Zone1 Religion is not needed if a "golden rule" is valued

[Meriweather]

Religion is a crutch

Only in the way that traveling across the country in a plane rather than on foot is a crutch.

 

[Meriweather]

Why are our prisons full of Christians?

They stumbled over following the Commandments.

 

[Grumblenuts]

And even cooler, more recent version:

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Who makes the golden rule?

As you stated, there are many religions and beliefs.

No one "makes" a golden rule. A golden rule is simple & reflects FAIRNESS & EMPATHY.

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Religion is more philosophy of behavior than science. Specifically, what religious philosophy seems off to you?

All that matters is FAIRNESS, respect, and EMPATHY when "ethical" in a social environment or culture. Religions teach a LOT of BS beyond simple ethics.

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Love God with all your heart, mind and soul is the first commandment. Without that, you can't get people to follow the second commandment, love your neighbor as yourself.

Which "God" do you believe in? Why? Any justification other than your family & cultural socialization?

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Thinking that the human race will adhere to the Golden Rule is absurd

In case you had not noticed, the man who gave us the Golden Rule was nailed to a cross.

Humanity needs saved, and only God can do the saving.

Clearly, the history of man should show you that man, left to his own devices, will destroy himself.

I was thinking of A "golden rule" that would be ideal if we can teach that to EVERYONE. Obviously, many individuals lack simple ethics for various reasons like greed & egocentricism, like Putin, etc. That why police & military are necessary.

 

[Meriweather]

All that matters is FAIRNESS, respect, and EMPATHY when "ethical" in a social environment or culture. Religions teach a LOT of BS beyond simple ethics.

I would need to know an example of what you believe to be BS...

 

[DukeU]

No one "makes" a golden rule. A golden rule is simple & reflects FAIRNESS & EMPATHY.

Fairness and empathy is subjective.

Some people believe murder is ok, some believe rape is, etc.

So again, who gets to make the golden rule?

 

[Vastator]

Fairness and empathy is subjective.

Some people believe murder is ok, some believe rape is, etc.

So again, who gets to make the golden rule?

Competitive personalities will never settle for being equal to thier peers. Life is a competition. Whether one likes it or not...

 

[ViewFromAbove]

I would need to know an example of what you believe to be BS...

It depends on the religion. Are you religious? If so, what have you learned from your sacred book or authoritarian leader?

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Competitive personalities will never settle for being equal to thier peers. Life is a competition. Whether one likes it or not...

I agree that competition is valuable to a certain degree. However, cooperation is also valuable. Coopetition!
"To a degree" means a point that is mutually beneficial without excessive exploitation. ETHICS includes fairness & empathy, in my "religious" book.

 

[Foxfyre]

There are MANY religions, and most are thousands of years old when few were able to read, and even fewer understood scientific knowledge about the universe that is evident today.
Which religion is best? Why would you choose a religion when its leaders don't understand natural, scientific reality?

Empathy and a golden rule is all one needs to be "ethical".

There had never been a golden rule until religion established one.

There was no sense of morality or right and wrong until religion determined that.

Primitive and advanced cultures of the past saw as proper and committed actions and activities that would horrify the current generation.

Religion has much to condemn it and much to commend it. But it is a savage and terrible world without it.

 

[BreezeWood]

Empathy and a golden rule is all one needs to be "ethical".

sure ...

and the goal of being ethical is essential ...

perhaps though not the final plateau to free ones spirit for admission to the everlasting. seems being ethical as an initial step to build on.

 

[BreezeWood]

Love God with all your heart, mind and soul is the first commandment. Without that, you can't get people to follow the second commandment, love your neighbor as yourself.

- that was just madeup by the liar moses for their own benefit.

 

[BreezeWood]

There had never been a golden rule until religion established one.

There was no sense of morality or right and wrong until religion determined that.

Primitive and advanced cultures of the past saw as proper and committed actions and activities that would horrify the current generation.

Religion has much to condemn it and much to commend it. But it is a savage and terrible world without it.

the golden rule has always existed - whatever is religion for most is - day to day.

 

[ViewFromAbove]

Fairness and empathy is subjective.

Some people believe murder is ok, some believe rape is, etc.

So again, who gets to make the golden rule?

Fairness does not have to be subjective, if all sides agree to what's fair logically and/or with empathy for all participants. Greed needs to be tempered by the majority that, hopefully, have empathy.
Like "objective truth", non-subjective elements reinforce the concept of truth, as well as fairness.

The context matters too! Murder/killing is reprehensible, unless it eliminates a member of society that murders others freely.
If a person had empathy, murder would not occur outside special circumstances.

 

[DukeU]

if all sides agree

And there lies the problem.

 

[ViewFromAbove]

There had never been a golden rule until religion established one.

There was no sense of morality or right and wrong until religion determined that.

Primitive and advanced cultures of the past saw as proper and committed actions and activities that would horrify the current generation.

Religion has much to condemn it and much to commend it. But it is a savage and terrible world without it.

We are NOW living in an era with "civilized" cultures, and with scientific knowledge.
Religion is not only NOT NEEDED anymore, but it is harmful between traditional cultures.

 

[ViewFromAbove]

And there lies the problem.

The problem would not exist if all practiced a golden rule based on empathy, fairness, and respect.