Is religion necessary for there to be a good moral foundation? I was switching around radio channels this afternoon when I heard Bill O’Reilly pontificating abouot how secularism is killing moral values in people. Personally, I think morality is not linked to religion and you don’t need to have the fear of a disciplinarian/rewarder God in your life to know right from wrong.
Isn’t it better for you to be a good person because you think it is imperative for yourself to be good rather than because you want to get into heaven or because you don’t want to upset God?
Posted by shanti at July 21, 2004 1:30 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.realwomenonline.com/scgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/3080
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Morality:
You’re right.
Religion usually preaches morality… but morality is not a religious concept at all! Its more of personal code of conduct!
And I wonder why secularism is thought of as being areligious. Its about accepting and appreciating other religions while professing your own. So I wonder why secularism would kill moral values!
Posted by: Sameer at July 21, 2004 2:30 PM
Sameer, I think O’Reilly was equating secularism with atheism (which I think was stupid). Even so, I don’t understand why someone cannot be moral if they don’t believe in God.
Posted by: Shanti at July 21, 2004 3:54 PM
That is true, morality has nothing to do with religion. A religious person does not necessarily be a good person while on the other hand an atheist can be a very good person.
No idea why people would equate secularism with lack of morality, i would think it would be more like being more tolerant and broadminded.
Posted by: Geetha at July 23, 2004 12:49 AM
Some of us are moral, good, compassionate yadayada because we choose to be…. others, whom God did not grant such nice sensibilities, have to be forced to behave well by moral rules and regulations, termed as religions.
Posted by: W-bug at July 23, 2004 1:44 AM
I agree, Geetha.
W-bug, you bring up a pretty good point - I guess some people do need to be scared into behaving right.
Posted by: Shanti at July 23, 2004 8:33 AM
Sameer, you need to consult the dictionary on the meaning of secularism. :smartass:
Posted by: MadMan at July 23, 2004 10:00 AM
Shhh, you Godless atheist, immoral person! :tongue3:
Posted by: Shanti at July 23, 2004 10:03 AM
Great link!
Posted by: Shanti at July 23, 2004 2:30 PM
What do you judge goodness by if you don’t know goodness? Do you judge it by looking at others? I hope. I give people my all cause I KNOW God gave His all for us. Its not that difficult.
Posted by: Brian at July 25, 2004 11:17 PM
Oh yes, that kind, wonderful, loving, caring God.
Brian, have you started ensuring that homosexuals be “put to death”? Your book says you should.
Posted by: MadMan at July 26, 2004 3:31 AM