How can we measure righteousness?

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Righteousness or being right and acceptable in the sight of God is a requisite to heaven. Then since we various diverse religious doctrines, dogmas, laws, and beliefs and virtually all religious sects think they, alone, are on the right path. How then do we measure righteousness? That is must one be among a specific sect and follow their doctrines to be righteous or it does not really matter. Some Atheist even pagans do good things compared to the religious yet they may not be counted righteous, Why?

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      Shaisty-Chase-Teaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      i would assume it can be measured by how much and how easy it is for us to admit to being wrong, and have an inner sense of both peace in becoming more right and a sense of gratitude for the ones who do not claim to own righteousness, but are able to help us find light in what we see is more right than our previous misconceptions, even if we only can agree on a tenth of what we were able to learn from

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      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Righteousness probably has nothing to do with gods, doctrines dogma or even laws. Righteousness is characterized more with morality, ethics and justice. Since religions send mixed messages of what they believe to be moral, ethical and justified, they can't be relied upon as a credible or valid source for being righteous other than the particular heaven associated with a particular God.

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         couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         The discussion of morality, ethics and justice can go deep.  The simple question is who decides what is moral, ethical and just and for this argument - righteous?

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      kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The standard of righteousness is pretty simple....
      You set the standard and you keep that standard.
      
      So what you allow for yourself also allow for your neighbors....and it better for you to allow them to exceed the limitations of your standard rather than you exceeding the limitations of your standard.
      
      That way each stand or fall according to that which is in him and that judgement is perfect for it contains not one single flaw.
      
      It has been said as simple as this.
      ...love your neighbor as yourself... And
      
      Judge not lest you be judge ...so just as you judge other so you would be judge yourself... And
      
      Do unto others as you would like be done unto yourself.....
      
      They all are the same and one perfect and only standard of righteousness.

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         brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         ....while you tip toe around the cross of christ.
         its not works that prove us to God its
         
         Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

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      Cassie Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's a good question David, but I think it is a question posed by man, only God decides who will be with Him in heaven.  I think being righteous is really about the individual decision to live his or her life in a way that he or she thinks God  wants them to.  To me, there is no way for humans to measure righteousness because it requires a heavenly standard.

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      DoubleScorpionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      How can we measure righteousness? Easy...Live what you preach!

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      WriteAngledposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is the most non-righteous and hate-filled statement I have read in a long time.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ultimately, Christians are measured not on our own merits, but on the righteousness of Christ our Savior.

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Tea, I think you mean it can be measured by our desire to do what is right and our ability to easily accept that we are wrong when we do what is wrong. Your assumption sound fair because one should be considered righteous when one works towards doing the right thing. But the big problem is what you consider to be right may be wrong when viewed through a different religion than yours or whatever you belief.

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   Emile Rposted 12 years ago

   The whole problem with the question is that it leaves people in the position of judgment of others on a cosmic level. The only fair and compassionate thing to do is assume everyone is right in the eyes of God. Because, in all honesty, you'll never know.
   
   We make laws and have moral codes on this level of existence in order to mold our society into a shape that allows the majority to live in peace and prosperity. Our wants, needs and opinions are blinded by the reality we inhabit at the moment. I wish people would stop attempting to extrapolate spiritual truths from physical experience.

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      Mikel G Robertsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Nice.
      
      The question assumes that 1)Heaven exists, 2)God judges us on our behavior here on Earth and 3)decides who to punish and who to reward.
      
      I don't believe that Heaven (the way the Abrahamic Religions define it) is the next stop on our journey, so to me the entire question of 'How do I get into Heaven' is kind of silly.
      
      God wants us all to be whatever it is that we are. We want to be happy, comfortable(rich) and appreciated. We all want to feel better than the next guy(powerful) and want the esteem that goes with being regarded the better person. We're just not sure how to make that happen.

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         Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I'm with you, in that heaven doesn't make sense as a destination. I guess eternal rest and worship made sense at one point in history. We've grown so far away from our beginnings that it is little more than a fairy tale and we've had ample time to realize that isn't really a happy ending.
         
         I'll be frank. I don't understand your last paragraph. Most of those desires are, to me, the things we're supposed to struggle to transcend. The desire for earthly wealth, comfort and recognition turn us away from the spiritual search. I always assumed the nirvana of the afterlife was the state we struggled to attain while still in this life.
         
         What am I missing from your statement?

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            Mikel G Robertsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            @Frank (grinning)...
            
