Do we need God

1. 81

   lovetherainposted 6 years ago

   for guidance, morally?

   replyreport
   1. 95

      wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Thinking back to the destruction of the Gnostics, the instructions to bash infant brains out on rocks, the crusades, the inquisition, the witch hunts, the tale of Egyptian first born murdered because God "hardened Pharaohs heart" or that all the descendants of Eve are condemned to death for her actions...no I'd have to say that we don't need a god for guidance.  We can't possibly do any worse than God did or that people did in His name.
      
      On the other hand, it was against God's direction that slaves were freed, that women became real people with real rights and that child beatings slowed dramatically.

      replyreport
2. 71

   Aime Fposted 6 years ago

   No. Whenever someone claims that morality is based in religion/God I think of the Euthyphro dilemma.
   
   "Is what is morally good commanded by God because it is morally good, or is it morally good because it is commanded by God?"
   
   If it’s the first one then morality exists without God, he’s just a voice that reminds you to follow it. If it’s the second then morality isn’t actually based in anything, if God decides what’s good then he could have just as easily said “killing your neighbours is morally good” and since morality, in this scenario, hinges on what God says is good... that suddenly is what’s good. If you care to argue it then you’re reverting to the first scenario, in which morality exists before/without God, he’s just the perceived speaker.

   replyreport
   1. 95

      wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      One has only to look back through history to find the answer here.  The church (God's will) has always lagged behind while civilization and morality grew within our societies.  When society decided slavery was wrong, the church followed along.  When women were declared to be first class citizens, the church was forced to change their rules.  When gays were found to be people just like the rest of us, the church gradually accepted the fact.  Even the "holy grail" of morality - the Golden Rule - is slowly becoming accepted by the church, even to the point that it, sometimes, applies even when "God's rule" dictates otherwise.
      
      It is always a slow thing - the church is forced, kicking and screaming, into changing what "God's Rule" is, simply to remain in existence for if it does not it will be left along the wayside, discarded as simply another case of the immorality and cruelty of our ancestors.  As the things God has declared moral are constantly changed, they must have been moral and right only because God said they were, not because they were innately right.

      replyreport
3. 77

   Kathryn L Hillposted 6 years ago

   Whether we need God or not, God is behind everything. To hide from God is fine, but to ask for God's help is brilliant.

   replyreport
4. 71

   Harishprasadposted 6 years ago

   Bhagwat Geeta, a sacred text of Hindus,  clarifies this question. It says that different guys seek God for different reasons. There are four kinds who seek God : one ,who are in some trouble, second, who want riches for themselves, third, who are curious to know, and lastly, the wise ones. Only the fourth kind is able to fathom God.
   
   Now, your question has an answer : Though we may be like these four kinds, we don't need God because we rather rely on ourselves, otherwise, we always seek or need God for help and support.

   replyreport
5. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 6 years ago

   If the question is whether atheists can be moral (not do bad things, do good things) the answer is all around you.

   replyreport