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Being religious doesnt make you a better person

JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
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True
 
Stupid sign. Not that I disagree with the message, I think it's true, but it's a dumb message because your behavior / actions are inextricably linked to your beliefs (not what you say you believe, but your actual beliefs).
 
Good message. It is stated in a way that seems to be apolitical and gets straight to the point. And it says a lot more about things other than religion. Beliefs could be anything -- not just related to religion. Beliefs don't make you a worse person either. Behavior/actions are what define someone.
 
JockoJohnson said:
Good message. It is stated in a way that seems to be apolitical and gets straight to the point. And it says a lot more about things other than religion. Beliefs could be anything -- not just related to religion. Beliefs don't make you a worse person either. Behavior/actions are what define someone.
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I agree. The message can be applied to atheists as well as the religious. I'm sure some religious people will take it personally, though.
 
dank69 said:
I agree. The message can be applied to atheists as well as the religious. I'm sure some religious people will take it personally, though.
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:thumbsup:

Of course they will, they have no idea how anyone not part of a religion can possibly have morals and know right from wrong so how can a non-believer possibly behave well.
 
PokerGuy said:
Stupid sign. Not that I disagree with the message, I think it's true, but it's a dumb message because your behavior / actions are inextricably linked to your beliefs (not what you say you believe, but your actual beliefs).
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To some extent, I think you are right. In general, people who "believe" something, wil have their actions influenced by their beliefs. Lots of church groups around here went down to LA after Katrina hit and worked on rebuilding, cleanup, and distribution of supplies. These were people whose belief in charity and human kindness clearly was demonstrated through their actions.

The complexities and realities of life however, mean that most people have at least some conflicting beliefs, and often, their actions will conflict with one or more of their beliefs. But, in general, I agree with the spirit of your post.
 
Atreus21 said:
So then belief really does make you a better or worse person, as evidenced by your behavior as a true expression of it?
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Religious belief will influence your actions, that is true. The claim is that beliefs dont make you a good person, because some religious beliefs are bad. As was explained by another person, some people have conflicting beliefs. If I believe rape is bad, but I rape a woman, am I a good person? If I rape a woman, and then pay her parents to marry her, am I a good person? If I believe rape is wrong and I dont rape someone, and I a better person that the previous?
 
realibrad said:
Religious belief will influence your actions, that is true. The claim is that beliefs dont make you a good person, because some religious beliefs are bad. As was explained by another person, some people have conflicting beliefs. If I believe rape is bad, but I rape a woman, am I a good person? If I rape a woman, and then pay her parents to marry her, am I a good person? If I believe rape is wrong and I dont rape someone, and I a better person that the previous?
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Note I didn't call it religious belief. Just belief. Any moral claim is predicated on a belief.

What I object to is trying to separate behavior from belief, as if one can have good behavior without good beliefs (which to me is no different than good morals).
 
Atreus21 said:
Note I didn't call it religious belief. Just belief. Any moral claim is predicated on a belief.

What I object to is trying to separate behavior from belief, as if one can have good behavior without good beliefs (which to me is no different than good morals).
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Again, you can have moral behavior without moral beliefs. If you believe the bad things are okay, but you never do bad things, are you not moral? Or even look at it like this, if you dont do immoral things because you dont think you are able to, and thus dont do immoral things, are you moral?
 
realibrad said:
Again, you can have moral behavior without moral beliefs.
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I can't agree with that.

If you believe the bad things are okay, but you never do bad things, are you not moral?
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Depends on whose morality we're using.

I would argue that if you do not act in accordance with your stated beliefs, then your stated beliefs are not your actual beliefs. If someone tells me he will steal from me when I'm helpless, and then willingly refrains from it when I am indeed helpless, I can only conclude that he didn't really believe that.

Or even look at it like this, if you dont do immoral things because you dont think you are able to, and thus dont do immoral things, are you moral?
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Why wouldn't I be able to? You mean like the government enforcing stiff penalties if I do?
 
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I will simplify the equation. Observed behavior determines if your a good person or not.

No need for extra verbiage.
 
If the sign were that obvious politicians wouldn't be so gung-ho in telling people how "Christian" they are.

Why is that even an issue in modern politics?
 
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