Theists do right only because they fear god's wrath if they do not comply.

Theists do right only because they fear god's wrath if they do not comply. Atheists do good because it is right.


Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

 

Right or wrong it is in the moment of time or the perception of time and what is relevant.

To fear a god is only in the presence of the moment, to believe you are right is only in the same presence of the moment in time.

Are either correct, more importantly are the not, only in that moment in time is it relevant.

There is no answer to this, only perception.

 

no. it's too general. it's true of some theists and some atheists, but the way it's worded it sounds like you're making sweeping generalizations about both groups.

 

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Atheists could also do bad because it is right, or so they think.

The way I see it, if someone has the inclination to believe fairy tales, then we're lucky those tales do not encourage them to think for themselves.

Unfortunately I doubt anyone has existed without even sinning, and religious people are no more disinclined to sin than anyone else. Most of the Saints did at some stage as well as Buddha, and probably Jesus and Mohammed too.

 

There was a study done a few years ago-atheists (and I'm agnostic) were more likely to shoplift than people who attended church-not by much-but there was a difference.

Their findings concluded that atheists could find a reason to justify their actions-while religious people were more likely to have a set rule- yes or no.

 

Well put. :rofl:

 

I am a theist and can only speak from my own experience, but I disagree with your original post. I am motivated to do good (though not always, I admit) not from fear, but because we seem to have an innate sense of right and wrong. Do I seek God's approval? Yes, but because I believe it is right to behave ethically and I also believe it pleases God when we do so.

 

Most people have more than one motive for everything they do.

 

We all come equipped with a hardwired sense of right and wrong. Everyone knows it's wrong to kill and steal, but some people are able to justify such actions through their social conditioning.

So does that mean some theists are more likely not to take such action for fear of godly reprisal? Yes. But does it also mean that some theists will take such action in the name of god, believing it to be precisely his/her will? Yes.

Theism is just another form of social conditioning, and at the end of the day, we are all capable of impressive feats of both cruelty and kindness, regardless of religious disposition.

 

I've always thought like that. The religious folks do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Their good deeds are overshadowed by the fact that they feel the need to kiss God's ass. This isn't always the case, but I'm sure it's the case more often than not.

 

this is true often. but really, i'd say that the fact that they feel the need to kiss god's ass is overshadowed by the fact that they do the right thing.

what's more important, intentions or results? for me, it's results.

 

sometimes it is the truth. the big difference is that atheists take responsibility for twhat happens in their lives, instead of looking to a deity to blame or credit.

 

Some of them.

You can always tell which ones, because when you tell them you don't share their imaginary friend, they freak out and start talking about morals, and raping infants and running down old ladies and dirty bombing innocent people, because apparently gawd is the only thing keeping them from doing these things.

 

I don't agree with the statement because it is grammatically incorrect.

Also because I've known many Christians who are good people because they just are and they believe in treating people well. Not out of fear but out of compassion.

 

I don't doubt that some theists only care about God's approval when acting well.
But as a theist, I don't think that God has set a certain morality, only left us with common sense. I act morally because it makes myself and others happy. I don't think God is hugely concerned with that one way or another.

 

I recently exposed an xtian friend to the zeitgeist movie and it blew his mind. then he expressed his concern that he needs to believe in hell, or he will consider killing people in cold blood for wronging him. the dude has insanity issues, and it's scary to think that many xtians may agree with him. there has to be the threat of hell to keep them from doing bad things?!?!

 

That sounds like my fat aunt who says she joined a gym because if she didn't actually use it, she'd be losing money, so she's more likely to exercise out of guilt.

Basic reverse psychology.

 

Some people do kill people who have wronged them.

Many people of faith can face a tug-o-war between their beliefs on morality and their basic instinct.

That's why Christianity included the part about Jesus dying for all our sins and so it's okay when people slip up and act based on their true morality or human nature. If they didn't include that part, everyone would be fucked after the first time they ever sinned, then shit would really start to go nuts because the planet would be full of people who were certain that they'd go to hell anyways, so why not do whatever you feel like?

Many Christians I've known will do something, say such as infidelity, acting out of their inherent human nature, then they turn around and feel guilty about it later due to their Christian beliefs. If it weren't for their Christian beliefs, would they feel guilty about naturally wanting to be with another, perhaps better partner?

"The bite of conscience, like the bite of a dog into a stone, is a stupidity"

-Nietzsche

 

I always have to post some shit like this in religious threads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8velTatFsg&feature=related"]YouTube - Proficy Ft. Valtiel, Aztek & Da Evilist - Found Forever.