Are Religious people better Americans? (churches, abortion, quote, Catholic)

[Dingler]

I do not go to Church much myself, but on occasion go to services at those large Churches where everyone is very religious. I am impressed with the "general look of the people" at these churches where God and Religion seem to be the center of their life. Most of them seem to be so clean cut and wholesome looking. They seem to pay so much attention to their appearance and appear to attempt to live a good Christan lifestyle. While I am sure each and everyone in these Churches have their own personal weaknesses, it seems to an outsider that many of them are actually the best Americans.

I believe the Church and God's teachings encourage them to be better people than the rest of us. Do you agree?

[lammius]

This is the silliest thing I've ever seen on city data. Being religious doesn't make someone "better" just as earning more money, being of a certain race, having a certain type of house in a certain type of neighborhood, etc. don't make anyone "better" than anyone else.

If you like clean-cut "wholesome" people then you may find many people you like in a church. If you like "granola" people then you can find some at Whole Foods. If you like hipsters, go to an up-and-coming urban neighborhood and you'll find plenty.

[KewGee]

A very simple answer ~~ No, God's teachings and the church do NOT encourage people to be better than, as you say, "the rest of us."

[foma]

Well, my husband's family is Catholic and I'm ... agnostic/believer of God. His sister, we'll call Beth, grew up in the same household as her bro. She's 25 now, is a drug addict, can barely pass her tennis class in college, uses her family and treats them like crap and expects everybody in her life to be responsible for her misgivings but can't own up to her own irresponsible behaviors. Beth can't even maintain a 3.0 IN HER MAJOR and she wants to go to grad school and expect her parents to support her ... indefinitely. She lies, she steals and she's been arrested twice - once as a minor and once an adult. She has prostituted herself for drug money, got pregnant and had an abortion (in her defense her health was at risk ... it was either the baby dying or both of them dying). She does what she does b'c she believes that since she's a Christian, God will forgive her for everything. I kid you not, those words came from her own mouth. You tell me, is she a "better American"?

[tigerlily]

Shouldn't this be posted on the Religion Forum?

[Dingler]

I have done some study into this since the question was asked. The answer is that people who are religious are in fact better people:

They are more likely to be:

Crime and drug free
Honest
Clean
Educated
Well off financially
Moral
A non smoker
A non drinker

All the traits of a Christan Lifestyle

[Amavel]

Addendum to the traits of a (conservative) Christian lifestyle:

child molesters,
tithe funds abusers,
anti-any other religion,
anti-any other religion's followers,
anti-any religious person who doesn't support a unification of church & state.

Clearly being religious does not make you better, nor does it make you more inclined to be smoke/alcohol free, honest, or clean-cut. Maybe you're more inclined to create a persona that fits your religion, but not a "better person".

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Dingler

I have done some study into this since the question was asked. The answer is that people who are religious are in fact better people:

They are more likely to be:

Crime and drug free
Honest
Clean
Educated
Well off financially
Moral
A non smoker
A non drinker

All the traits of a Christan Lifestyle

You found all that in less than 3 hours from reliable, unbiased sources?

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by tigerlily

Shouldn't this be posted on the Religion Forum?

You're right, and I'm guessing they'll move it very soon.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by foma

Well, my husband's family is Catholic and I'm ... agnostic/believer of God. His sister, we'll call Beth, grew up in the same household as her bro. She's 25 now, is a drug addict, can barely pass her tennis class in college, uses her family and treats them like crap and expects everybody in her life to be responsible for her misgivings but can't own up to her own irresponsible behaviors. Beth can't even maintain a 3.0 IN HER MAJOR and she wants to go to grad school and expect her parents to support her ... indefinitely. She lies, she steals and she's been arrested twice - once as a minor and once an adult. She has prostituted herself for drug money, got pregnant and had an abortion (in her defense her health was at risk ... it was either the baby dying or both of them dying). She does what she does b'c she believes that since she's a Christian, God will forgive her for everything. I kid you not, those words came from her own mouth. You tell me, is she a "better American"?

It's been said a hundred times on these forums that many people who profess to be Christians are not. Guessing by what you write, she does not know Jesus as her Lord and Savior and is not saved. Therefore, and only God knows, she very well might not be a Christian.

I'm sorry you all have to deal with such a person. I know that must put a strain on the entire family, tragically sad. I hope her parents don't enable her by supporting her. That would not be helping Beth, only hindering her to continue on the path she's on.