Protestant Christians, atheists, and morality?

That is a legidiment and fantastic question, I will be interested in seeing the answers.

i think it was Abraham Lincoln who said "when i do good, i feel good...when i do bad, i feel bad...that is my religion"...i think this quote serves as a good example for the fact that a person with an atheistic point of view can have moral incentives...to do good based on the incentive of punishment or reward from a deity is not morality, in my opinion, but mere superficial brainwashing and vanity...if a person believes that morality is not possible without religious incentives, i would encourage that person to a bit more thinking...

Regardless of religious preference, for the purpose of humans living in close proximity to one another, there must be a set of rules that keep everything in order. Every country on the planet (with the exception of Somalia) has a government in place that, through a series of mechanisms, enumerates what is acceptable and what is unacceptable within its borders. Why does there need to be a separate set of rules, many being redundant?

Because religions are generally not geographically limited, rules that are based upon borders and govern all within those borders seem the simplest to maintain. In addition to this, each of the rule systems should be established in such a way that they can be modified to handle situations either not initially considered or situations that were not predicted. While perhaps not perfect systems, the recognition that they are not perfect is one of the things that makes them work because it helps to remind us that we are all fallible and none of us are all knowing. It helps us to make rules that make sense, and that can be fixed if they no longer make sense.

1. I don't think atheist have no incentive for morality that really makes no sense to me. Like every other group of people there is good and bad in them all.

2.yes to receive eternal life in Heaven you must (according to Christan belief) accept Christ as Lord and Savior.

3. when Jesus is "lord" of your life it's changes you from within. the Holy Spirit is what helps you with your choices,

bible say's "do works worthy of your repentance" also" shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid how can we which are dead to sin live any longer there in"

Grace and mercy is not a license to sin

First paragraph - I've never said this and I don't believe it. Atheists are moral people, they simply get their morals from a different source.

Second paragraph - Not true either. God doesn't send anyone to Hell. That is your choice. You step over the body of Christ on your way there.

Third paragraph - Not true again, and this is not a logical conclusion from paragraphs one and two. The Bible is clear. Your deeds will be measured, and you will be rewarded for good deeds, and vice versa.

Hope this cleared things up, have a cookie and a groovy day.

I can see how you've gotten mixed messages. You have a good point.

The misunderstanding is that we cannot EARN our way into Heaven by good behavior and MOST (not all) Christians know that. We are saved by faith and God's grace (not by our own goodness).

On the other hand, because we have faith, we WANT to do what's right and pleasing to God. (Unfortunately we fail, but that is still our intention most of the time). Many Christians take God's law seriously and commit their lives to doing the best they can to follow it.

This is a reminder that us Christians need to be careful how we word our answers so that we do not send a confusing message. God's grace needs to always be the focus; not on our attempts at "good behavior".

All of us, Protestants, other Christians, and atheists, have an incentive for morality. God writes his law of love onto all of our hearts, and whether you know it or not we all long to serve God by loving our neighbour and trying to follow the promptings of our conscience as informed by God. All of us feel guilt and remorse about the things we do wrong, and all of us live in the hope that we will one day see God if we do what He wants of us, which is to love. God bless.

I lack incentive for morality, but I'm still pretty moral. I guess the whole not being hated by everybody keeps me in check.

If you profess to believe in Jesus, Yet do immoral things then you really dont believe in Jesus. You can not kick a puppy and say you love dogs. You Can not Cheat on a test and say your honest. A person has the capability to profess anything they want. I can say im a 1 ton polar bear, but no matter how much weight i gain and how many white cotton balls i paste onto my body it doesnt make it so.

the moral of the story... the word moral means lesson learned the story of morality I use is as follows... American thanks giving began to commemorate the first years the christians pilgrims settled in north America.... not used to the harsh winter conditions they were grateful for the assistance given to them by the natives of the land... Once they were settled in the christians repaid the natives in true christian values.... they stole their land, they murdered their women and children destroyed their villages, enslaved them, called them savages So the moral of the story should show which truly is capable of morality...

I think atheists and agnostics are more impressive, for they do the right thing (most of the time, just like christians) ...any way, they do the right thing, even when no one is looking, and for no rewards. Christians do the right things b/c they fear gods wrath and are looking for rewards in their afterlife. I think it is easier to admire the person who does right, just to do right, not b/c god is watching.