I question this because of my brother, who is devote in his Christian and even had an odd comment today (yesterday) from my step-mom who equated me to being religious, even though I am not religious but I am spritual.
It really came from a drunken conversation with my brother about 2 months ago. But my step-mom’s comments through me for a loop.
He basically told me that I hold goodness in my heart and he admired that, yet I don’t hold the same “religious” views. That he believed that I will always exude (sp) the embodiment of goodness because I love and most always forget.
So, I propose the IMHO people to tell me what you think. Can you be good in the eyes of those whom have very religious convictions yet you are seen as a decent person even if you don’t believe the same?
Can it be real of what my bro says and even my step-mom says or are they blowing smoke up my ass?
Honestly I can’t see my brother doing that, he could be drunk as anyone could ever be but he would never, sober or not, tell me untruths as to what is in his heart.
But how can a God-fearing Christian think that I am possibly a better person than he thinks he is, or as good as? That’s more of what came out of his mouth? Was it the alcohol or was it truth, can a Christian believe that even though I don’t feel the same way as he does about religion truly believe that there are hearts that might feel stronger and more soulful than their own beliefs?
Obviously, they’re solidly on the “faith” side of that whole annoying faith/works debate. I think most christians are, at this point.
In any case, being a christian doesn’t compel one to be a good person. Of course, they try, I suppose, but anyone that knows more than three christians knows that christian does not equal good person.
So what gets them into heaven is their faith in Jesus, not how sin-free they are. And on the other hand, no matter how kind, giving, and truly Christlike you may be, you’ll burn in hell unless you accept Jesus as your lord and savior, and all that.
So yeah, christians can identify good people that happen to not be christian. But they still think you’re gonna burn.
I am the most moral person I know. According to psychological tests, my super-ego is off the chart. I am totally not religious, cause I can’t accept the patriarchial beliefs of the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Being religious does not make you good, and not being religious does not make you bad. I think that whoever-is-in-charge-here prefers honest doubt to false belief.
A fundie would probably tell you that only fundies are going to heaven. Mother Teresa? Sure, she helped the poor; but she was Catholic so she is doomed to hell.
I have a friend who occasionally tries to “save” me. This guy “fornicates” (i.e., he has indiscriminate sex as the opportunities arise), uses drugs (powder and crack cocaine, marijuana), drinks to excess, curses, lies habitually, cheats, and is generally a slacker. Yet he is going to heaven because he’s Christian and I’m not going because I’m not Christian. (My parents were more-or-less Protestant, but non-practising. I don’t understand how one religion is entirely “better” than another, so I choose none of the established ones. You might say – actually you did of yourself – that I’m “spiritual”.) I tell my friend that if God is really a forgiving god, then I will enjoy the afterlife (assuming one exists) because He will forgive my disbelief.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Catholic loop, but back when I was wearing plaid school uniforms with scratchy knee socks, we were taught that God alone knew what the exact criteria were for getting into Heaven. Faith, it was assumed, was important, but not as important as being a good person. Therefore baptizing those Pagan Babies was not saving them from guaranteed Hell, it was only improving their chances of getting to Heaven. Therefore a Catholic adhering strictly to the RCC’s teachings would tell you that it was absolutely possible for you to be a good person even though you didn’t believe the “correct” things. Whether you are getting into Heaven or not? Well, that would be God’s call, and it’s arrogant for a human being to even guess, really.
Of course, the RCC is a huge organization. You’ll find Catholics who firmly believe that anyone who isn’t a Catholic (and many of those who are, for that matter) is doomed to Hell. You’ll also find Catholics who believe that being given the gift of faith only increases the requirements for admission to Heaven, which I believe is similar to Jewish tradition.
As for me, I’m an atheist, so I see it as a moot point. Being good is having concern for others, not saying the right words or knowing when to rub blue mud into your belly button.
It’s perfectly possible to be a good person without being religious. Being a decent human being isn’t tied to religion at all.
A question I ask myself sometimes[sup]1[/sup], who’s the better person; the atheist who is a good person just becase it’s right, with no hope of an afterlife or other carrot at the end of the stick, or the religious person who only does it because they want to get into heaven?
[sup]1[/sup]Usually when it’s way past my bedtime.
My own personal credo and ethic is centered on goodness.
There is little else that serves so well as a moral compass to guide a person in daily and long term decision making. Good conduct is dictated by both logic and social cohesion. There are few, if any, substitutes for the kindness and generosity that goodness propagates in one’s life. Many of the most desireable facets of behavior and personal expression involve goodness in some form or another.
If you can tell me about anything better, I’d sure like to know about it.
Feel free to check out my Great Debates thread about mean people for a detailed examination of the flip side of goodness and all of the unnecessary complications in life that meanness entails.
Of course you can be good and still not be religious. In fact, I have heard it argued (and am neither condoning nor condemning this opinion, merely relaying it) that a non-religious person has the opportunity to be genuinely good because they are theoretically doing good things not out of fear of reprisal or desire for reward, but simply because it’s the good thing to do.