Why do people need religion/bible to have morals?
144896
They don't need religion to be moral.  Religion is a tool used to control the masses.
1182468
You have to understand that we are all animals made of the same stuff and think the same way. Religion comes from a part of your brain (it's been pr oven look it up), be a good person but don't feel bad for doing what you want, as long as it doesn't cause hurt to others. Live by your own morals.
1169983
Many religions have the concept of proselytising, which means it is their religious duty to 'save' or convert others to their faith. It doesn't matter if outside people are interested in their beliefs or not, or if in fact, they have their own code of morals or ethics. It's just part of the faitholder's religious duties. It does tend to numb the brain though, doesn't it?
322274
Imagine living in a totally godless society where people have no higher sense of morality -- there would be rampant crime and the only way to control people would be by the force of law or private security.  Religion enlightens people and inspires them to lead moral lives -- without a concept of God right and wrong becomes no more than whats best for me.\n\nHowever, one thing I'd point out is that its too general to just talk about religion -- whether religion uplifts people depends on whether someone is a Christian, Muslim, Scientologist etc.  In general though, religion is a force for good.
551548
ABSOLUTELY.  Christians do not have a monopoly on morals.  There are Christians with and without them.  There are Atheists with and without them.\n\nNon-Christians includes Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and well......everyone not Christian!  Absolutely every human is capable of morality.
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.
464458
Religion was a good thing when it was created to unite the masses for the ones who designed it. Now religion is hurting the world if people need a relgious code of morals to know whats right and wrong then they should be in jail anyway. I say down with all religious propaganda and if you want to worship thats fine but dont try to press your beliefs on me.
937841
In order to re-examine their morals, people would have to know why they believe what they do in the first place. Many individuals have adopted their morality from their environment (parents, culture, etc), and only give the "why" a casual thought. Critical thinking and reasoning are erroneously thought of as having no place in morality and religion. Culture and emotion rule.\n\nSecondly, I agree with other answerers that such a re-examination may require an adjustment to one's life(permanently?). It's better to live in blissful ignorance, either out of selfishness if sacrifice is required, out of vanity because they may be leaving the norm, or at minimum out of laziness (because change takes work).\n\nOne can only honestly stand for their morals if they have been examined in the first place.\n\nExcellent question!
149563
As an agnostic I do believe in morals values and preserving this little aquarium in space that we all live in. But being athiest does not make you any more moralistic or less than a religious person. Studies have shown that secular people have \nthe same morals as church folk. I would dare say that more have died in religously driven wars and disputes than common murder
1128117
Ah, someome with a brain oin his head around here(rare).\n\nYes,people use religion to have it both ways:A promise of eternity AND buffet style,my sins dont count but yours are grounds for bashing you-styled,ahem,"Morality'>\n\nYes,people want to have their cake and eat it to.\n\nShows you how silly the whole thing is.
417774
No.\n\nHere is my usual response to that question:\n\nReligion can act as a guide to morals and values. However, morals and ethics of religion didn't originate from religion. People knew that it was wrong to steal and kill long before Abraham. As a matter of fact, "ethos", a Greek term for "ethics" was coined hundreds of years before Christ by Greek philosophers. \n\nHowever, I am an atheist but that doesn't make me less ethical or less moral than with someone with religion. A person is told to practice morals and ethics because of their religion. Atheists practice morals and ethics because we reason them out to be the morally correct thing to do in our lives. We have the intellect to reason out that it is the right thing to do, not that we are rewarded with a Heaven after death. That is a greater sense of moral purpose.
639306
agree....we have morals, values, integrity, and sense of what is right--which may vary depending on the person and situation--but, no... I don't believe that I am sinning, and while a religious cat may say that what I am doing is a sin, it is only a sin only by the fact that he is judging me based on his on belief system.  Ironic of course, I mean doesn't your bible say, "judge not lest ye be judged likewise also,"  or have they removed that section?
719797
No.  Morals developed out of religion.  Care and concern for human kind evolved from man's relationship with God.  While I realize it's a source of fanatical rampages, it's also a source of good in this world.  Without it, people would be a lot worse to one another.
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.
996333
I agree, people worship Jesus and Pastors/Ministers/Bishops/Popes/. Per God's word in the "original" Bible false Idols are Blasphemous. That has never sat well with me. As the "original" Bible stated "God is within you". Making everyone God. Meaning you have the power. I am not religious, religion is such a crock! I have studied many religions and all seem to have been basically enacted to stop humans from animalistic behavior by scaring them. All religion was created for was to keep order, stating that if you acted un-Godly you would end up in an Eternal Hell. The only problem with this is that nature still exists. In nature animals kill, rape, are homosexual, and live un-Godly. Yet most say all of God's creaturs end up in Heaven. HUH? Just live by the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). Not for God's sake, but it really does make life easier. If you yell at someone they will yell back, if you reason with someone they will reason with you.
1081038
Religion often makes us feel guilty about the most common human experiences, usually related to sex. This clearly contradicts nature. Sex is sex. If you're of the legal age, with another consenting adult, and aware of the risks/protection, then knock yourself out. This really has nothing to do with morals, mostly just religion.
1083359
Absolutely.  Everyone believes that morality comes only from religion.  This is not the case.  If anything, nonreligious morality is superior to religious morality and here's why.\n\nNonreligious morality is a code followed because it is the right thing to do.  People have morals because they know that it really is what is best for them.\n\nReligious morality carries a sanction for disobedience.  People don't follow the speed limit because they know it to be safer.  People follow speed limits to avoid the punishment for speeding.  (A ticket in this case.)  People obey religion because of the punishment for not obeying, not for the positive good it does for them.