Does Religion Make People Moral?

Quote: FrGamble

Sin does stink and I have no idea why you have deluded yourself into thinking it doesn't exist..

Atheists don't believe in god, why on
earth would we believe we can offend
a god who doesn't exist with our actions.

It's kind of like not believing unicorns
exist, but looking for unicorm turds in the
forest. Kind of a giant waste of time.

First you invent a god, then you invent
crimes against the god you made up,
and punishments for those crimes. Then
you invent a religion where the believers
chase the tail of your inventions round
and round. Very profitable if you're in
the ruling class of such an organization.

Quote: Evenbob

Atheists don't believe in god, why on
earth would we believe we can offend
a god who doesn't exist with our actions.

This makes sense. However, why don't you just take a larger view of sin? If you don't believe in God then sin would be actions that offend whatever you have put in place of God. Sin might be things we do that offend ourselves. Stuff we say or do that we know we shouldn't or other stuff we know we should do but we don't. Don't just get hung up on one narrow definition of sin, it is a universal truth that atheists and theists alike know all too well.

Quote: FrGamble

If you don't believe in God then sin would be actions that offend whatever you have put in place of God.

Without a god involved, sin has no
point. Without reward and punishment
for sin, it's just a meaningless word.

I think sin is extremely important to understanding who we are as human beings. Even without God you have to wonder why it is we humans have a difficult time doing what we know is right and why we feel it so strongly when we or others do wrong.

Quote: FrGamble

I think sin is extremely important to understanding who we are as human beings.

I think you could make a fortune taking confessions online using Skype and paypal for donations?

Think about it, you could reach alot more people on facebook, and save people from home? A small donation would be appreciated.

Quote: FrGamble

I think sin is extremely important to understanding who we are as human beings. Even without God

You have the most screwball ideas
about sin I have ever heard. I told
my Baptist minister brother in law
about your sin ideas and he says
you're nuts. Sin is always about
offending god, about breaking
gods laws.

If you don't believe in God then how can sin be about offending God? There is a much wider definition of sin than the theological one.

Quote: FrGamble

If you don't believe in God then how can sin be about offending God?

EXACTLY! Sin is just a silly meaningless
religious word if you don't believe in
god.

Quote:

There is a much wider definition of sin than the theological one.

Not to an atheist. Sin, to an atheist, and
every other Xtion I ever met except you,
means a crime against god, offending
god, breaking a god rule. You are the
only person I've seen that has the screwy
idea that sin means anything you want
it to mean.

Not anything you want it to mean, but I think even atheist understand the concept of sin.

Quote: FrGamble

Not anything you want it to mean, but I think even atheist understand the concept of sin.

I understand you can piss of a god, even
the Roman and Greek gods got angry
if you disrespected them. But to a non
believer, that way of thinking is a non
starter, it doesn't mean anything. I
don't worry about pissing off Bigfoot
or Santa either. Remember, we were
taught even Santa has a list and only
rewards good kids. Just more religious
nonsense.