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hootsbox · 4768 days ago · link · · parent · post: The Founders: Religion, Virtue, and Morality and the Success of the American Nation?
While I have met people who have good ethics and morals, they are basically rooted in religious tenants; people did not just invent them as good behavior patterns. For instance, it is generally a good moral and ethical trait for a married man to be faithful to his wife; it is more fruitful and more healthy than the results or fruit of adultery. It is rooted in Judeo/Christian morals and ethics, but can be applied universally for sure. The same would hold true for killing your fellow man (Thou shalt not kill) or stealing someone's property (Thou shalt not steal). All these have their main roots in religion. You are correct, they went to great lengths to practice "Chrisitian tolerance" of other religions, and they sought to avoid the model of a government sponsored and imposed particular religion (or in their case, a denomination) i.e. The Anglican Church of England. However, most of the Founders were devout practicing Christians, and there is an overwhelming plethora of documentation on this. Very few were actually Diests, and some were even atheists.
My wife is from China. She has no religion in her upbringing, or that of her parents. She is one of the most kindhearted and considerate people I know. I agree that morality can be rooted in religion, but I know it doesn't need to be. Ethics and morals need not be invented. It is rewarding to live a compassionate life. If you do good, you are surrounded in good. We are all in this boat together. We can make it better, or we can make it worse. IMHO, that can come to any thoughtful and empathetic person.
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Oh, absolutely; we should all strive to uphold the tenants of kindness, compassion (not misguided compassion or unintended consequences of good intentions), charity, forgiveness, longsuffering - you know the stuff listed in 1 Corinthians 13 and the definition of love (which I don't believe anyone would take exception to albeit "religious (in the broad sense of the term) or not. I'm so glad to hear it is so with you.