On 4 Nov 2007, at 17:15, Nick Arnett wrote: > On 11/4/07, William T Goodall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=258 >> >> "Global publics are sharply divided over the relationship between >> religion and morality. In much of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, >> there is a strong consensus that belief in God is necessary for >> morality and good values. Throughout much of Europe, however, >> majorities think morality is achievable without faith. Meanwhile, >> opinions are more mixed in the Americas, including in the United >> States, where 57% say that one must believe in God to have good >> values >> and be moral, while 41% disagree. > > > The question isn't even appropriate to Christianity. Even though > there is > no shortage of people who have the idea that Christianity's value is > in > making people moral, that's not what Christ taught. His strongest > criticisms were aimed at the "Moral Majority" of his time, the > self-righteous people. Christ was not a moralist, he was a savior. > His > message was about sacrifice much more than obedience.
How come 57% of Americans answered that question that way then? Presumably that's their understanding of Christianity even if it isn't yours (most Americans self-identify as Christian.) > > > If you ask a survey question that's based on erroneous assumptions, > the > results don't mean what the pollsters intended. The survey doesn't make any assumptions - they asked the same questions in Muslim and Hindu and other countries. It's you that has the Christian bias. > > > It is perfectly reasonable for Christians to believe that morality is > achievable without belief in God. That's one less phony argument for religion anyway. -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance" - Steve Ballmer _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
