Do you believe you have to turn to religion, to become a better person?

[Anonymous]

I personally, don't. You shouldn't need religion, just to be a good person, and in fact, often times, religion, makes you an even worse person

[slatyb]

Of course not. All my friends are very nice people, and none are religious. On the other hand, I have met many Christians who are quite hateful. Here's a prime example of the hateful and violent nature of some American Christians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Ahlquist

For daring to suggest that it was not proper for her public high school to prominently display a Bible verse in the auditorium, Jessica received many death threats from her community.

[jshm2]

Erm... it's how you become a "better person" from a worse person. Convicts and bastards that turn their life around, manage to do so when they adhere to religions.

To date, exactly zero "humanists" and atheists have managed to make a better person of anyone.

[Asker]

I'm a decent person, and i don't follow religion

[MelonSoda]

Religion isn't gonna save you. Realizing what you're doing wrong and making an effort to change that behavior is what makes you become a better person.

[SweetDumplings]

I believe religion can make anyone a better person and full of confidence as well, God smiles upon those who always turn to him and rewards them

[CountessSarah]

No. Religion doesn't provide any sort of benefit that cannot be achieved through secular means. It can however make a person considerably worse, motivating people to commit evil acts they wouldn't have been persuaded to via secular means.

[andreasderjuengere]

What MAKES a good person? And where do the 'guidelines' for it come from?
(I assume here, that 'religion' does not mean the man-made institutions to administer 'belief')

[Asker]

As in, you go to church, and you supposedly "become good" because of it

I don't go to temple (im an agnostic jew), but, I consider myself to be a good person. I don't murder, and I don't rape, I don't steal etc..

I do my best to be the best possible man and person

[andreasderjuengere]

I don't think either that spending time in churches, temples, synagogues or mosques will make us 'better' people. Like you, I believe in DOING ''the right things''.
Where we could argue that these 'right things' -as ethic values- may not come from ''our'' own thoughts, but were some kind of donated to us.

[BCRanger10]

Strictly speaking? No, but then again, making someone a "better person" is not the object of religious faith and practice.

[bean2k21]

no you should rid yourself of the idea
of this ideal you that you are not
pretty much the opposite of religion

[Asker]

What

[call_me_scar]

Nope you can be a good person no matter what you believe so long as that belief doesn't make you hate a innocent group of people

[OddBeMe]

Proof says turn away from religion if you want to be a better person.

[Anonymous]

If anything it'll make you a worse person - intolerant, superstitious, and galactically stupid.

[Agape93]

Not at all

[jahaims]

Nope

[In_Trance]

not necessarily