I think the larger benefit is that churchgoers set a community standard of behaviour, outliers notwithstanding. Once "in it for myself" takes hold, things start to crumble. But your point is an interesting one, regarding whether at our core are we civilized creatures, or is it all a veneer and a bunch of us could go feral at the drop of a hat.
Not to be too corrective but we’re overflowing with religions and religious people. Even those who claim to have no religion are in effect, religious people because they still have a belief system which is one of the reasons I hate the word religion. Atheism, Secular Humanism, Buddhism and any other ism is in fact, a belief system ergo making them religions. Even that psychological premise that is being handed down lately of “I’m perfect the way I am” is, a religion. To be sure though, I do know what you’re alluding to and yes, a foundation based on Judeo-Christian moral and ethical values is far more preferable than having no regard for responsibility and accountability.
American Thinker had an interesting article yesterday on a Nigerian pastor (Father Joseph Ekpo) speaking in front of a Catholic congregation in Berkeley, California. His basic points were that the introduction of Christianity by the western missionaries was a singular force for enlightenment and good on his continent, and it brought about a societal revolution that unleashed the power and potential of all people who were seen to be made in the image and likeness of God. He had much more to say. The article has a video of his very moving talk. Here's the article.
In my experience with Churches and religious organizations, you rarely meet the truly religious people. They are there, but quiet, living quiet lives. The people in positions and with offices are the people who are more, you know, superficial and interested in being the boss. The truly religious people are quiet and don't really make themselves known that readily.
It’s a funny thing. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m as much of an atheist as you’ll find, I believe nothing supernatural. When I was working, I had a coworker for many years who was devoutly religious. He could quote scripture, home schooled the kids, he and his wife held and attended prayer meetings, etc. Despite the fact we were at as far opposite ends of the spectrum as possible, we got along great and saw eye to eye on many more things than not. Although I am what I am, I find I usually get along with religious folks much better than I get along with liberals.
I have so many ideas here, I am not sure if I've written threads before or not. What is that book about the English, boys, school students, shipwrecked, devolving into their own society to the point of killing the boy they called Piggy?--Loss of foundation? I often thought that religion in societies was a 'wait till your father gets home!" type of control. "Because I said so" might not have worked for the leaders of a tribe. but if an almighty being who could see all and eventually hold you responsible for your transgressions and was there when you got 'home' after death...That would provide a stronger impetus to be 'good'. Logically, building with a society makes more sense than destroying it, if one thinks about it. Of course destroying gets instant gratification from the spoils of one's actions. But eventually there is nothing left to pillage except the destroyers-- the number of which would eventually dwindle. But in the end, hell would make a good control of some. It isn't seeming to work today but in history, it did. I could go on about lots of thoughts I have had over the years. I left 'church' when I went to try to have my first baby baptized into the Catholic church. It is a required sacrament to save one's immortal soul. I went to the church as we were new to the community and they had us 'join' the congregation before allowing the baptism. They literally had us sign a contract to tythe 10% to baptize an immortal soul. Well, 10% of nothing was not that much, as that was pretty much what we had. But I thought the love was missing in the church. Yes I know they need money to run but that is where I was at the time. I looked into other churches but hit a wall each time. Not involving money. But I have been trying to find volunteering opportunities that I can do without much luck. I recently got a lovely letter of invitation from a previous church and may get re-involved.
In my opinion, the "horrible" stories deserve to be in the headlines. I don't see how any true man of God could ever believe that molesting a child is A-OK, or be hypocritical enough to keep wearing the collar while hiding such behavior. Truly disgusting.
This is a big problem for me. I was always so turned off by the threats of fire and brimstone, and my eternal soul being sentenced to fiery hell if I didn't toe the line. I will never be threatened into believing.
Just came to me when I went to do the dishes. Still can't figure out what alzheimers is. I can't remember a darn thing until I don't need it anymore.
There used to be a regional department store named Thalhimer's. I always figured that Alzheimer's was a place to shop for folks who left their list at home.
My dad managed G.C. Murphy stores his entire career. When he got transferred to the Richmond store, one of his assistant managers had come over from Thalhimer's (HQ in Richmond.) Before then, I had never heard of them.
In short, I have never liked to beat people over the head with the Bible. Jesus never did that with the scriptures and as a matter of fact, he openly proclaimed that the Pharisees were vipers because of that very reason and He Really got down on them for making up so many rules that no one could possibly live by them. The bottom line is that God doesn’t judge a person by how many times they go to church or whatever denomination they claim to be. God is a personal being. Just He and myself or you and He. No one on this earth is included in the relationship. As for me, I do not even think of heaven nor hell nor do I remember ever dwelling on the subject when I speak in public. However God judges me will be according to His word and grace so what else needs to be said?
As answer I'll repost here one of my Quora posts. I actually got a 'share' - my very first. I think I like being famous. What makes atheism more ethical than religion? Dwight Ward Mar 23 I have an indirect answer. As an agnostic with a physics and cosmology background I understood early on that no human, no matter how brilliant, has enough information to conclude that there is no God or gods. We simply don’t know the universe well enough. So at the outset atheism is a murky position and perhaps not completely honest, being based on incomplete evidence. I think some want there to be no God who would dictate ‘right’ behavior, so that they may behave as they will without consequence. Those who do believe in God also believe he(she) propagates moral rules. Those rules are consistent with behavior that allow individuals and groups to survive into the future. The rules last because the group lasts. I personally believe that atheism is a moral, philosophical and scientific dead end which demands that we accept ourselves as merely highly evolved animals. We are more, I think. I don’t think an atheist is necessarily an immoral person but that it is a path to that. Of course, believers in God commit much evil but perhaps mankind as a whole is better off trying to live by a set of moral rules, even they come from a God who is imaginary. Man has been wrestling with these issues for thousands of years without solution but the debate is worthwhile. I've always had these issues on my mind. Since this post I've accepted Christ as my savior but I don't think that nullifies my previous reasoning.