Does having a religion make you a better person?

[InChrist]

I

That just ignores my points to try to shift focus.
You too are a sinner who does things other Christians say make you a false Christian. What makes you any different from them?

I have attempted to address your points and answer your question. I will try again. A Christian will allow themselves to be convicted by the Holy Spirit when they sin, sincerely repent, and seek with God’s strength to stop repeating the same sins over again. A Christian in name only won’t. Instead, though they will continue repeatedly practicing the same sinful self-serving behaviors. I was a sinner saved by grace, now my life is not my own. I belong to Jesus Christ. Though, I mess up at times my desire is NOT to sin, but to please Him. That is the difference.

 

[AnthonyGiarrusso]

I have observed people both with and without religion in their lives. From my observations people with religion are significantly happier, have a more positive outlook on life and death, and will stand up against bullies.

People who don't have religion or left their religion are usually bitter with bitter attitudes and want you to be miserable like them so they entice you to be miserable like them. I wonder if the bitterness comes from lack of religious meaning.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

and want you to be miserable like them so they entice you to be miserable like them.

Good grief.

and will stand up against bullies.

I'd love to see the evidence for this claim.

 

[AnthonyGiarrusso]

Good grief.

I'd love to see the evidence for this claim.

If you start reading people well offline and have human contact, you will see what I mean real fast. Really focus on people around you over the next month or so.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

If you start reading people well offline and have human contact, you will see what I mean real fast. Really focus on people around you over the next month or so.

That is not at all supporting your claim.
Amd do knock off the pretentiousness. You don't even know my background and you assume ignorance.
But as it turns out I've got years more experience in this area than you, the advantage of growing up without a cell phone or social media and everything online, and probably more education in regards to people as well.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

That is not at all supporting your claim.
Amd do knock off the pretentiousness. You don't even know my background and you assume ignorance.
But as it turns out I've got years more experience in this area than you, the advantage of growing up with without a cell phone or social media and everything online, and probably more education in regards to people as well.

And you have a degree in psychology.

I don't recommend youtubing psychology. It's what my degree is in, I've worked in the field, and I've seen a lot of bad advice out there that claims to be psychology but is not an acceoted practice in the field (self helps books are a minefield of potentially bad and dangerous ideas, for example).

 

[danieldemol]

I'm generalizing here, but conservatives tend to have ethics that place the wellbeing of the community above all else, while liberals have ethics that place the wellbeing of the individual above all else.

Horsepoop in my view, conservatives tend not to place the wellbeing of anyone or anything above their personal sentiments.

Communities are made of individuals and in my opinion you can't have a functional community made of individuals with no wellbeing.

I think you may have swallowed conservative propaganda to think they care about communities.

 

[danieldemol]

I have observed people both with and without religion in their lives. From my observations people with religion are significantly happier, have a more positive outlook on life and death, and will stand up against bullies.

As for being happier perhaps ignorance is bliss, as for standing up against bullies the Christian God is a bully and it seems to me that non-believers do a far better job of standing up to it than a whole bunch of Christians do in my view.

People who don't have religion or left their religion are usually bitter with bitter attitudes and want you to be miserable like them so they entice you to be miserable like them. I wonder if the bitterness comes from lack of religious meaning.

Nah, we get told by Christians all the time that we are a bunch of wretched good for nothing sinners. Leaving such a bitter attitude behind is quite empowering in my view, I as a non-believer in your God do not feel bitter at all except for when mistreated by others and I'm sure Christians are no different in that regard in my opinion.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

And you have a degree in psychology.

I'm actually disappointed in the field in the reluctance to criticize conservative religious beliefs. A lot of kids, and even adults, are in therapy right now because of the damage such beliefs are known for causing. The closest I've seen is an acknowledgement LGBT youth are at a unique risk of homelessness. But if stopped short of the warning signs regarding parental beliefs.
Psych really needs to study religious based trauma. Like the doctrine of Hell. No one,it's especially, deserve such a monstrously cruel amd wicked shock and existential terror.

