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If a person that doesnt believe in a Higher Power (God) (Christ) do you believe that they should be judge by the way they live their life, instead of what their beliefs are. I know so many atheists and agnostics, that are good people, and many religious people that are hypocrites. I don't really understand why we can't just except people for how they conduct themselves, instead of judging them over religion, or politics or sex, as long as they arnt evil and bent on destruction of their fellow man/woman. What are your thought, and am i being naive?

TonyCarl1 6 Aug 16
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43 comments

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6

In my 50+ years of life as an Atheist I can honestly state that I have met and known well far, far more decent, honest, caring Atheists/Agnostics than I have Believers/Faithfools.
For example and a personal one at that, Some time ago I was walking back home from the nearby Supermarket when I spotted a car by the roadside with a flat tyre and an elderly lady attempting to change the tyre.
I stopped, put down my bag of groceries and changed the tyre for her, when I was finished she said to me, " You ARE a true Christian Gentleman, thank you, what church do you attend?"
I replied, openly and honestly, " I am an Atheist, I attend NO church."
I then received a torrent of verbal abuse from her including, " Get away from me you evil, Heathen Bastard, I don't want to get infected by you."
1 week later, whilst standing in the corner shop, that very same elderly lady walked in, saw me and literally screamed out, " I've been a customer here for over 30 years, IF you are going to let Heathens like him patronise this place then I'll never cross your threshold ever again," and she literally stormed out slamming the door as well.
The shop owner, whom I later found out was also an Atheist btw, sincerely and abjectly apologised to me in front of the other 5 or so customers for the embarrassment I must be feeling at receiving such unwarranted abuse.
That IS just 1 case of the innumerable cases I could mention where Believers have proven themselves to judgmental, heartless, unkind, cruel and anti-social in my opinion.

5

We should all be held responsible for our actions and decisions, and for the consequences ensuing from those. Actions always speak much louder than words.

4

Unfortunately this is not feasible due to the fact that an individuals judgment is based on their opinion and this in turn is based on their moral standard which is determined by culture ,environmental conditioning etc.

I agree that what our culture teaches us, the moral values and codes we learn or acquire from others, plays a large role in our thinking and values. Even though most of us do our own thinking and eventually wind up creating our own individual standards of right/wrong, good and bad, it is based very much on what our culture (and other people) teaches us.

4

judged by whom? who decides "should"? christians think you're evil if you (fill in blank depending on what sect). so they judge by what they think is your evil way of living life. you can't win with them.

g

Exactly. Judged by whom? That is residue religionist's perspective.

4

I think that the best people don't believe in religion. They do good things for others just because their instinct tells them to help. They don't do it out of fear of hell or obligation to a deity. It makes sense that we survive by pulling together for the common good.

3

Humans should stop wasting time to worship delusive gods. Let us try to be the best Protector Gods ourselves for this endangered World! #moralevolutionfirst #terraprotectivitybeforeproductivity #allterriansallprotectivegods

tipi Level 7 Aug 17, 2019

Couldn't agree more. That is why I have joined this group, now part of a worldwide network: [xrcambridge.org]

3

It's unfortunate , that a lot of , "religious people ," are there for the wrong reasons . A lot of people have very low ethics , but want to appear to adhere to the prominent religion , in order to be a person held in high regards by others who will advance their issues for them .

3

Judging anything , people , situations , plans , if u are going to jump in the pool while is a thunderstorm going on , = thinking .
Contempt is another story . I have 0 tolerance for any crimes produced by humans for humans or animals . I contempt .
I don't care if they are religious or atheists .
Notable thou , that most crimes so far I ve seen my life are product of religion and believers .
And I am not going to support such so not be called " judgemental"😂
I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me . The people in my life that matter , they know who I am . The rest , who cares .

3

Religion feeds "herd mentality".

I cannot control how other people are going to see me, or whether they
will judge me for what I do, or don't, believe.
I am now to the point in my life where I really do not care what anyone
thinks of me.
The people who know me best, and love me anyway, are already damned
sure of who they're dealing with.

I've also learned that if I laugh at the judgments of others, it takes all
the teeth out of whatever "arguments", or insults, they're leveling.

As far as how I judge others, and despite my best efforts- I do, I try to
limit it to how they treat me, and how they treat small children, the elderly,
and animals. Sometimes, I widen the parameters depending on the situation.

2

I have always found Christians (especially Roman Catholics and the "Born Again"s) to be the most absolutely intolerant, not only of atheists and agnostics, but of people who believe in other religions as well.

2

People are the judges of themselves, not people being the judges, I think. They conduct themselves in a certain way, whether it's good or bad. Then once I get to know them, thats when I make the decision whether or not I want them to be a part of my personal life, or in my social circle. For as strangers go, I'm always nice to them and help them if I can, but once I know them, I might or might not. It's not about judging persay, it's just who I want around me. For example, I run into a stranger in a parking lot that his cars broke down. I stop and ask him if he needs help or not. He says he would like help, he had a flat his spare is flat. So I take him to the store to air it up and help him put it on. He thanks me, we shake hands, and we are both on our way. That's fine, no problem. Then a month later I read in the paper or something credible that day that I helped him, he went out and raped a little girl or killed somebody or something like that. It's not me helping him that makes it my fault that he did that. He would've still did it regardless of my help. On the other hand, if I seen another car broke down. I stopped again and it was the same guy needing help, well now I know him, so I wouldn't help him. But if it was another stranger, I don't think badly of them, and I'd help them if I can, no problem. It's up to us, not an invisible god, to make this world a better place. Maybe this helps and didn't confuse you too much.