            I agree we have been taught to attempt to transend these desires, but that in itself proves we have them. Finding ways to be happy and proud of ourselves without attaining those things is our struggle. Perhaps becoming altruistic instead of nepotistic(spelling?) is a good way to explain that struggle. Our base(animal) instincts are to be nepotistic and take care of our own. Our higher(spiritual) instincts lean towards altruism.
            
            This reasoning is also why in other forum threads I have stated that without religion we would be more animal(nepotistic) and a lot less altruistic(higher purpose).
            
            I hope that makes more sense to you Frank. (still grinning)...

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               Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I smirked at the word when I typed it.
               
               Yes, that makes more sense and I agree.

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Emile, you made a good point because we may never know the truth of how God will judge. However, people use the scripture to claim that it is God inspired truth so they use it to support their claim. Funnily enough, they won't belief anyone that comes up with another scripture or doctrine that is not in line with their own. That is just what happened and the Jews did not belief Jesus. Christains don't belief Muslims and so on.

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Troubled Man, I always tell people that we do not necessary need religion to know the right thing to do or to be righteous but most religious people think differently as they belief one can only be righteous when one follow a specific doctrine example accept Jesus as lord and savior else no other means of being righteous no matter what good one does. Yet we know that religious bases of righteousness is in conflict like you pointed.

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      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I know. That is exactly one of main reasons why we should never listen to Christians when it comes to understanding what is righteous.

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Yes that is the problem with religious view of righteousness.

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   When we talk about morality, ethics, and right-doing we know that it differs among cultures, traditions, and religions. It is because of these differences that some people think they, alone, are righteous especially in the sight of God. That is why most religion think and insist that one can't be considered righteous except one follow they ways/ doctrines which they belief leads to righteousness. Despite the differences, there are things we can all agree to be right for example stealing, killing e.t.c

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      A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We don't need a holy book to figure out those things, they are already instilled in us because of evolution.

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         livelongerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Not all of it.
         
         Evolution favors your own family, then kin (and, maybe, just maybe, your nation). The law of nature is the law of nepotism.
         
         What favors helping out people half a world away, people you will never know or meet?

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            A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Our altruistic nature, of course.
            
            "Nature is the law of nepotism"? Since when?

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               livelongerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Nature does not favor altruism. It favors nepotism.

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                  Mikel G Robertsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I agree, even though I had to look up the big words...
                  
                  ...again

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   AshtonFireflyposted 12 years ago

   Is there even such a thing as righteousness?

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   davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

   Let us look at it from this other way as I know not everyone beliefs in heaven however we can't deny that religion or belief influences what people think is right or wrong. For instance polygamy is acceptable in some places while others think it is wrong. The same applies to drinking of alcohols and other actions which people have various objections so it is not necessarily because of heaven though we can't deny that religion, culture, tradition, and belief has an imppact.

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    brotheryochananposted 12 years ago

    Righteousness...
    
    and when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said unto him, friend how came you in here not having a wedding garment? and he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants. Bind him hand and foot, and take him away.
    
    No one can wear just any old thing; which represents that no one can join in on what God is doing by doing their own thing.
    
    Righteousness means in right standing with God. God approved. And what is approving to God? Jesus Christ.
    It doesn't matter how many good works any one does. No one can approve themselves to God. No one can force their way into eternal life unless they are approved of by God.
    
    The cross of Christ. His resurrection. His words and His spirit. An active belief in the historical Jesus of the bible that he was crucified for the atonement of sins. When we put on Christ, God approves.
    
    No other way. none

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       Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thank goodness that's a load of crocks.

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       A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Once again, Christians redefine words to suit their self-centered, superiority laden beliefs.
       
       Yes bro, continue to be righteous, do not good works and be that superior person we know you can be.

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          autumn18posted 12 years agoin reply to this

          This is what gets me. It doesn't matter how many if any good works one does? It's ok, I'll be unrighteous in a Christian's eyes and be a decent human being.

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             livelongerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             That's what got to me, too. In fairness, there are plenty of Christians who do believe good deeds matter, but they tend to not believe that faith is all that matters.
             
             Those Christians who believe that faith is all that matters generally don't have a personal history of good deeds to fall back on.

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       Mikel G Robertsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Got Proof?
       
       
       Because God tells me different.

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    whoisbidposted 12 years ago

    Righteousness is word that is used in bibles translated from the Greek. If you read the Novum Testamentum which is a translation from the Latin Vulgate you will see it is translated "Justice"

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    davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

    Righteousness can be viewed from different points like I said.

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    davidkalugeposted 12 years ago

    WhiteAngled, what comment did you say is a hate speech and why?

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