Do you think religion trains people to have high moral standard, or low moral standard? (Buddhism, atheist)

[Bud235]

What do you think?

[JustNobody]

It depends on the religion. Some have little to no effect. Some result in usually low moral standards, like Islam. Some result in usually higher standards like Buddhism. Christianity tends to be around no effect, though it has some effect, and it depends on the Christian and what parts they choose to focus on if they focus on anything in the bible at all.

[TheViking85]

It can swing either way.

There's no reason to think religious people live by a higher moral standard than atheists though. There are bad apples in all crowds.

[Eresh]

It depends on how you define moral standard. Do you mean level of moral reasoning or the specifics on what is considered moral behavior?

[Rafius]

IMO, in the case of Christianity, it teaches high morals. The problem is the moral bar is set to unattainable levels. Christianity constantly tells you that you will never be anything more than a miserable, unworthy sinner.... whilst at the same time, it constantly demands that you be more "Christ like" ....which you can never do.....because you're a miserable, unworthy sinner. This is the way in which Christianity drives you into an ever decreasing circle of self-hate and self-rejection.... until you arrive, as so many have, at the point when you feel that you couldn't survive without having a supernatural entity to help you through the miserable, sinful life that they have convinced you that you lead. That's the clever thing about religion.....it feeds off the insecurity of the masses.

[achickenchaser]

I don't think it matters one way or another.

I suppose you could argue that some people wouldn't know right from wrong if it weren't for their religion, but I personally find that hard to believe. You could also argue that some people will do anything if they feel God's on their side, no matter how immoral it is. It can be both good and bad.

[coosjoaquin]

Religious people don't necessarily have a higher moral standard but they do love to say that they do. What tends to happen a lot is that they selectively follow their moral guidelines by employing the millions of loopholes that they construct around their religious texts which leads to bad, hypocritical people being judgemental.

[Visvaldis]

Religion maintains the lowest standards of any social institutions. That way they can get more numbers.
Morals based on religion aren't worth a second thought.

[mrmikeman]

I feel religion raises standards and lowers tolerance (both in a good or bad way). Morals on the other hand, IMO, comes from the home and is the root of standards and tolerance.
(Good morals = good standards / tolerances)

[Crackalackish]

Unless you are a psychopath, I think, as a child, you get your morals from the way you are raised. Then when you are an adult you choose what morals by which you are going to live your life. It has nothing to do with religion.