What has religion got to do with it????
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
Perth, Australia
July 9, 2019 9:34am CST
I was just thinking about something my Aunty said once. She was talking about her neighbours and she said "I haven't met them yet but I know they are Christian so they are nice people."
I am so sorry and like usual I mean no offence to ANYONE whether you're religious or not but religion has nothing to do with someone's heart. Labelling yourself with whatever religion you like doesn't automatically deem you nice or bad. It's how you think and act that tells it all. I've known nice religious people and I've known some real a$$holes. Just like I've known nice atheists and atheists who were a$$holes.
Doing a good deed or bad deed doesn't really reflect what religion you follow or don't follow. There are atheists out there who spend their lives trying to help others and wildlife and then there are Christians who harm others. And vice versa.
I can't tell you how many times I've been called a "bad girl" just because I'm not religious. I'm not atheist either. But because I struggle to believe in something 100%, I'm a bad person? But all my sacrificing my time, energy and money to help those in need mean nothing? I've also done stupid mistakes but doesn't make me evil nor should my lack of faith make me instantly evil.
Doing good, making mistakes or just being evil has nothing to do with religion. Unless you actually follow a religion that requires you do to screwed up things but I think you get the idea on what I'm trying to say!
There is good and bad in everything. Even police for example. You have some really good police who wear their uniform and badge with pride. But then there are others who wear it to mask who they really are. Labels mean nothing. It's your actions that tells it all!
What do you think? Do you judge someone based on their religion or lack of religion? Do you believe all Christians to be good just like all atheists are bad? Why?
19 people like this
16 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 19
An atheist can be a better person than a Christian and vice versa.
4 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@JohnRoberts Exactly right! Well said!
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@LadyDuck You're exactly right! About everything you said!
2 people like this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
9 Jul 19
I'm not religious but I am spiritual and I know exactly what you mean. I also find it hilarious that convicts often 'find' religion once they're incarcerated after which time they believe themselves qualified to be forgiven for whatever evil they'd done in the past.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Jul 19
Well that's the impression I have of convicts who claim they found Jesus @VivaLaDani13 rrriiiigggghhhhttt, 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Jul 19
Well, I wouldn't fall for it even if they found Buddha, to me it's a criminals way of conning people into trusting them @VivaLaDani13
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@rebelann Oh don't even get me started on that! That is just as annoying as when criminals say that the Devil made them do something horrible. 
1 person likes this
@katanncooper (274)
• Greenwood, Indiana
9 Jul 19
I do not base my first opinion on someone's religious beliefs. Some people are bad no matter what they believe or don't believe.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@katanncooper And that is all so very true! Sadly not many think this way!
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jul 19
Yep, I have seen people do that too. Just because they are regular at the place of their worship and know their holy books up and down doesn't make them good people. I have known non-religious people having more insight into religion and goodness than such types. Religion enhances your goodness. Religion does not make you good. It's back to the thing that man made religion. Religion did not make human.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@Daljinder Well said D to the J! People who think they are hot sh*t really need a reality check!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@Daljinder That's where it all becomes annoying to me. What someone follows tends to alter it because it's what THEY believe. So they spread that around others and some will fall for it or others will want to stay away because they don't agree. I don't think I've ever heard / seen a conversation between, let's just say two Christians where they were on the same page.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 LOL! Yeah. Selective believing. What suits their purpose is okay and what does not is just not there. Its others fault then. I have yet to find myself opposing what I interpret from Gurbani. All I seem to get is live your life, learn, teach, share, love, protect, nurture. It's so simple. People just make it complicated.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84034)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Jul 19
I agree with you here, 100%. I don't have a religion, but I do my best to be a nice/good person! I don't think religion has anything to do with it!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@MommyOfEli2013 So true! It's like something else I've said before. I don't understand how people NEED some book ( like the Bible for example ) to guide them on how to be a good person. If someone needs instructions on how to be a good person then maybe they aren't that good in the first place.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84034)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 That is a very good point, and I would agree for sure. My grandmother doesn't go to church; but her husband, my grandfather does....and she always tells him that she doesn't need to go to church to be a good person.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
11 Jul 19
@MommyOfEli2013 I believe your grandmother is right. Not saying that going to church is wrong but a lot of people seem to be under the impression that going makes you a good person and for those who are extremely religious may think those who don't go aren't a good person or taking their faith seriously.
