Can You Be Good Without God?

[waitasec]

OK!

Why?

because i do not believe god exists
and to attribute the good in me to something that doesn't exist doesn't make sense

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If you do good you are with God, regardless of belief about God (or lack of).

Things like this get my hackles up. I doubt you meant it this way, but when I read that, I see something like that old line about how every religion "follows Jesus in their own way".

 

[lunamoth]

because i do not believe god exists
and to attribute the good in me to something that doesn't exist doesn't make sense

How do you know God does not exist?

 

[lunamoth]

Things like this get my hackles up. I doubt you meant it this way, but when I read that, I see something like that old line about how every religion "follows Jesus in their own way".

What's wrong with that line?

 

[waitasec]

How do you know God does not exist?

because the idea of god is a hope for something more than what this chaotic life is...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What's wrong with that line?

It's chauvinistic. It tries to shoehorn the beliefs of others into your belief system, thereby devaluing and denigrating those beliefs.

 

[lunamoth]

because the idea of god is a hope for something more than what this chaotic life is...

That sounds rather a sad way of looking at it.

 

[lunamoth]

It's chauvinistic. It tries to shoehorn the beliefs of others into your belief system, thereby devaluing and denigrating those beliefs.

I don't think so. I think it recognizes that there are many different ways to understand God.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

That sounds rather a sad way of looking at it.

It's only sad if you feel a need to believe in God.

 

[Sunstone]

It's only sad if you feel a need to believe in God.

Why would someone feel a need to believe in God?

 

[lunamoth]

It's only sad if you feel a need to believe in God.

No. It is sad exactly the way she wrote it, from the POV of no belief in God. To see the whole world as chaotic , with no hope. That is rather sad, whether or not you believe in God.

 

[waitasec]

That sounds rather a sad way of looking at it.

not at all

my friends 3 yr old son died. he had a brain tumor.
i was devastated when i heard the news, being a parent myself and as anyone would be when hearing such news. but you see, this child was loved and cared for they did everything they possible could for a little over a year. he knew he was loved every waking minute of his little life. what is sad are neglected children in the world, you know who told me that, the father of the child. an atheist. do you think he has less love for his son then another parent for saying something like that?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't think so. I think it recognizes that there are many different ways to understand God.

:sarcastic You're doing it again.

I don't "understand" your God in any way whatsoever. I don't follow your God in any way whatsoever. I am not "with" your God.

My beliefs are not some different, deficient form of Christianity. They are what they are in their own right.

If you have a theistic worldview, fine... but don't try to impose it on me.

 

[waitasec]

No. It is sad exactly the way she wrote it, from the POV of no belief in God. To see the whole world as chaotic , with no hope. That is rather sad, whether or not you believe in God.

some of us can accept the chaos
others cannot.

 

[lunamoth]

not at all

my friends 3 yr old son died. he had a brain tumor.
i was devastated when i heard the news, being a parent myself and as anyone would be when hearing such news. but you see, this child was loved and cared for they did everything they possible could for a little over a year. he knew he was loved every waking minute of his little life. what is sad are neglected children in the world, you know who told me that, the father of the child. an atheist. do you think he has less love for his son then another parent for saying something like that?

I would say he loves his child as much as any parent loves their children, and has compassion for others the way most others in the world have compassion for others.

I'm not getting the connection. ???

 

[Quagmire]

Do Warren Buffett and Bill Gates give the lie to the notion that you cannot be good without god? Why or why not?

Does god keep you from being as good as you might be? Why or why not?

H/T Astasia

This only makes a point if you really believe that Pat Robertson is any closer to God than the other two guys.

 

[waitasec]

I would say he loves his child as much as any parent loves their children, and has compassion for others the way most others in the world have compassion for others.

I'm not getting the connection. ???

it's about accepting the chaos in life

 

[lunamoth]

some of us can accept the chaos
others cannot.

Oh, believe me, I embrace the mess! God really does not make life less messy or chaotic, IMO.

Please allow me to ask you a question, and don't assume that you already know where I am headed with this...

What gives your life meaning?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why would someone feel a need to believe in God?

I don't know, but it's been my experience that many people do seem to feel this need.

No. It is sad exactly the way she wrote it, from the POV of no belief in God. To see the whole world as chaotic , with no hope. That is rather sad, whether or not you believe in God.

I think that entirely depends on what one thinks is included in "the world as it is". Personally, I find quite a bit of hope in the world as it is.

 

[waitasec]

Oh, believe me, I embrace the mess! God really does not make life less messy or chaotic, IMO.

Please allow me to ask you a question, and don't assume that you already know where I am headed with this...

What gives your life meaning?

i would say connection