Do you think religion (whatever it may be) makes us better as persons?

I'm not convinced that religion is a good thing. I gave up religion over 50 years ago to become Spiritual. The problem with religion, as I see it, is that the aspirant is encouraged Not to think for him/herself. This is not a normal learning process, its more like being enslaved by one's beliefs. A spiritual person is directly in touch with his/her God,rather than being forever channeled through a priest or pastor. This is a much better learning experience, and much safer also, as no one knows which priest or pastor is the Pedophile until the damage has been done!

Hi icesmile, In some cases religion may help people but I am not a fan of organized religion. It divides people rather than unities them and often brings out more bad traits than good ones. People kill in the name of religion. Religion has been the biggest reason that women have been kept down over the years. Almost all human rights have been won in spite of religion, not because of it. Apart from the Quakers (Society of Friends), few if any churches spoke out against slavery. I believe that many religions have gotten away from the true teachings of the one they claim to follow. I now consider myself spiritual but never religious. Life itself is a continuous prayer so their is no need to mouth words. I believe that we are all one, indeed that all of life is in some way connected and that we are one with God. Blessings.

Hi icesmile, I am not big on organized religion but think that it often causes as many problems as it solves. Certainly, a person does not have to be religious to live a good life. Religion spends billions of dollars on construsting large building for places of worship, while many people worldwide are going hungry. Time spend in church would be better spent helping those less fortuate than ourselves or in some other constructive way. I know many parents who have raised, and are raising, very find families without taking their children to any church. I feel that religion should be a way of life. Blessings.

i think this also. earlier in my view religions were the only way to make people civilized and follow rules and laws to make the better society. but today different definitions are given to get the advantage of religion only. i think they are just trying to commercialize religions.

It has nothing to do with the religion that we have to tell whether we are going to be a good person or not. I think it has something to do with the faith that we have in Christ and all the things that we applied in our lives about the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you understand the gospel then we will know for ourselves that all the values that we need to possess are all in the gospel of Christ because he is just so perfect. Religion can help, its a huge factor cause its going to be the religion who's going to help us know the true gospel of Christ that we are going to follow.

Yes, religion is a good thing indeed. Everyone needs it. It is something that is inevitable. If you ask me why everyone needs it, the answer is because not everybody can live according to his or her given nature. Lessons in morality alone cannot take care of our morals. By mastering the opposing tendencies, inherent in every man or a woman they can at the most learn to pretend; but this alone will not lace their nature with goodness. To be really good one needs something more than the commandments. Words of wisdom alone cannot guide our conduct. We can make a show of love to our neighbor. However, deep within do we really love him? Likewise, we can make show of kindness, make of show of patience and tolerance; but in adverse situation, our base nature comes to the fore and we well nigh turn into an animal that we really are. Even professing I am a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, or a Muslim does not make us a better person. Unless, God’s very essence trickles into our conduct we cannot be good. Practicing a religion, following its rituals, gaining knowledge about the religion also does not help us. While following a religion we must quest after God. We must develop love for God. We must learn to honor and worship Him. We must learn to adore Him. Then only we would be under God’s grace. Then only He would grant us His nature. Then only we would be able to remain a good human. Without God’s help, it is not simply possible.

In the early 20th century Wales experienced a revival so strong that public houses were almost empty. Men and women who used to waste their money getting drunk were saving it, giving it to help their churches, buying clothes and food for their families. And not only drunkenness, but stealing and other offences grew less and less, so that often a magistrate came to court, and found there were no cases for him. Church services were held in packed churches lasting well into the night. Men whose language had been filthy before, learnt to talk purely. It is related that not only did the colliers put in a better day's work, but also that the pit ponies were so used to being cursed and sworn at, that they just couldn't understand orders being given in kind, clean words, so that the pit owners were forced to buy new ponies! Yet, still the work output increased. The dark tunnels underground in the mines echoed with the sounds of prayer and hymns, instead of oaths and nasty jokes and gossip. People who had been careless about paying their bills, or paying back money they had borrowed, paid up all they owed. People who had fallen out became friends again. It started when on February 14th, in New Quay, Cardiganshire, young Florrie Evans stood to her feet and publicly confessed "I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart" a mighty move of the Spirit of God broke out in that Church. Hungry for the Spirit, many young people gathered in after-church meetings, and God began baptising initially, mainly young girls and women in their teens and early twenties, with the Holy Spirit. They began singing and praying spontaneously, there was shouting and rejoicing, even dancing in the meetings, and many of the girls were prophesying. By the end of the first week over 60 responded. By the end of the second week Evan had already started on a whirl-wind tour of the South Wales valleys with his team of 5 girl singers and within a year or so 100,000 converts were said to be added to the Welsh Church. This was unquestionably a Pentecostal visitation. Evan Roberts exercised spiritual gifts, including the word of knowledge, when things about someone in the congregation would be revealed, often leading to conversion. When the spirit moves a religious revival like this one has great beneficial effects, ignore those here that proffer theoretical objections believer this clear empirical evidence. all the best urban

I think it is up to the individual. I try and practice being a better person in my everyday life. Doing things for others. I try and set a good example for my kids. Religion is one way to accomplish this.

I do not know if religion makes us better or not, but as long as each believes in some values, respecting of course it may be a better man. People must choose between what will and will not, between respect and not respect, I think, taught religion in the family, the religion of common sense, respect for rules between people, not indoctrination, which later may lead to fanaticism. Yes, religion can make us to be better persons, only if who teach us about religion, are good person too.

For me yes it is true the religion is make you better person because you need to inculcate in you heart of what you need to do about the rules of God pleasing. Specially if you worship the only true God Jehovah God.

for me maybe religion also has a role to make us a better person, but it is not really the reason if we are a good person or not..... It really depends on the person and to the environment where she/ he live.........

Yes. For it serves as the purpose of our existence and the reason why we live the way we believe.

Honestly I would say the person you are is the person you are. Pretty vague I know however. I do believe some people are born, hmmm for lack of a better word bad or evil. It is not religion that makes you good or bad, however if you do believe in religion it can give you guidance to become someone that you may not actually be.

i think all religion just give us way to get better life, how to make good/better/best relation ship with nature,another people, and GOD,and relgion give us choice to believe or not, but some people sometime make some violence in the name of religion,so religion is a choice of life we want or want not to implement it, and think icesmile is correct "because all goodness comes from inside" and if i may i think so "all badness comes from inside", and every inside influence by outside.

The easy answer is to say that 'performance-based' faiths actually enforce good behaviour, but if it's not genuine, then I don't think it's really helping... (ie. you MUST do certain 'good' things to enter the Kingdom of Heaven or attain Nirvana or whatever...) My thoughts are that it is likely that a spiritual belief focuses us outside of the 'me, me, me' nature that runs through us all. what I mean is that to focus on a greater good (of whatever persuasion) is likely to bring out good traits in people. Of course, there are people who are naturally unselfish, but on the whole, I would imagine that a wholesome belief structure probably enhances the nicer side of people - not because of the 'performance' criteria, but because the focus away from self...