On 11/4/07, William T Goodall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=258 > > "Global publics are sharply divided over the relationship between > religion and morality. In much of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, > there is a strong consensus that belief in God is necessary for > morality and good values. Throughout much of Europe, however, > majorities think morality is achievable without faith. Meanwhile, > opinions are more mixed in the Americas, including in the United > States, where 57% say that one must believe in God to have good values > and be moral, while 41% disagree.
The question isn't even appropriate to Christianity. Even though there is no shortage of people who have the idea that Christianity's value is in making people moral, that's not what Christ taught. His strongest criticisms were aimed at the "Moral Majority" of his time, the self-righteous people. Christ was not a moralist, he was a savior. His message was about sacrifice much more than obedience. If you ask a survey question that's based on erroneous assumptions, the results don't mean what the pollsters intended. It is perfectly reasonable for Christians to believe that morality is achievable without belief in God. I wish more of us realized that. Then perhaps we'd spend more of our time and energy accepting people as they are, rather than trying to get them to shape up. But it took me many years to figure that out. Nick -- Nick Arnett [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages: 408-904-7198 _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
