A reason why the Bible is beneficial to society

One way in which the Bible is beneficial to society, is that belief in hell or punishment for sins in the afterlife can be a deterrent for people who are sociopaths (have no conscience) from committing crimes. It is true that most people regardless of religion do have a conscience and know that murder and rape is wrong without being "told" - however sociopaths lack such a conscience, so their only motive not to commit is fear of punishment. If one lived in an atheist society and could get away with murder or rape, then there would be little or no motivation not to - but if they were afraid of being punished by God in the afterlife, that might deter them when otherwise, nothing would.

 

If they have no conscience, then why would they care if they go to heaven or to Hell?

 

This is really funny because I have been watching Dexter lately. I am with Kranes on this one. If they have no conscience as it is then they probably don't care either way.

Also does that somehow justify using threats of Hell and eternal torment to scare people into believing in God and into being 'good' as per the Biblical definition of 'good'?

 

If they believed they'd suffer in hell then they might avoid it out of fear of punishment - just like many sociopaths never actually kill someone because they're afraid of going to prison, so they stick to doing only evil deeds that they can get away with legally.

 

People who commit crimes don't care if God, Satan, or man punishes them. They simply don't care about it. The only force that really controls our behavior is ourselves. However, we are subject to do anything at any time for any reason or no reason. Some people may have regrets from doing things. But they did them anyway knowing the consequences of their actions beforehand.Such behavior is sometimes blamed on Satan or demons. A famous instance is when Satan is said to have entered Judas in Luke 22:3 (NLT) = Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples,It's easier to blame inexplicable behavior on an evil outside force than to accept responsibility for our own actions and desires. Most people aren't comfortable with the idea that they are capable of the most vile and reprehensible acts known to man. So they need a scapegoat to explain their acts. They invented the devil. And they invented gods to forgive them.

 

Nope.

Christianity is salvation through grace and not by works. In other words, Hitler is enjoying a beer with Jesus right now and Ghandi is roasting.

 

Hitler was raised Catholic, so even had he still been Catholic (which he wasn't) he would have believed that faith and works are required for salvation - you don't know much about Christianity.

 

Since Jesus only came for the Jews I doubt that he's having a beer with a German Gentile.

 

Sociopaths don't care. That's one of their defining traits. They don't care about killing people. Therefore, they don't care about Hell.

 

Depends on what sect, and knock off the Hitler comparsions.

 

I know only what Christians tell me. I'm not interested in the No True Scottsman Fallacy.

 

so·ci·o·path
   [soh-see-uh-path, soh-shee-] Show IPA

noun Psychiatry .
a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.

As you can see, the bible would not really be an influence on such a person.
Try again.

 

If a sociopath is afraid of Hell, that could definitely be an influence - the motive wouldn't be to do what's right, it would be just to save their own skin from eternal punishment.

If a sociopath was an atheist, and knew they could get away with the crime legally - what would stop them?

 

Criminals don't assume they will get caught. Punishment is not a deterrent.

Those sociopaths are more likely to believe that they are agents of God or the devil than thy are to fear hell.

 

This is the only reason that religion is even still around. It's effective as a means of control. Without inventing all the stuff about heaven and hell, sin and punishment, religion has absolutely no teeth. Without the threat of eternal (*)(*)(*)(*)ation, there is no incentive. This is absolutely no different than any parent-child relationship, where the parent holds near absolute power over the child, and is able to make conditions and threats based on that. For example, would children have any reason to fear and respect their parents if their parents had no real power over them? Some would do it anyway, because they understand and respect the idea of parental authority or simply because they love their parents. Others wouldn't. Same thing.

There has to be an absolute unwavering "power" in the equation to ensure participation. It's the only reason religion has survived to this day with the influence that it has had. People are just afraid to believe otherwise.

 

Can you tell me the difference between this argument and say one in which the bible can deter hurricanes or disease or famine? You are talking about controlling things that cannot be controlled. This is not heaven, it never will be and as long as mythology and magic are the driving force behind making the world a better place it will always closer resemble hell.

We can make this world so much better for everyone, keeping their freedom and liberty intact but not until science and knowledge takes the wheel.

Just as the common cold was once deadly so to can we remedy the neurological defects of the most dangerous among us. In fact in most cases of criminal activity, an absence of abuse and the introduction of an education are all that is required. No magical daddies good or evil are necessary.

 

Hmmmm and do you have anything other than your claim to back this up? How many 'sociopaths' have been prevented by the Bible from killing? Seriously- how many?

What about sociopaths who claim to be Christians and kill anyway?

I understand that this is just like free association for you- you had the thought and want to post it here- but is there anything other than your speculation that makes this other than your personal musings?

 

What sort of a craven cowardly moral bankrupt needs the threat of eternal punishment to make him behave well?

 

A sociopath does - that's the entire point of this thread.

 

So if that's true, does that include religions like Buddhism which do not have a God or "heaven and hell"? Your ignorance on religion is the same ol same ol.

 

so·ci·o·path/ˈsōsēōˌpaTH/
Noun:
A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.

Considering they have no conscience what makes you think they would abide by what the Bible says in regards to criminal behavior? You need a conscience to actually care.

 

Sociopathy is increasing in the USA, which is the most religious of the developed nations. Religion is not an effective panacea.

 

Not entirely true. Buddhism doesn't share this feature, and neither does Taoism.

 

They lack a sense of moral responsibility and social conscience. If they believed in god, that would not be possible.
Your argument truly fails.

 

I don't know about the second part, but the first is demonstrably true. Since Gary Gilmore was executed by a firing squad back in 1976, capital crimes have skyrocketed in this country. Rather than being a deterrent, capital punishment seems to have let loose the hounds.