Right. But not everybody is a good person. If someone like a psychopath, who isn’t motivated by concern for others, wanting to be a good person, etc., can be kept from doing bad things through fear (whether of divine or human consequences), isn’t that better than if there’s nothing stopping them from doing bad things?
“Religion - religion, at best - at BEST - is like a lift in your shoe. If you need it for a while, and it makes you walk straight and feel better - fine. But you don’t need it forever, or you can become permanently disabled. Religion is like a lift in the shoe, and I say just don’t ask me to wear your shoes. And let’s not go down and nail lifts onto the natives’ feet.”
–George Carlin
And I’m not even sure this is true. Maybe fear could give someone the initial push toward becoming a good person. It worked that way for Eleanor Shellstrop?
I don’t believe that fear will ever make someone be a good person, but it might keep a person (whether good or bad) from doing bad things. It’s basic common sense; people will factor in consequences when making decisions, and fear can even cause someone to instinctually avoid certain behaviors.
But I think that’s a philosophical topic that goes way beyond just religion.
I think the word fear is being misapplied here. It isn’t standing there in the face of God and peeing in my pants out of straight-up horror, its rather a reverential awe and respect. As far as not needing the teachings of a religion to guide you, I mostly agree. I was taught to forgive any transgression and not to respond to it with violence. That is incredibly hard to do, depending on the transgression. But I remember the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount to remind me. So while Catholicism may not have worth in some people’s lives, it does in mine.
Ah, yet another great introduction of Christianity into our federal governmnt by one of the most Christian presidents we’ve ever had. I wonder why he didn’t get his good ol’ pal Robert Morris for the missionary position this time. (The link goes to NBC News.)
It occurs to me you already know what it says before clicking on it, but what the hey, here’s a little piece for you.
and
Is this book available anywhere in ebook or audible format? I’ve been looking for years without success and I read my paperback copy to tatters many years ago. A couple of years ago I did find a Spanish translation on Everand, but I can’t read Spanish.
I found a Kindle version on Amazon Prime.
Amazon.com: Lest Darkness Fall & Timeless Tales Written in Tribute eBook : de Camp, L Sprague, Pohl, Frederik, Drake, David, Stirling, S. M., Weber, David, Turtledove, Harry, Panshin, Alexei, Panshin, Cory: Kindle Store
Excellent!
I got it on Apple iBooks as part of a collection for a few dolars.
I’m trying to find the actual article link instead of the ‘banner’ but there are unconfirmed reports that he is sanitizing / has sanitized all mentions on the web site of The Holocaust.
( If true, why are people sitting still for this? )