How secular family values stack up

[essentialsaltes]

"High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation."

"My own ongoing research among secular Americans — as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture — confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of “questioning everything” and, far above all, empathy."

 

[CalmRon]

"High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation."

"My own ongoing research among secular Americans — as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture — confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of “questioning everything” and, far above all, empathy."

I remember a verse in Matthew when Jesus spoke to the crowds about continuing to ask the father for his gifts:

Matthew 7:11

If then you who are evil know how to give good gift to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

So maybe the question isn't about who's better at patenting as its human nature to want what's good and right for your children irrespective of religion or no religion.

 

[Cearbhall]

Interesting. It will become easier and easier to do research about categories of non-Christians as the United States continues to become more religiously diverse. It will be interesting to see what secular/atheist culture looks like in the US, especially when there are actually multiple generations in a family who agree.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

"High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation."

"My own ongoing research among secular Americans — as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture — confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of “questioning everything” and, far above all, empathy."

It sounds like calling the other side of the same coin a completely different coin.

I tend to have a postmodern worldview and find concepts like "strong ethical standards and moral values", "religious", "nonreligious", "secular", etc. to be repressive social constructs.

If I was a father I would want to be my children's guide as they develop greater and greater consciousness--consciousness that leads to a perspective outside of modernist categories like "strong ethical standards and moral values", "religious", "nonreligious", "secular", etc. that are used to control and divide people. Does that mean that I would make a horrible parent?

 

[Greg J.]

I was not aware there was a contingent that thought non-religious people couldn't be good. We need Christ to be forgiven of our wrongs to God, not to become "good." Every Christian dies never having become perfectly "good" (or put another way, still die with a sinful nature).

 

[RedPonyDriver]

I was not aware there was a contingent that thought non-religious people couldn't be good. We need Christ to be forgiven of our wrongs to God, not to become "good." Every Christian dies never having become perfectly "good" (or put another way, still die with a sinful nature).

And if you don't believe there's a God...then there's nothing to be forgiven of...right?

 

[Kenny'sID]

And here I was thinking all non-religous people were bad.

Seriously though, there are plenty of people that don't believe in God that are much better than some who either do or just claim they do, and it's too bad too. Although being good will be rewarding while in this age, it just seems like such a waste all good people don't end up in heaven.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

And here I was thinking all non-religous people were bad.

Seriously though, there are plenty of people that don't believe in God that are much better than some who either do or just claim they do, and it's too bad too. Although being good will be rewarding while in this age, it just seems like such a waste all good people don't end up in heaven.

Re: the bolded
You don't know that. IF you believe that God is a righteous God...He will judge. I personally think HOW you lived your life is a whole lot more important than having said the magic words or being dunked in the magic water.

 

[Kenny'sID]

You don't know that. IF you believe that God is a righteous God...He will judge. I personally think HOW you lived your life is a whole lot more important than having said the magic words or being dunked in the magic water.

I would not have made such a statement if I didn't know it.

Sorry to burst you bubble but there are clear stipulations. If you believe in the God of the bible, seems to me you would have to believe in the Bible of God.....all of it.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

I would not have made such a statement if I didn't know it.

Sorry to burst you bubble but there are clear stipulations. If you believe in the God of the bible, seems to me you would have to believe in the Bible of God.....all of it.

I would not have made such a statement if I didn't know it.

Sorry to burst you bubble but there are clear stipulations. If you believe in the God of the bible, seems to me you would have to believe in the Bible of God.....all of it.

Let's see...God is the Sovereign of the Universe, right?
Somewhere it says that God's ways are not man's ways, right?
So...who says YOU know the mind of the Sovereign of the Universe? Do you? Are you arrogant enough to say that you know what the Sovereign of the Universe is going to do in every situation? If so, then you don't need a god, you're your own god.

 

[Greg J.]

And if you don't believe there's a God...then there's nothing to be forgiven of...right?

I've never met anyone who didn't need to be forgiven of anything.

the magic words or being dunked in the magic water.

The words you refer to and being baptized have nothing to do with the substance of Christianity. A person's offenses against God are forgiven because Jesus died to pay for them before God, so all that it is needed is to accept that it is God's right to tell us what is right and wrong and to hold us accountable (which can't be done without believing in God). (A person that genuinely does this will recognize his need for forgiveness.) Everyone else pays for their offenses themselves.

 

[Polytheists/Witch]

My home is secular in that we don't all participate in a religion or faith practice. I am the only religious person in the home and I do not practice or include my spouse or son in that. They could choose to but they don't at this point.

 

[JustHereToTalk]

And here I was thinking all non-religous people were bad.

Seriously though, there are plenty of people that don't believe in God that are much better than some who either do or just claim they do, and it's too bad too. Although being good will be rewarding while in this age, it just seems like such a waste all good people don't end up in heaven.

It's one thing for "good people" to simply grow old and die, without being chosen by a great deity to be whisked off to a blissful eternity. It's much worse than a waste, however, to believe that a "good God" will torture "good people" in unfathomable agony, forever and ever.

 

[Kenny'sID]

It's one thing for "good people" to simply grow old and die, without being chosen by a great deity to be whisked off to a blissful eternity. It's much worse than a waste, however, to believe that a "good God" will torture "good people" in unfathomable agony, forever and ever.

Could you be more precise on what this so-called torture is, and how you come about the belief?

 

[Strivax]

Could you be more precise on what this so-called torture is, and how you come about the belief?

You're being disengenuous. It is common Christian mythology that unbelievers burn in lakes of fire, etc, for all eternity. If you are unaware of this, you just haven't been paying attention.

Cheers, Strivax.

 

[Kenny'sID]

You're being disengenuous. It is common Christian mythology that unbelievers burn in lakes of fire, etc, for all eternity. If you are unaware of this, you just haven't been paying attention.

Then you cannot give reason for the torture comment? This is about your comment, nothing more. I don't think it's me who isn't paying attention, but I can try to be more clear for you if need be...just ask.

 

[Dave-W]

Could you be more precise on what this so-called torture is, and how you come about the belief?

Lake of Fire Rev. 20. ".... and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." v10

 

[Kenny'sID]

Lake of Fire Rev. 20. ".... and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." v10

Dave, you need to read the question carefully.

 

[Greg J.]

It's one thing for "good people" to simply grow old and die, without being chosen by a great deity to be whisked off to a blissful eternity. It's much worse than a waste, however, to believe that a "good God" will torture "good people" in unfathomable agony, forever and ever.

Morality is incorrectly equated with pleasure and pain by a huge number of people, and I would dare to say, most Christians. Rather, pleasure, pain, and feeling neutral are potential consequences of something Good, Evil, or something amoral. This conflict is why people have a hard time when someone does something Good to them, but it is painful. It's not like they're people who reject someone who does something that brings them joy. Ever break up with someone knowing it was what was best (which may or may not have a moral component at all)?

 

[JustHereToTalk]

Morality is incorrectly equated with pleasure and pain by a huge number of people, and I would dare to say, most Christians. Rather, pleasure, pain, and feeling neutral are potential consequences of something Good, Evil, or something amoral. This conflict is why people have a hard time when someone does something Good to them, but it is painful. It's not like they're people who reject someone who does something that brings them joy. Ever break up with someone knowing it was what was best (which may or may not have a moral component at all)?

What does that have to do with the morality of torturing someone, especially a "good person," forever and ever?