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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 1:23AM
#1
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In another thread the question was raised as to whether there was a causal link between attending church and higher morality.What do you think?Do regular church-goers behave more morally than non-regular or non-church goers?Has there been any scientific study of this?Does Christian theology make any claims in this regard?
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 1:44AM
#2
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lol I saw this coming (I'm the one that made the point in the other thread). I don't know the data, but found it arrogant that the causal relationship was just assumed... especially considering the history of blood and mayhem in the past of christian churches. Frankly, data that included the full history would tell a very immoral story. But I question data that was contained to just the last 100, 50, or 20 years. I would want to place an option bet: That the correlation fails (statistically insignificant), or yields negative results (ie a correlation between church goers and IMMorality).
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 1:46AM
#3
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Also, since it is unlikely the data exists, I would argue a different route: Investigate the faith composition of prison inmates prior to them entering prison-that should tell something.... And much more likely there is data on this issue.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 4:04AM
#4
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lol I saw this coming (I'm the one that made the point in the other thread).
I don't know the data, but found it arrogant that the causal relationship was just assumed... especially considering the history of blood and mayhem in the past of christian churches. Frankly, data that included the full history would tell a very immoral story. But I question data that was contained to just the last 100, 50, or 20 years. I would want to place an option bet: That the correlation fails (statistically insignificant), or yields negative results (ie a correlation between church goers and IMMorality).
I know of a serious study of intercessory prayer so perhaps someone has studied this topic as well.People may also have opinions based on their own experience and I would think Christian doctrine or the Bible might have something to say on this.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 4:54AM
#5
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kool: We would first have to find a reliably quantifiable standard of morality, and then if there is a statistically significant difference we would need to discover if we have the right dependent variable. For example, being part of a church youth group could statistically decrease the likelihood of arrest for teens, but being on the school newspaper or being part of a sports team has a similar effect. But aside, going to church doesn't mean you're listening. Tozer wrote that churches are dangerous places because (extreme paraphrase) sin can manifest itself in a new platform and guise itself as righteousness. bob: I can see a 'faith' demographic, but not necessarily a 'church attendance' demographic.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 6:10AM
#6
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In another thread the question was raised as to whether there was a causal link between attending church and higher morality.What do you think?...Does Christian theology make any claims in this regard?
maybe the opposite : 1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Non Quis, Sed Quid
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 11:11AM
#7
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In another thread the question was raised as to whether there was a causal link between attending church and higher morality.What do you think?...Does Christian theology make any claims in this regard?
maybe the opposite : 1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
That's down to Paul's crappy theology that he was making up as he went along. Presumably a divinely revealed theology would prevent people from thinking that their salvation had already occured and what they did with their bodies didn't matter anymore. That Paul had to spend so much time back-filling and revising his gospels is just evidence that he made it all up.
Jesus had two dads, and he turned out alright.~ Andy Gussert
“Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its battles have been for education, for the vote, for better working conditions…for safety on the streets…for child care, for social welfare…for rape crisis centers, women’s refuges, reforms in the law.
If someone says, “Oh, I’m not a feminist,” I ask, “Why, what’s your problem?”
Dale Spender
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 2:19PM
#8
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I would argue this: That a pure teaching would need no rules. The simple practice of it would awaken one to truth and thus correct behavior. So any teaching that requires rules is basically broadcasting that it has no real truth to begin with. That said, any church with rules could not logically lead to moral behavior through anything other than coincidence.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 3:37PM
#9
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This may not apply to every church. But I have been to several denominations, churches. And I find that churches are terribly political devices. Now not necessarily all church goers, but the churches themselves, the preachers. And I don't see a church that preaches politics to be breeding particularly moral people. Church is a social club, it is a religious, and politically based social club. IMO. There is some focus on the god, a lot of quoting the book. but also an awful lot of politics.
A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. Aristotle
Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. Plato..
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" Jackie Robinson
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4 months ago ::
Feb 03, 2012 - 5:15PM
#10
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In another thread the question was raised as to whether there was a causal link between attending church and higher morality.What do you think?Do regular church-goers behave more morally than non-regular or non-church goers?Has there been any scientific study of this?Does Christian theology make any claims in this regard?
I don't believe your morality can be measured by how often you attend church. It is how you live your life that matters. Church goers can often have higher moral principles but can also be more narrow minded and judgemental than those who don't attend Church. When I was growing up the Premier of my state was a devout Lutheran who regularly attended Church yet he lead a government that became very corrupt and he narrowly missed going to jail. So Church going is not in my opinion the most important measure of someone's morality.
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