[quote]ZMorris83 wrote:
Empathy is a function of the brain, some are naturally stronger in this area, and just like what we have learned from cereal killers, regardless of your upbringing, some humans are unable to understand why what they are doing is detrimental to society.
Religion can be used to guide them down a better path, but understanding why certain acts are hurtful to others and why we need forgiveness is the foundation of Christianity and I hope that guy eventually realized this.
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Cereal killers? Oh noes… think of Captain Crunch!
Sorry can’t resist.
I think that he didn’t feel bad about wanting to rape, but felt good about not following through with it.
[quote]ZMorris83 wrote:
Empathy is a function of the brain, some are naturally stronger in this area, and just like what we have learned from cereal killers, regardless of your upbringing, some humans are unable to understand why what they are doing is detrimental to society.
Religion can be used to guide them down a better path, but understanding why certain acts are hurtful to others and why we need forgiveness is the foundation of Christianity and I hope that guy eventually realized this.
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Cereal killers? Oh noes… think of Captain Crunch!
Sorry can’t resist.
I think that he didn’t feel bad about wanting to rape, but felt good about not following through with it.
This is what I don’t understand.[/quote]
DAMMIT I ALWAYS DO THAT! SERIAL, SERIAL, SERIAL, SERIAL!!! Hahahaha
Feeling good about avoiding a hurtful act is admirable, but that is still self serving, without consdering the other person he is not demonstrating empathy or attrition and is still revealing a frightening perspective.
Whether you like it or not everyone in modern society has been heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values or “morals”. Your “internal moral compass” has been set by your environment and personal experiences.
What if you were born into a cannibalistic tribe in the South Pacific? Do you really think you “internal moral compass” would point you in the same direction as it does now? Or course not. The fact is, you grew up in a society who’s laws and ideals were originally based on Judeo-Christian law.
Most of the civilised world believe in a good chunk of 10 Commandments.
You don’t have to believe in God, but you can’t deny how much you’ve been influenced by his followers.
[quote]KAS wrote:
Whether you like it or not everyone in modern society has been heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values or “morals”. Your “internal moral compass” has been set by your environment and personal experiences.
What if you were born into a cannibalistic tribe in the South Pacific? Do you really think you “internal moral compass” would point you in the same direction as it does now? Or course not. The fact is, you grew up in a society who’s laws and ideals were originally based on Judeo-Christian law.
Most of the civilised world believe in a good chunk of 10 Commandments.
You don’t have to believe in God, but you can’t deny how much you’ve been influenced by his followers.[/quote]
You are correct. I did grow up in a good enviornment, with loving parents and have always had all of my needs met.
I have often wondered what I would have been like had I had a different upbringing.
Do I wonder this because of who I am or what my upbringing was like? I don’t know the answer.
[quote]KAS wrote:
Whether you like it or not everyone in modern society has been heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values or “morals”. Your “internal moral compass” has been set by your environment and personal experiences.
What if you were born into a cannibalistic tribe in the South Pacific? Do you really think you “internal moral compass” would point you in the same direction as it does now? Or course not. The fact is, you grew up in a society who’s laws and ideals were originally based on Judeo-Christian law.
Most of the civilised world believe in a good chunk of 10 Commandments.
You don’t have to believe in God, but you can’t deny how much you’ve been influenced by his followers.[/quote]
You are correct. I did grow up in a good enviornment, with loving parents and have always had all of my needs met.
I have often wondered what I would have been like had I had a different upbringing.
Do I wonder this because of who I am or what my upbringing was like? I don’t know the answer.
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Probably a sociopath roaming the streets under the guise of an attractive white female terrozing the minds and feelings of men everywhere, wait a second… Hahaha
Me and Jesus are tight. I go to church, but don’t like to follow any set religion, per se. I’m the kind of guy who was completely changed by the “Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” thing. My church is non-denominational, so we preach the gospel of Jesus and follow his teachings.
