Is it normal people mistake morals with religion?

People have this misconception about religion. They tend to associate any type of moral with religion. If someone does not believe in abortion or does not want to have sex till marriage it must be religion. If someone disagrees with circumcision must be a different religion. However some people have these morals since they personally believe that. Not just the fact they are part of a said religion. When people feel like rebelling they say they want the opposite of every code religion follows. This means no one can believe these things and not be religious yet some people do. A lot of people do not seem to understand the difference.

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76% Normal
Based on 33 votes (25 yes)
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Comments ( 16 )
  • Yeah and the rest confuse 'morals' with 'popular opinion'.

    I'm the only damn person on earth with a fucking clue.

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  • NeuroNeptunian

    I can understand that. I have seen arguments in which the opposing party assumed that the person having the more conservative belief had so because of their religion.

    It is entirely possible to be anti-abortion without being religious. It is entirely possible to be pro-chastity without being religious. Being religious, one is more likely to ascribe to these more conservative beliefs, but it's not a necessary condition to hold them.

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  • Prince_of_Crows

    This is pretty normal. That doesn't make it right, of course.

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  • MsWVgal

    I think religion has a basis in following morals. Don't kill, don't steal - very basic concepts following a mindset of being kind to your fellow man. Usually called "humanity" or "being humane." They just happen to be the foundation for some religions, too. So for example you can follow the ten commandments in life (at least, half of them) without being Jewish or Christian.

    HOWEVER, if someone behaves badly - not specific things like tithing, circumcision, but the general concepts like adultery or stealing - then yeah they are going against those religions, regardless of beliefs or intention. But on the contrary, you can reject a religion without rejecting morals.

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  • Terence_the_viking

    People are stupid

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  • Yes, and it's also normal for people to mistake their opinions for facts.

    And morality (ethos, religions)is just a belief system misnamed. Even the atheistic USSR had a code of morality they ascribed to.

    The only true difference between Communism and Christianity is that one has a God and the other does not.

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  • Darkoil

    As a scientist I have to follow a certain ethical code which has nothing to do with religion.

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  • Ldizzy1234

    I do think they are two different things, but I think certain religions help to 'open up' your eyes to morals.

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  • GoraIntoDesiGals

    I believe in neither one.

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  • disthing

    It's a very basic distinction that most people can and do grasp. The people that don't are probably people who have only ever heard the word 'moral' in connection with religion. I have to say I don't encounter this confusion often at all.

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  • KeddersPrincess

    Yeah, I know. And it's annoying too.

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  • kelili

    This is sooo true.

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  • Unimportant

    They have nothing in common. But people love to assume that a average religious person is automatically more moral than an average atheist/agnostic.

    It's frustrating.

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    • NeuroNeptunian

      It is probably because I live in California, but I've never seen that assumption take place.

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      • Unimportant

        Lucky you.
        It's very common where I come from.

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  • iheartu2013

    It is much easier to know your Morals with religion. But religion does not give us everything. We have to realize and find some things for ourselves.

    But Morals and Religion are VERY intertwined.

    For instants in Christianity, murder is only ok in war. Then it is not really murder, it's war. Not that I agree with war, it is sometimes a nessessary evil.
    Anyway, in the Muslim religion murder is pretty much ok, at least if you are avenging your pride.
    Then in the Buddist religion, I believe murder is definitely not ok.
    I am not really sure about any other religions.

    But religions do help to give us morals. Without religion, a person is on their own, they have no help in realizing their morals.

    Okay, my rant is done......for now......

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