Why I’m still moral despite not being a Christian:
Morality is not defined as religion, nor is religion defined as morality. The two can be married in a lot of senses, but people should remember that the two are separate. One may inspire the other, but it will certainly never produce the other. Another standard to keep in mind regarding both religion and morality is that there will always be the ideal religious and/or moral person that everyone seems to compare everyone else to. Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, Mother Theresa, whoever it may be, everyone reacts to criticism of their own religion in the same way.
Every outspoken believer seems to have this image of him or herself as an ideal representative of their beliefs on cue, ready for action at the drop of a hat. Quick on the draw with memorized verses and remembered tidbits of sermons, they are prepared to wield their sword of what might be truth and offer the casual curious a series of rebuttals. Many of those replies sound like, “Well, they aren’t a real Christian. A real Christian wouldn’t do that. You have this misguided idea of who I am and what I represent because you met a fake Christian.” I’m not even a Christian and I’m concerned for Christianity when I hear this response from every single person who has tried to convert me. If you can’t defend your own faith without feeling the burning anxiety in your stomach as you desperately rely on the tried-and-not-so-true ripostes, “Well, I believe what I believe because of faith. Faith-based. I know it’s true because I have faith that it is,” or, “Well, because the Bible tells me what I believe is true,” then you’re never going to find affirmation in what you believe and you’re never going to convince someone without faith that they’re capable of spirituality. You have to know what you believe and why you believe it, and if you don’t, then you have to strive to find those answers. You can’t be a half-ass Christian. I think this important issue gets lost in translation between denominations. I know in my home town, several churches have over five hundred people in regular attendance because their pastors never get tough; they never delve into the issues that are touchy, such as why the congregation needs to put God above their money and material addictions. They play it safe and never try to steal home. And people like that. They can sit in their comfy pews, listen attentively to how God is merciful, loving, and how he sent his son to die for us, and know that the concept of salvation is so simple a child can understand it.
In regard to the whole, “So simple a child can understand,” reference, want to know a universal truth among children? They strive for knowledge. Their senses always tingle for some new, exhilarating discovery. They learn faster, they have keener eyes and sharper ears, and they have a hunger for knowledge that we adults lose over time. It’s so simple a child can understand it, but as a child, you’ll want to know more, and you’ll strive to know more. I’m an atheist and even I know that Christianity isn’t that convenient; you can’t just stop there. The Bible talks a lot about a God who’s jealous, a God who isn’t satisfied by your excuses and your promises to do better next time. That God doesn’t sit in his fluffy clouds of divine contentment and smile happily as he watches you ruin the name of the spirituality you say you have. No, that God is probably embarrassed and a bit frustrated at how you can have your back put up and sneer at those who question you, though you’re just like them six and a half out of seven days a week. No, those people have neither religion or morals. They have a shoddy façade and a faulty perspective, and unfortunately, they’re the majority of the people witnessing to nonbelievers through their actions. No wonder people are so turned off from Christianity. I don’t want to be apart of something that stresses love and instead inspires indifference.
Now, after all that, I’ll state my grand point: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt people can be moral and not have any regard to Christianity whatsoever simply because the majority of Christians I have met lack morals themselves. If one is possible, then so is the other. Us science-believers might call that an equal and opposite reaction. Jokes aside, please don’t continue to think I’m an unethical heathen incapable of morality simply because I don’t pray to some ultimate higher power. I count myself wise on what I do and don’t believe. If I don’t know the answers, I’m going to own up to that, as there is no shame in still trying figure things out. It’s a risky business, believing in something. Someday you just might have to prove it.