I don’t like a lot of rules and guidelines and do-this-and-you’re-going-to-hell type of thing. I believe that Christ is my one and only savior, he died for me and the rest of humanity, and that he’s the reason why I’m here today. Plain and simple; not much to it.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
This thread went from “Do you go to Church” to “Can you be good without god?”
God! Atheists ruin everything.
LOL.
I guess it’s because I don’t understand why people go to church if it’s not to be good… but then why go to church if you can be good without going?
I can think of lots of better ways to spend my time if that is all I’m going to get out of it.[/quote]
I’m pretty sure if a higher being that created and balances life exists, its existence would be bigger than “be good”.
[quote]KAS wrote:
Whether you like it or not everyone in modern society has been heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values or “morals”. Your “internal moral compass” has been set by your environment and personal experiences.
What if you were born into a cannibalistic tribe in the South Pacific? Do you really think you “internal moral compass” would point you in the same direction as it does now? Or course not. The fact is, you grew up in a society who’s laws and ideals were originally based on Judeo-Christian law.
Most of the civilised world believe in a good chunk of 10 Commandments.
You don’t have to believe in God, but you can’t deny how much you’ve been influenced by his followers.[/quote]
Because a good chunk of the 10 Commandments are sane, peaceful, non-agressive, universal and rational rules.
I’m sure those rules are a lot older then Moses because it’s engrained in basic humanity.
btw, I’d love to see more christians obeying the 10 commandments, it would make the world a lot more happy prosperous and safe.
Even though I’m an atheist and I don’t agree with JC’s whole “god”-story, I think old JC-boy is a pretty nice guy.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
This thread went from “Do you go to Church” to “Can you be good without god?”
God! Atheists ruin everything. [/quote]
LOL.
I guess it’s because I don’t understand why people go to church if it’s not to be good… but then why go to church if you can be good without going?
I can think of lots of better ways to spend my time if that is all I’m going to get out of it. [/quote]
Haha, I am an agnostic atheist too and could easily build upon most of the points you’ve made. I just think this thread is better served not going the route of atheists vs theists.
Raised in the church, still go to appease family members (and see people who I grew up with over holidays and such) I don’t begrudge anyone for being religious or needing religion/belief in a higher power but it’s not something I no longer need to make it through each day.
I guess you could say I have beliefs, and I’m not actively questioning them, they’re just tucked away in the attic collecting dust.
[quote]Christine wrote:
I believe that one only needs rules if they have no internal moral compass.
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Isn’t having an internal moral compass mean having rules that you set for yourself?[/quote]
No.[/quote]
The human conscience cannot be trusted, we are way too intelligent and perceptive to where we can justify just about anything we do regardless of the negative effect it may have on others.[/quote]
Maybe yours can’t be trusted.
And the conscience of those who claim to have religion can’t be trusted simply upon the fact that they profess to believe in some sort of higher power. [/quote]
So on what grounds do you assume that you are morally superior to myself or anyone else…?
You sound like the Christians that turned me away from church and Ghandi spoke of.
Human nature in of itself is sinful and self-serving,
I agree. Walk the walk, don’t just talk. Going to church thinking that makes you a Christian is like believing sitting in a garage makes you a car.
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I agree with your last point somewhat but it sounds like that has diluted your entire concept of what church is. Church is not just a building where people go to make themselves feel better about the bad things theyve done all week. It is supposed to be a group of believers who want to share, spread, worship, celebrate and live the Gospel. That is church. The reason Im even saying this is because I once was very turned off of church. But through God’s grace I was led to a church that not only feels like a family but has made my walk with Christ so much deeper and beautiful that I feel like I had to share. I dont know if you have had bad experiences with church or not but if you have dont let it keep you from going/trying other places. Theres nothing wrong with trying out different places, not necessarily to “fit” your beliefs but to belong to a community that can help change your life and others through Christ.
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Sorry can’t resist.
