious people can be kind, loving, compassionate, strong, intelligent, etc...

I dont think religion is what defines us morally, we have a commen goodness that i think we developed for social evolutionary advantages. (I mean how did the people who wrote the religious texts know what to put? good or bad). I would not like to know the person who only justifies their morals through a religion.

Religion is just one of many enviromental factors that contribute to individualize a person, whether u chose to be theist or atheist.

p.s. Yeah it is odd how there is unanimous agreement here, maybe someone should start swearing or somthing to ruffle some feathers :P