I don't need religion to be a good person.

This isn't about them, this is about this thought of mine.
Why does not needing a religion to be good have so many questions?
Can't it just be?

 

I really am not aware of anyone who claims that "a religion" is needed in order to be "good."

Perhaps there is such a person--somewhere.

But looking for such a person would be roughly tantamount to, say, unicorn hunting.

 

Because those of faith cannot fathom "goodness" without the dogmatic baggage that keeps them as believers in line?

 

I'm a religious person, and I agree with you. That said, there are people who do need some assistance to be a good person. Regardless, I like being Catholic, and will continue to do so, despite the constant attacks by the culture.

 

There is an old saying, you don't need to teach a child how to be bad. Just sayin.

 

There are some people that need religion to keep on the straight and narrow.

 

I enjoyed your post, much I agree with. But none of what you said should deter you from being a Christian yourself from what I can figure.

>> “…how good you can be may depend on what tests you are put into.”

Totally accurate. None of us dare say what another man deserves in God’s hand, it is pure folly to think otherwise. Also I agree most of us Americans think too highly of our kindness and generosity. By and large, we don’t do nearly enough to help the most needy and oppressed in this world. It may come as a shock to us how many years or centuries we have to endure purgatory because of our blindness and self-centeredness.

>> “In Christianity, one of the main reasons (we believe) that Christians cannot be good because Christians draw the focus of Satan and his angels. We are thus put to tests as Satan specially want us to sin. Satan doesn't have the same interest in those who are already kept captive. That's the theory.”

Very interesting with some truth to it. But it does not explain the matter well enough, imo. It’s true demons spend more time trying to entice or trick the more devout believers, especially the clergy, because their downfall yields greater damage in many ways. But what of those the devil cares little of because they are so all about the world with no care for God or spiritual thoughts? I would not say they are held captive, but one could surely be in big trouble if they ignored a bevy of various callings throughout their lives. They are not without guilt like some poor Hindu mother may be. So purgatory is a wide net but some definitely miss and fall into the pit. Nor do I think too many are not aware of where they may stand.

 

...because its a discussion board silly. lol. If you dont need it, or care about it...why is it even in your thought process.
True spirituality will change you though...and its not a walk in the park. Its so strange to me that people of faith are seen as the weak ones..when nothing could be further from the truth.
Good people, bad people is sooooo secular.

 

The internet's free to tell me what they think of my school of thought and I'm free to tell them why I think it's not something to be understood if you don't have morals without God.

 

You've made no assertions that make sense. The fact that you believe that an unproved superbeing that tortures billions for eternity is objectively good leaves you with no credibility in this discussion to begin with.

 

The thing of it is that I've seen a lot of hypocrisy from religious people. I'm sure some people can understand why religious people would tend to be annoying to non-religious people. Like the football player who prays and thanks god for his touchdown, as little innocent children are dying all around the world. Lol. Yes, I am sure god is just kicking back watching the game and helping YOU win.

 

Religious folks will claim that agnostics/atheists are arrogant for not believing in a god, yet the religious people seem to think they are "special" and have been touched by this "god" creature because something about them is better or more special than anyone else, and that this god creature answers THEIR prayers. Why? Because they go to church every Sunday but act like DBs for the rest of the week? Yeah, if there is a god, I hope that is NOT the way it works out.

 

I don't ned religion to be a good person, however, buddhism helped me and help me still a lot to fight sickness and my inner weakness. It give me more vitality, determination and wisdom.

 

Wherever did the idea originate, that goodness is the key to a heavenly afterlife?

The New Testament says that good works have precisely zero to do with salvation; but that it is by grace alone.

 

I have always associated love and mercy with goodness. wanna call it grace because your "god" gave it to you, okay.

 

"[L]ove and mercy" are, indeed, among the "fruits of the Spirit."

But the New Testament teaches that all people--all, without exception--deserve an eternity in hell.

It is only by grace that some are saved, as none can earn salvation, through their good works.

 

Don't tell me you never see hypocrisy among the godless. Maybe you haven't. Most of the godless never identify their standards so anything goes. I don't consider myself pious or religious. I understand how the godless are infuriated anytime someone attributes their success to the grace of God. I don't think I would necessarily use a sporting event to do that....but when Samaritan's purse trucks in thousands of pallets of drinking water into Houston I want to do a dance in the end zone with my finger pointed heavenward because that was done out of the love God extends to us.

 

Then surely it is passing strange that you have nothing better in rebuttal than abject lies...

...like this one.

Not seeing the hypocrisy in that.

You can't talk about God intelligently and call Him a creature.

Except that the former presumably flow from the latter.

 

Point out my lie.

 

I see a lot of this 'phony narrative' from the anti-christian left. They pretend that only christians are hypocrites, sinners, bigots, racist, etc. All atheists are loving & peaceful.

But this is just a false caricature, pounded into people with the constant barrage of propaganda from these anti-christian, leftist sources. Entertainment, media, academia, & just about all the institutions controlled by leftist ideology constantly promote this caricature.

Humans are hypocrites. Tell me something we don't know. Are you presuming to say that 'christians', whoever they are, are MORE hypocritical? More racist? More ignorant? Hate science? Hate govt? Etc? Is that not just a propaganda meme from the left? What actual evidence do you have for your beliefs about 'christians!' ?

You think the militant atheists here are not 'annoying?' You think smug, arrogant, 'know it alls', are not annoying?

Show me someone who claims to be 'non-religious', & i'll show you someone with a 'religious' or philosophical worldview that is equally unevidenced, believed by faith, & dogmatic as any individual christian. It is merely religious bigotry, to demean one worldview/belief system, & sing the praises of your own. THAT is a uniquely human experience, that has not changed for millennia.

 

I did that in the post you just quoted, Brainiac.

 

I'm sorry, I wasn't specific enough for you. Exactly how was my statement a lie when saying you worship a God that tortures billions for eternity?

 

Because I don't worship a God who tortures anybody.

 

doesn't "grace" mean love and mercy?

 

Why would God choose one football team, at the expense of the other? (This has nothing whatsoever to do with "little innocent children [that] are dying all around the world"; it has everything, however, to do with the fact that there is no good reason to view God as a mere cheerleader.)

By the way, God cannot (reasonably) be blamed for the antics of others--and especially as regarding the antics of those who choose to invoke His name only when things go well for them.