Is religion a force for good in the world?

[Simon]

Excluding the existence of any supernatural powers, or any comment whatsoever on the fallacy or truth of religious belief, and based only what we have seen [i]as a direct result of religion in this world[/i], can we see that religion is a positive or negative influence on the world as we know it?

Thoughts and feelings, questions, queries, doubtful points, moans, groans, itches, bitches, theories, queries, unwanted pregnancies; all is welcome here. Spill your mind into text.

:)

[Neema Samawi]

I second this.

[Brian Beise (Books Ningmaster)]

We have to be careful here. If a poor man is fed through charity motivated by a belief in some cosmic fish, will you call that charity poorly motivated? That liberty will only be granted us when everyone is fed. Only then can you pick and choose motivations for real good done.

 

 

[Kayla]

I agree, religious groups do good, but they always have another motive for doing good, which to me, makes the good they do way less worthy.

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

What is the other motive?

[God ~blogs/forums admin ~]

" Let's do this to appease - insert god/s here - "
Or:
" Let's do this because Jesus/whatever, said so. "

If you're going to do good, then do good.
Religion shouldn't even factor into it. 

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

" Let's do this to appease - insert god/s here - "

Nowhere in the Bible will you see a command to do good to "appease" God.

" Let's do this because Jesus/whatever, said so. "

And there is something wrong with that because? You are oversimplifying Jesus. No one seriously claims that when Jesus taught about right and wrong, he was being remarkably revolutionary. People knew about that. What is important about Jesus is not what he said, but rather what he did.

If you're going to do good, then do good.
Religion shouldn't even factor into it.

Why not?

The religious and the non religious agree on much of what good and evil are. The only difference is that Christians believe the origin of Good comes from God. The non-religious have different ideas for the origin of Good.

[God ~blogs/forums admin ~]

"Nowhere in the Bible will you see a command to do good to "appease" God"

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The ten commandments, if it isn't to appease, and to measure up to God's wants and standards, what are they for? A guide to morality? Who's morality, and why must we follow them? To appease god.

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"And there is something wrong with that because? "
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I used Jesus as an example, certain people believe the:
" Do unto others as you would do unto yourself. "
Is originally from him, they follow that, therefore it's because Jesus said so.
The problem here, is that good acts are being committed not because the person wishes to do good, but they're doing so because they've been told to do so. Like the old story, a man gives up his entire wealthy, because he wishes to follow God's plan and get good in the next life. He gets there and gets a shack, whilst the man who did good for the shake of doing good, gets the mansion. 

By all means,  do good acts.
But do them because they're good, not because you've been told to do so. 

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

The ten commandments, if it isn't to appease, and to measure up to God's wants and standards, what are they for? A guide to morality? Who's morality, and why must we follow them? To appease god.

My objection was to your use of the word "appease". They are there for us to know God's will, but to follow them is not to appease him. That implies that he really wants to punish us, and only by obeying him will you sate that desire.

By all means,  do good acts.
But do them because they're good, not because you've been told to do so.

The distinction here is that you believe they are good, because God desires them. If you believe that God is the ultimate source of good, then God answers the question of why they are good. You are still doing them because they are good if you are listening to God.

[God ~blogs/forums admin ~]

"My objection was to your use of the word "appease". They are there for us to know God's will, but to follow them is not to appease him. That implies that he really wants to punish us, and only by obeying him will you sate that desire."
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Well, if we don't follow them, we're going to get punished. In this life, or the next. If he didn't desire to punish us, and didn't want; he'd not do so much of it. Or he'd not create people he knowingly know's who'll be getting the punishment.  

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"The distinction here is that you believe they are good, because God desires them. If you believe that God is the ultimate source of good, then God answers the question of why they are good. You are still doing them because they are good if you are listening to God."

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 Because god say's they're good?


 

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

Well, if we don't follow them, we're going to get punished. In this life, or the next. If he didn't desire to punish us, and didn't want; he'd not do so much of it. Or he'd not create people he knowingly know's who'll be getting the punishment.

It is the very fact he didn't want to punish us that means he gives us the option. Hence Jesus. Do you really think he'd go though all he did when he could have done something else?

Because god say's they're good?

It is good because it is of God. You don't have to actively believe in God to do good, because good is something that God creates.

[sabelmouse]

yes and no.

[Cavalier]

It seems like the world is usually going to be in a balance of good and evil. Me and my friend were talking a little about religion and agreed that religion can give a reason to make bad people do good things, and good people do bad things. The world is going to be bad no matter what, religion just shakes it up a bit.