 

[Heyo]

I'm actually disappointed in the field in the reluctance to criticize conservative religious beliefs. A lot of kids, and even adults, are in therapy right now because of the damage such beliefs are known for causing. The closest I've seen is an acknowledgement LGBT youth are at a unique risk of homelessness. But if stopped short of the warning signs regarding parental beliefs.
Psych really needs to study religious based trauma. Like the doctrine of Hell. No one,it's especially, deserve such a monstrously cruel amd wicked shock and existential terror.

Psychology is afraid to touch religion. It shows in the DSM. Religion gets exceptions, e.g. a delusion is defined as a fixed, false belief that isn't susceptible to evidence - except when it's religious.

 

[Haru13]

Religion doesn't make a difference at all. All religion teach empathy, kindness, positivism, etc. However, the real question is how a person interpret the teaching and most important do they use those teaching and lessons in day to day life. So, it's completely depends on a person persona and the way they're intended to choose to live.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Psychology is afraid to touch religion. It shows in the DSM. Religion gets exceptions, e.g. a delusion is defined as a fixed, false belief that isn't susceptible to evidence - except when it's religious.

That's because most aren't having delusions. More like misplaced feelings and connecting the dots on sensless events to make sense of them. That's just normal human behavior.
Id say it's more just uncritical and unexamined. Like in the show Derry Girls when Sister Michaels chastised kid and parents for praying to their god to pester him to change the school exam results in the envelope. And after that hit it sarcastic roasting they acknowledged it was silly thing to think.

 

[Muffled]

Some people might believe that the religious are supreme to the non-religious while the non-religious might seem themselves as supreme to the religious.

I believe that wasn't the question you asked. It isn't about whether I have become a better person than others but about becoming a better person than I was. I am better and better off as well.

 

[Muffled]

I answer "yes" but only for those who are inspired by the message of the religion and as a result try sincerely to "walk the talk". This also applies to atheists who have a ethical outlook on life and also try to live up to their ideals.

I believe as far as atheists ideals go, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

 

[Muffled]

NO!
It is your actions and the way you behave; religion or lack of is irrelevant

I believe you should consider where those actions come from.

 

[Altfish]

I believe you should consider where those actions come from.

I do ... and it's not from any religious text.
"Humanists believe that the origins of our moral capacities lie inside human beings and our evolution as social animals. They believe that, when deciding how to act, we should use reason and empathy, considering the consequences of our actions and the likely impact on other people and animals." - Humanists UK

 

[TLK Valentine]

I believe as far as atheists ideals go, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Luckily there is no hell.

 

[Valjean]

I have observed people both with and without religion in their lives. From my observations people with religion are significantly happier, have a more positive outlook on life and death, and will stand up against bullies.

People who don't have religion or left their religion are usually bitter with bitter attitudes and want you to be miserable like them so they entice you to be miserable like them. I wonder if the bitterness comes from lack of religious meaning.

Palpable poppycock.

 

[Valjean]

Religion doesn't make a difference at all. All religion teach empathy, kindness, positivism, etc. However, the real question is how a person interpret the teaching and most important do they use those teaching and lessons in day to day life. So, it's completely depends on a person persona and the way they're intended to choose to live.

Not all, and those that do generally promote these only amongst their own group. Moral obligation should be demographically consistent.

 

[Valjean]

I believe as far as atheists ideals go, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

At least most atheists seem to have good intentions. The good intentions of the religious too often apply only to their own in-group. The Hebrews saw no problem kidnapping, abusing and enslaving thise from neighboring tribes; nor did the American's see any problem with enslaving Africans. Both explicitly justified their actions with religion.

I believe you should consider where those actions come from.

From millions of years of psycho-social evolution as small-band, hunting-gathering, savanna apes, selecting for in-group loyalty, coöperation, and altruism; and out-group competition or aggression.