How Come Faithful People Are Not Necessarily Good People?

[Sunstone]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

 

[Panda]

Faith doesn't change who a person is. People are either good or not, faith doesn't really change that.

 

[James the Persian]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Well, depending on the religion, I'd have to question quite how faithful someone was if they were a genuinely bad person (as opposed to displaying the same sort of flaws we all suffer from from time to time).

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

Yes. It's my biggest gripe with sola fideist Protestantism, particularly of the OSAS sort. Of course most religions do emphasise living a good life either alone or alongside faith. Faith alone is the peculiar position.

James

 

[FatMan]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

I don't know about the first question posed, but regarding the emphasis religions have on faith, I can address that.

I don't believe religions put such an emphasis on faith as the emphasis they put on being a devout follower, and the restraints that can cause.

My belief is that religion, by design, does not promote people being well-rounded. While one CAN be deeply religious and well-rounded, it will have to be of their own motivation. Most religions do not actively promote that you seek out information, because the more information you know, the more apt you will be to question dogma and ultimately faith.

 

[Cordoba]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

True faith with a correct understanding of God's Guidance always make good people. The problem arises with a wrong understanding, which may be caused by a misguided teacher

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

In Islam, faith on its own is not enough to be saved in the Hereafter

Belief in God and doing good in this world is the path for salvation. If you read The Qur'an, you will find that always faith and good deeds are mentioned together

Example:
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging[/FONT]
(18:107)

 

[Nanda]

Because by and large, people are big, fat hypocrites.

 

[porkchop]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

From faith, if truly saved, comes good works, as the Bible says, it is by their fruits you shall know them.
I would be suspicious of a person who says they are saved ( you use the term faithful) and is not a good person.

Its not a flaw to talk about faith more than good works cause good works mean squat unless youve accepted Jesus as your saviour.

 

[Smoke]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Why would they be? How many religions even teach them to be?

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

Definitely.

 

[ChristineES]

First off, I would like to say sorry to those nonbelievers who have had bad experiences with believers.
Remember just because a person acknowledges God with their mouth does not mean they are acknowledging God with their heart.

 

[Mike182]

because faithful people are still just that, people...

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

Big time flaw. One cannot be really faithful and so good if they don't DO good things. Actions speak louder than words for real, and if you can't bring yourself to do good actions, and call yourself with so much trust and faith in God, then what kind of faith you got? And faith in what exactly?

 

[ChristineES]

People worry too much about following the rules that they forget that they are supposed to be loving to all people, including nonbelievers. It is a sad fact, and it is the same problem some of the pharisees had in Jesus' time.

 

[McBell]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

It is my opinion that to many faithful persons hide behind their faith.

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

This depends on the religion.
Again, my opinion...
In the case of Christianity, I would say it is the followers, not the religion.
Most people, theist, agnostic, atheist alike, make fun of the Simpsons character Ned Flanders.
Sad thing is, Ned Flanders is what Christians are supposed to be like.

 

[Yerda]

Sad thing is, Ned Flanders is what Christians are supposed to be like.

That's right. Grow a moustache ye heathens.

 

[Vassal]

Faith doesn't change who a person is. People are either good or not, faith doesn't really change that.

Wrong. While people will never be perfect, people with faith in Christ are a new creation. There is a clear difference between a believer and a non-believer. Maybe a faithful person is just having a bad day, or even a bad week, but if it is a continual thing then it is clear where that person’s true allegiance lies. Your actions show what is in your heart. You might be able to fake it for a while, but a true believer experiences a change of heart and desires good over evil. What is in your heart will eventually come out and the characteristics of an unchanged heart are very clear.

Luke 6:45 (NASB) "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Romans 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:11 (NASB) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:19-24 (NASB) 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Galatians 6:15 (NASB) For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Hebrews 10:26 (NASB) For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

1 John 3:5-6 (NASB) 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

 

[Ozzie]

Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

Are you toying around with this as a philosophical question or as a condemnation of blind faith? It is fairly easy to cite examples of faith gone mad with disasterous consequences, yet it is possible for someone to have the blinkers on so to speak yet have their other senses open I believe.

 

[rojse]

Religion and morality are two exclusive spheres, no matter what other people claim. You don't need to be religious to be moral, and morality does not mean that the person is religious.

I would like to hope that many people are charitable because that is the way that they think, not because they feel threatened by the big beard in the sky.

 

[cardero]

Sunstone writes: Why is it that faith alone does not make someone a good person? How come faithful people are not necessarily good people?

Faith holds the hope that these individuals behave in a good manner. Unfortunately some people also encourage the same hope that there are evil prescences that are out to tempt them to do bad. No one can hope to be good while at the same time hope that there is bad.

Some faithful people still believe that their mythical figures hold the monopoly on morality and what is good but when confronted with conflicting examples. faith tends to abandon them or turn this faith into doubt. Faith is a “fix” that continually has to be secured and personally validated. This may be the reason why people are encouraged to attend meetings with like-minded associates.

Another side of the coin that makes an interesting study is that one’s faith in doing good doesn’t seem to match the good that they perceive in the world or receive in turn which can be very disheartening.

Sunstone writes: Is it a flaw of some religions to put so much emphasis on faith and not a similar emphasis on living a good, decent life?

Faith has nothing to do with good and bad, faith has the tendency to try to keep itself from being concluded or discovered incorrect.

 

[Kcnorwood]

Who says you need faith of any kind to be a good person? I know tons of athiest who are truly good people.....

 

[cardero]

Who says you need faith of any kind to be a good person? I know tons of athiest who are truly good people.....

Who says athiests can't have faith?