Churches are man made anyway. If people put pews, bibles and statues in their own home, I wonder if that still counts as being in the "Lord's house." I don't see how sitting in a certain building listening to someone read something we can read ourselves makes us better. Can do the same thing at home.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8767)
• United Kingdom
10 Jul 19
I absolutely do not ever base my judgement of a person on their religion. I judge them on their actions. I have friends of various faiths (or no faith). I certainly don't believe that all Christians are good nor that a person is inherently good just because they are Christian. The same way that I don't believe that Atheists are bad for being Atheist nor that Atheism equals bad.
Sayings like 'that's (not) very Christian of you" really get on my nerves. Being a good person has nothing at all to do with your religion. I have a 'Christian' friend who is extremely selfish and intolerant - she is married to a Minister (who is, perhaps oddly, far more open-minded than his wife). I also have friends who follow their version of Christ and the Bible who are lovely people.
Everyone walks a different path. Mine is what you might call 'eclectic Pagan'. Some Christians would criticise me for that, without knowing any more about me.
The basic mantra of my belief is 'harm none', which is criticised as 'evil' by people who believe in a Bible where 'thou shalt not kill' barely makes it to the list!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@pumpkinjam I am the same as you. I learn about people from how they talk, think and act. Not what they follow or don't follow.
I know someone who is like your "Christian" friend. My Aunty is quite close minded and cruel and to be honest, as a joke I am planning on telling her that her actions and words wouldn't be accepted by Jesus lol but only because I want to p*ss her off and make a point that she isn't an angel like she thinks she is.
I loved your answer and agree with it all thank you so much!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
12 Jul 19
@May2k8 Exactly right. Well said!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul 19
Personally, I think many religious people are some of the most unholy, pompous, self-righteous, disgusting people on the planet. And I'm not knocking religion, just calling it like I see it. You truly can't judge a book by its cover.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Yeah, the Catholic church has really put a hurting on Christianity's image. That's another reason in a list of many of why young people nowadays are fleeing the church and organized religion altogether.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
11 Jul 19
@moffittjc I actually agree with you and also same as you, I'm not knocking religion but it goes with what I am saying. Just because someone wears a cross or a robe or whatever, doesn't really mean anything. I think Catholic priests are a good example of this....
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
10 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13
Dani, just because you are not religious does not mean you are a bad person. I cannot say about Christians but can say about Jews. We are taught to do good deeds but there are many that are very very nasty and snotty people. These are supposed to be religious people. You are right people are people and should be decent to one another but they are not. We have all kinds of Jews here and I guess i have been judging Jews that are not religious but I have not had good experiences with religious Jews too.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@Hannihar Thank you so much for your answer. This venting is basically due to my Aunty. I don't like how she is judgemental and close minded as well as thinking she is better than people who aren't religious or follow a different religion to her. It's so stupid and wrong.
Nasty and snotty is a great description too! All very well said!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
11 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13
I remember you mentioned your aunt before. She sounds like a person I would never want to meet.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
10 Jul 19
I’m agree with you, just like why we have here. We have a neighbor here who works in the Church and she was so religious, but the thing is she never speak to anyone of us here, she is very snob and she does not like kids playing outside her fence.
I believer that regardless of your religion, it has nothing to do with your attitude.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jul 19
@JustBhem Well she sounds like a lot of fun! NOT!
Well said and thank you kindly for sharing!
NOT!
Well said and thank you kindly for sharing!1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@Sojourn I agree with you both!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@CarolDM I agree with you Carol!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
9 Jul 19
You're right all people have the good and bad in them.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
10 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 So religion may or may not tell them on what to do.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
9 Jul 19
Yes, it's their actions that identify the kind of people they are.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68115)
• United States
9 Jul 19
I don’t even ask. I got a new neighbor recently and I did not introduce myself and say, “So, what’s your name and your religion?”
Anyone who thinks “Christianity” equals “good person” need only to look at the Catholic Church priest abuse scandal.
Thanks for this discussion. It really needed to be said!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Jul 19
@FourWalls And thank you for reading and answering! I agree with your comment as knowing one's religion doesn't exactly tell everything about how / who they are.
1 person likes this