2

What you said is not naive; it is wise.

2

Who would judge them?

2

I don’t care what people believe, it’s not my business. I try not to judge people, and their sexual orientation is of no interest to me either. Politics and religion are subjects I am wary about, because I live in Northern Ireland, and have learned to be circumspect. I take all people as they come, and if they do no harm to me or others, we get along fine.

2

Absolutely: judge people on their actions rather than their beliefs. Plenty of atrocities are carried out in the name of religion.

For my money, the whole 'higher power' thing exists because some people can't take responsibility for being in the driver's seat. They're happy to call shotgun, but actually getting behind the wheel and taking responsibility, scares them.

In 12 step programmes, I think the 'higher power' is a useful diversion in helping the addict (or person affected by someone else's addiction) avoid feeling responsible for things that are beyond their control. Hence the serenity prayer that features heavily in that kind of programme, which is all about changing what you can, dealing with what you can't, and having the sense to know which is which.

Beyond that, religion comes into play because of people's fear of mortality, combined with the need of a sense of ultimate justice in what's clearly an unfair world. The human consciousness struggles with the idea that it might one day just cease to exist. And while good people may go unrewarded and bad people may go unpunished in this world, there's comfort to be found in the belief that it'll catch up with them in the next.

I think a lot of religious people are good in spite of their religions, rather than because of them. When you listen to the bile spouted about LGBT people by the Vatican, you realise that Catholics who are actually tolerant, are that way in spite of their religion, rather than because of it. There are studies showing that people are more inclined to trust athiests/agnostics more than religious people. Certainly here in the UK. Religion lost its moral high ground a while ago. Catholicism certainly did when it was exposed as covering up systematic child abuse by its own clergy.

2

I judge folks by their actions and who they tell me they are, not their beliefs. I have known Christians who walk the walk, and I respect them for it. They don't judge, they don't put other people down, or push their beliefs on others. They have been better people than I have been. I know nonbelievers, some here, who I don't like and who I have no respect for.

1

Because you don’t believe in any god doesn’t mean your way of life has to be judged by anyone , a lot of good people that don’t believe in god and they are good people, also a lot of believers that are hypocrites, you can't judge a book by its cover

1

I agree with you. Just to quote Steven Weinberg “With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil - that takes religion.”

1

Your beliefs inform your actions. It is rare that someone will actively act against their beliefs. They may be able to twist it to justify how their actions adhere to their beliefs, but rarely does someone look a belief dead in the eye and say 'I'm going to act against you now'. So judging people by their actions is essentially judging them by their beliefs. The grey area exists when the action has an un-anticipated negative outcome, or there was genuine misunderstanding between belief and action. Judging someone based on their religion (which tends to promote misogyny among other repugnant things) is justified because if they are adhering to their chosen belief structure they will eventually commit an act that is equally repugnant.
Same goes for politics. If you believe every human has a right to exist and exist in their own truth, so long as it is not directly harming others, your actions will follow that belief structure.

1

Your original statement contains a fallacy. As stated the statements suggests that those with a belief system do not have to be accountable for their actions because of that belief system. I'm pretty sure that is not what you meant.

I've always contended that a belief system, en masse, is how the people act when confronted with a question or a challenging situation. They should not be judged by some words written in a book, or some words spoken from some pulpit. Rather, they like everybody else should be judged by their actions. Therefore, the belief system should be judged on how its followers act.

An example are today's evangelicals. They display disdain and derision for the poor, minorities, and those with differing sexual identification. They are the least Christ-like of all the Christian sects and should be judged by the policies that they support and push

1

Do I believe they should be judged by the way they live their lives? I do not believe anyone should be judged for anything unless the activity negatively affects the lives and livelihood of others.

1

Its interesting how so many people judge me, on 1 side I am giving and considerate, and loving(been married 52 years) on the other side i am inconsiderate and selfish, can't please them all, but i do treat people in the manner of which I would like to be treated, with respect if they deserve it, and kindness and love, if they are a good person. My one belief is Karma, and it can be a Bitch sometimes.

1

It is simpler to judge a person, by the way they treat others. I treat others how I want to be treated.

1

I try not to judge people in any way, unless they are actually threatening me...I believe in minding my own business at all times!

Apathy is always good!

@godlessinal I am about as apathetic as a rabid pit bull, at the best of times, as perhaps you will see by my replies on here. But I have Strong notions that most of us would be far better off if we tried minding our own business unless asked, or actually stepping up if injustice raises its' head. "Judgemental" is Not a good trait!

1

I believe people should be judged by both their actions and their beliefs. Their actions are most important because their actions affect others, but their beliefs are also an important part of who they are.

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