In What Ways, if any, Does Religion Influence Behavior?

[Sunstone]

I what ways, if any, does religion influence behavior?

Personally, I'm not sure it has much influence on behavior.

 

[Storm]

Depends on the religion. It might encourage evangelism, or private meditation, just for starters.

 

[BucephalusBB]

Depends on the religion. It might encourage evangelism, or private meditation, just for starters.

Would that be a switch in bahavior or the things those people would do anyway?

 

[Storm]

I don't think anyone would go out and preach on the street corner if they didn't believe it got them brownie points with God. I should have said "prayer" rather than "meditation," though.

 

[BucephalusBB]

Now I am confused if he means " Religion" or faith in general..:sarcastic

 

[Storm]

Well, I presumed religion, since that's what he said....

Why the sarcastic face?

 

[CalebAB]

A persons religion definatly influences their behavior. For example, A devil worshiper my think that killing is ok based on their beliefs and go out and do that action because it is what he believes in. were as a devote christian will think what he did is appaling and try to bring "GOD" into his life. both are influenced by their beliefs to do somthing and behave in a certian manner.

 

[Scott C.]

I what ways, if any, does religion influence behavior?

Personally, I'm not sure it has much influence on behavior.

My religion has tremendous influence on my behavior. I do the following because of it:

don't drink
dont smoke pot
pray alone
pray as a family
pray before meals
read scriptures alone
read scriptures as a family
have family home evening with my family once a week
dont work or play on Sunday
My sons are the only players on their baseball teams who withdraw from tournaments on Sundays.
no premarital sex
pay tithing
fast once a month
go to the temple regularly
attend sunday church meetings
attend tuesday youth activities
get up and take my son to seminary every school morning at 6:00am
try to keep my thoughts clean
try not to swear
try to be forgiving
try to love others unconditionally
participate in boy scouts
give blessings to family and others using priesthood
have family gospel discussions
went on a 2 year mission
graduated from BYU (certainly not required, but was influenced by my religion)
Home teach monthly (visit the homes of assigned church members to check up on their needs)
Prepare lessons for Sundays
Give talks in church on occasion.
Go to youth conferences on occasion
Do some family history work
Keep a personal journal
Give thanks to God daily for the Savior.

That's just a few things off the top of my head.

 

[3.14]

no sex before marriage said god,
but i need to unlease my sexual energie onto something,
maby if i beat up this guy
he it worked.
im married now i can have sex
but beating up people became my habit.

just one of many examples where even the slightest influence can lead to terrible/criminal behavior

ofcourse it also sometimes changes behavior for the good

 

[BucephalusBB]

Well, I presumed religion, since that's what he said....

Why the sarcastic face?

It was meant as a thinking face. This was the closest I could find

 

[Storm]

Oh, ok.

 

[Magic Man]

A persons religion definatly influences their behavior. For example, A devil worshiper my think that killing is ok based on their beliefs and go out and do that action because it is what he believes in. were as a devote christian will think what he did is appaling and try to bring "GOD" into his life. both are influenced by their beliefs to do somthing and behave in a certian manner.

I think religion influences behavior somewhat but not to the degree many people think. I think people would tend to be good or bad people in general no matter what religion they were.

As to this quote, I just wanted to point out that devil worshippers generally don't think killing is good. They don't generally worship "evil", they just see the devil, or Satan or Lucifer differently than we do. They tend to see him as the good one in the story, the one who broght us freedom. They still believe in the same basic good things we do. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[Mister Emu]

I would suggest that most people turn their religion into what suits them. If they are violent people they see violence in their religion, peaceful people see peace in their religion, etc. That is generally, because sometimes people do change their lives by finding a religion, or leaving...

 

[rasor]

In general good men will do good deeds and evil men will do evil deeds,but it takes religion for good men to do evil deeds.

 

[Fluffy]

I think that it is pretty evident that religion does influence behaviour to a great extent. Whether or not we believe religion is good or bad, we can all imagine a world without religion and that this world would be significantly different from our own is trivial.

Saying exactly how religion affects behaviour is much more difficult because it affects each individual differently. However, I think it is inaccurate to say that this means that religion has no part in the causal chain that motivates a person's behaviour. People react differently to religion but we are all still reacting to religion.

 

[Storm]

In general good men will do good deeds and evil men will do evil deeds,but it takes religion for good men to do evil deeds.

You really ought to give credit when you quote someone. Or, if you don't know who to credit, at least put it in quote marks. This just looks like plagiarism.

 

[ChristineES]

I have found that most people behave the same way before and after finding religion. They may not do some of the things that they did before finding it, but their character remains the same.

For example, if someone is a condescending atheist, he or she will become a condescending theist if they adopt a faith in God. (and vice versa).

 

[Charity]

I think you become a different person.....in the respect that you are see things from a Christian point of view, as opposed to the way you might have felt about them before accepting Jesus. I use to have a terrible temper, say some words that were not very nice and go to places that I probably shouldn't have.

After becoming a Christian there was a big change in my life, I don't do the things I use to do, I have patience and understanding toward people. I also have more desire to spend time in God's word, and more time doing a ministry, whether it's singing, or working in a Church sponsored soup kitchen....I think you have to learn to become a servant to people. Teaching you to be humble, charitable, and understanding. I believe that when you become a Christian there are definite signs that show change in your life......

 

[Alceste]

I what ways, if any, does religion influence behavior?

Personally, I'm not sure it has much influence on behavior.

In that case, I recommend you sleep with a diverse assortment of believers post haste. Make sure you save the practicing Taoists for last. They will help you shake the horrors of your dalliances with Christian fundamentalists.

 

[DallasApple]

I have no idea...I mean from birth..Because I was raised beign told there is a God and a Devil..and Heaven and Hell...

I have no way to know how that "changed " my behavior unless I had a clone DallasApple who had never been told such things..

Love

Dallas