is religion the only way to become a good person do our good deeds coun at all?
155081
No I do not believe religion is the only way to become a good person but I do believe good deeds are counted, but not on a religious level. I am not religious but consider myself a good person. I donate to charity, treat others with respect, am faithful to my husband, and raise my daughters the best I know how. If there is a heaven I believe just by being a good person I will end up there, if reincarnation is what I have to look forward to than I believe I will be reancarnated into another human being rather than a lesser species and if there is nothing after death than bring it on because so far I have lived a good life and intend to continue my good life...
1062170
All the people are good, but everyone has its own temptation also to do bad things. It depends on us, to give in or resist to those temptations. I think you are a good person, if you thought to ask this question.\n\nGood Luck!
983989
believing in god for me is not a base point for being a good person,because i met lots of people not believing in god but they are good, there are many factors for being a good person, one thing is to follow the Golden Rules, Ten Commanments, or simply have a good MORAL.
9751
No, not a muslim. Reason: I attempt to be as rational a being as possible.  You certainly do not need to practice any religion to be a good person, and, as has been pointed out above, no religion guarantees its followers to be good.
1069898
Many people curtail their entire lives believing that some strict father figure is watching over them ready to spank them if they do anything naughty.\n\nWithout religion you save the time you would waste in church.  You can be a good person content that the good comes from within, not from some fear of a God smiting or eternal damnation.\n\nYou can enjoy healthy sexuality without fear of sin.  In fact you are completely free to do whatever you like without worrying about whether your religious peers will shun you or judge you.\n\nFinally you are also free to intelligently consider ethical and moral situations without referring to some contradictory old religious text written by a bunch of men hundreds of years ago.  This leaves you able to be open minded and free thinking.
602857
Yes, if had a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Religion gets no one to heaven.  It's faith in Jesus Christ and that personal relationship that gets people to heaven - that and that alone.  Not our works. Not our deeds. Not our good intents and actions.  No, just our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, is our way to heaven. Not our loyalty, not our parents, not our words.  No, just our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, is our way to heaven.  I just wrote that I was typing - it must have been just for you!
1051588
Good Atheist. Religion is vague. Being a genuine good person is for real.
798481
Be a good human being. Be honest to yourself. Wish and seek the truth about life diligently. Do to others what you want from them. Do not get trapped in any belief system. Be a free human being. Without freedom, there cannot be growth.
1168922
All religions are good. There is no religion in this world that tells you anything different from the ten commandments. Only the people with these various religions are bad.
1014719
there is no need to label yourself , just be happy and a good person and everything will be fine . if you treat yourself and others with respect and there truly is a god , you will be fine . unless you believe you have to go to church every week in order to be a good person
811714
Sorry to disappoint you, but none of the religions we see around in our world is good for anybody. If you seek the good of your children, help them grow and develop as healthy human beings without being caught in the mental trap of any belief-systems. \n\nHelp them to have an open mind, to be fully honest, and to be  life-long learners. \n\nTry to instill the golden rule in them if you can. "Do to others what you expect from them!" \n\nLet them grow as human beings rather than as Christians or Muslims or Hindus or Buddhists or athiests.
739640
Not during our lifetime. Not while we still have religious"leaders" who think they know 100% what Buddha, Jesus, whomever said. Not while leaders of countries declare war and follow it immediately by saying "May God Bless......". Not while religions teach that THEIR religion is the ONLY path to God. Not while politicians try to be Religious leaders and religious leaders act like politicians. Not while the answer to children who were abused by Priests is to cover it up instead of helping the victims. \n\nI wish I had a better answer for you.
417326
I guess that the only way is the way that works!  If you can "get to God" by following your own self-made path, then it's the right way.  If you follow someone else's path and it gets you there, then it's the right way, too.  You made the analogy, not me.  I think it works.
923788
You ask a good question, and one that is misunderstood by a large portion of the Christian world. There are good people in all faiths, countries, lands, etc... I believe some are closer to the truth than others, and some are way off in lala land. But as long as their focused on their beliefs, they try to be good people, they are a positive influence on society; they will have their just reward. If you never believe in God, or you never had a chance to hear about God (if you lived in some small country with no TV and no radio or outside visitors), then why wouldn't you get the chance to hear about God later (after death)? Everyone will have a chance to hear about God, to accept his teachings, or to deny them. Whether it’s in this life or the next. The true test is while on this earth, if you have had a chance and believed and then denied your belief, you are screwed. If you never believed, you will have to accept God after death, which isn't a sure thing. We will carry our personality with us into the next life. Some will still deny God even after death. Search your heart while on earth. There is truth out there. If you never find it, just be a good person and contribute positively to those around you. Forgiveness is nothing to God, almost all sins are forgivable. What will be determined in the end is where your glory lies. In Gods house are many mansions, not all in Beverly Hills, some are in the slums, which do you want to live in? Remember, there is not just one degree of glory in heaven, there are three. Each determined by your worthiness. We all will go to heaven; we just won't all be in the same neighborhood. Also, it’s not just about accepting Jesus. You also have to do good things. Just saying you follow Jesus and actually following are two separate things.
1180629
Being spiritual doesn't make you a good person. Most spiritual people become soooooo legalistic putting themselves in another bondage. I'm not saying you stop those spiritual things you have been doing BUT I suggest that along with these spiritual activities, you also nurture your love for God and always being surrendered to His will daily.\n\nOnly when you have a loving relationship with God will help you become a better person.\n\nALL THE BEST.
941180
My interpretation of my chosen faith (Christian) and "being a good person" complement each other. But if you're asking if a non-Christian or non-Muslim can be capable of being a good person, the answer is yes, of course. Being a good person isn't necessarily based on faith but with humanistic principles base on social contract. Whether a person's motive on these principles vary from person to person (IE: spiritual benefits, karma, just to be the best they can be, etc) and  is their personal choice. I have friends that are "non-believers" that subscribe to these principles and act with accountability. And of course there are some religious people in the world that aren't necessarily benin.
258264
I concur.  I feel like adherence to a prescribed moral principle removes personal responsibility.  I've felt that way (only perhaps less eloquent!) since I was eight.  If you are a good person because you adhere to the Bible / church values unquestioningly, you aren't actually a good person.  You are only truly good if you are the person choosing your own behavior.  I think fundamentally it boils down to manners - in greater or lesser dimensions.