Do you need religion in order to be good?

[Aszure]

Why or why not?

[jyotsna pathania]

o, no, i am good no matter what, but to control others i must have a support system of a religious group,

[commoncents]

Nope there are a lot of good people in this world. You do need a relationship with Christ to be saved. There will be a lot of good people spending eternity in Hell.

[John W]

You need God, who IS good.

All men fall short of being "good" because of their sins whether they are Christians, some other religion, or other state of non-belief.

The Christian is no better than a non-Christian, but he is infinitely better off.

While non-believers can say that they are "good" this is only because all they have to use as a measuring stick is their peers. (who are also sinful). God makes the perfect measuring stick for sin, because He is perfect.

Without God's Law, and without Jesus' sinless example, we would all be ignorant of our sins.

No one in this world will gain entrance to Heaven because of their own works. It is only through Gods gift of Grace, in the sacrifice of His son.

However, faith without works is dead, and all humans should strive to have high "morals", and follow the example Jesus Christ set for us when He was flesh.

God Bless You.

[KneeKnee]

No, we are all agents of choice, we can make choices, good and bad, independent of religion. I don't need religion to tell me child abuse is bad, I can see it with my eyes and feel it in my heart. I know that is an extreme example, but it gets my point across.

[Saturnine]

Cool, I just answered a question like this. My answer is no.

This is the way I see things:

The next time that some religious zealots tell you about needing religion to have morality ask them this: "If you didn't believe in god, would you still be good and moral people?"

If they answer yes, then they've just proven that you don't need religion to have morality.

If they answer no, then they've simply proven that they are in fact immoral people who are merely sucking up to their god because they either fear his wrath or want his rewards.

[just a man]

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

[Sakura Rose]

I've never been raised in any sort of religion, and I believe that I'm the best person I can be. So, no I don't think it makes much of a difference. I've heard of others that have acted in the name of a religion that have been far worse then I.