Can you be good without God?
If not God then what? What about spirituality, meaning, and purpose?
I felt my ire rising as I read these questions and thought about how many people in my personal daily dealings would answer those two questions somewhat like this:
1. No! Without God and the church, there would be no moral code, and therefore people would become evil and base since it is in our nature to do so.
2. (And as I was once told, with great vehemence!) If you do not accept Jesus Christ as your savior you will burn in Hell.
Alright now…I have always been of the mind that each person should be free to believe in whatever they like, provided it does not infringe upon the same rights of another with a differing belief system. Most definitely, those beliefs should never be tolerated if they will promote or inflict harm or death on another human being for whatever reason. That being said, I will now give you my answers to those same questions. (BTW - I do not share the view point of the above referenced generalized answers.)
1. To this, a resounding, Yes!!! I personally have no need to follow some imagined deity’s set of standards in order to determine what is good or bad. Nor do I need such contrived devices in order to maintain a high moral code.
2. Well, since I do not cotton to the whole God concept anyway, “I say Life”. Live it well, love deeply and joyfully, be strong, and always seek growth in everything you do. As for spirituality, once more I do not feel a lack of spiritual depth in myself without God.
Meaning, my life is full of meaning. I am a Mother, an Operations Manager, a Student, a Lover, and a Friend. My life is filled with meaning.
Finally we approach the subject of purpose. Ask any Christian what their purpose in life is. Most will tell you, to live their life the way God intends so that they might be welcome in his Heavenly Kingdom after they die. Frankly, I prefer to find my purpose right here, right how. My purpose is to bring something new and brilliant into this world before I die. I intend to be everything I can be, and I refuse to live my life just waiting for my brightest moment to be obscured by death and the shroud that separates this life from whatever happens after I am gone. And, no!!! Not knowing what will happen after I die does not scare me in the slightest. Whatever it is, it’s been happening that way for longer than I can even imagine, considering the estimated lifespan of mankind, and it will continue to happen that way no matter what I choose to believe.
(Stepping down off my soap box, and taking a bow…)
