Why do religious people think they OWN "morals"?

[Kizzume]

Why is it that so many religious people think that they are the only ones with morals? Why do so many Christians think that following the rules of the 10 Commandments is the definition of morality?

Why do religious people think that those that aren't religious automatically aren't moral? Being religious is the only way to be moral? Believing that it's wrong to kill someone can only be derived from religious sources?

Religious fundamentalists suck. People should be able to have whatever religion they want, but they shouldn't be able to trample people's rights with their religion.

The whole aspect of so many religious people thinking they OWN "morality" is just sickening though.

[jq]

Being someone who has a lot of experience in the religious community (During high school, I interned as a "Youth Pastor," and I was raised in a somewhat religious household. Somewhat, because I have a mother who is religious, and a father who is not. My mother is more conservative, my father, liberal. Great for me, because I was raised with both perspectives on everything.)

In Christianity, there is no morality outside of God's word, (the Bible.) Basically, the question that would be asked is, what is the point of being moral if you are still going to go to hell? (Jesus is the only way to heaven, according to the doctrine. Therefore, if you are "moral" but not religious, it really doesn't matter, because we "all fall short of the glory of God."

[Kizzume]

Unfortunately, you are most likely correct. I was raised Christian but have forgotten what made me tick back then.

[jq]

Also, remember it isn't just the Christian religion that is like this. Same goes for Islam. In Islam, there is also one morality, and that is following the doctrine of Allah. Mess with him, and suffer big time!

[Kizzume]

That is true. It's just so pathetic though. Waaah, listen to me whine about the obvious....

[Kizzume]

I just wish the majority of religious people were more open minded. The closed ones ruin it for all the cool open ones.

[Hackfest]

Open minded is a broad statement though, really. If I were on a diet and looking to be healthy, I wouldn't want to be open minded to Twinkies. In that case, open minded destroys my purpose. Who can expect anyone to do that? You state that the closed ones ruin it for all the cool open ones. I think that this is a large misconception about religious people in general. Through no fault of your own and most likely because of what you see as examples, you deem that there are two types of religious people. The ones who stand behind an erected wall, or perhaps on top of it and looking down, and the ones who are mellow and easy going. It's not that simple though. I suppose I'll use myself as an example here; I have certain core values that are inherent of my beliefs. There are things that I deem as sinful, and I make no exception for them in my life. If I did, I wouldn't have any convictions and then how strong would I be? Remember, according to my core beliefs, James 1:8 "a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" has to be true. If it weren't, then who I am really to even have convictions I follow? I for one want no part in a weak, watered down religion, then it wouldn't be good enough for me to be dedicated to. So really, there is another type of religious person, my type. The reason there aren't more like that is because it isn't always convenient like it is to be the "looking down on people" type or the "it's all good" type. It actually requires more of a person, but then you see what you're really getting into. Ergo: 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

[Kizzume]

Like I've said to you before--I wish there were more like you.

[Hackfest]

I'm working on it.