Source: Wall Street Journal Statshot: Carl Bialik, ‘The Numbers Guy’
Belief in God = Morality and Good Values?
July 28, 2013 by 50 Comments
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Belief in God = Morality and Good Values?
Join 18,369 other subscribers
Follow me at:
Twitter Updates
- What makes me happy now: my very old dog. He tells me to be happy is to be warm, to be fed, to be clean, to rest, t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 4 days ago
Live & Learn 
I don’t.
LikeLike
Period.
LikeLike
I’m one of those 38 %. Some of the worst people proclaim a belief in God and even brag about how they go to church on a regular basis.
LikeLike
And no, I am not in the 18 to 29 age group.
LikeLike
No chance. No chance you are more than 29.
LikeLike
You are a charming man, David.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
You don’t really want me to say something about this…do you? No, you don’t. I think I will just read everyone else’s comments this time.
LikeLike
After your “Creepy Lady” commentary on my last post, it might be just as well that you don’t fully pollute my Sunday posts.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Wholeheartedness and commented:
Hmmm…
LikeLike
I figured for sure we’d get some editorial commentary. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Todd.
LikeLike
Yeah. Mine was pretty deep… 🙂
LikeLike
Certainly was.
LikeLike
ooooh – dicey – best keep my comments to myself …
LikeLike
I know where you land here.
LikeLike
My Aunt and I were just discussing this yesterday how your values and belief in God correlate’s or the progress on “wonder” years (older and wiser :P)
LikeLike
🙂 Recall a quote from Hemingway: “No, that is the great fallacy: the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise. They grow careful.”
LikeLike
Once bitten, twice shy 😛
LikeLike
Some of the most “devout” christians are the self-same republicans who are cutting off food and aid to school children and senior citizens. Devout on Sunday, Criminal on Monday.
LikeLike
Bad characters on both sides of the fence, I’m afraid.
LikeLike
Are these stats really surprising? Our views change and morph as we age and experience more, feel deeply and understand less.
LikeLike
Hmmmm. Not so sure I’m with you. If you took this poll 30-40 years ago, you think it would have landed in the same place for the sub 30 year olds?
LikeLike
Not sure the needles would have ended up in the same place, but there’s no doubt in my mind that our feelings on morality, religion, judgment/values, etc morph and change as we get older, as our capacity to feel true empathy for others increases and our awareness of our own self-importance decreases. I’m just saying that generationally these numbers will – and should – move – for I think our perceptions on such matters morphs as we do.
LikeLike
Now THAT, I completely agree with.
LikeLike
Whew…pardon me while I flutter off to get some more coffee.
LikeLike
Flutter off. Somehow I can see that.
LikeLike
the closer we get to another journey it seems the more we believe
LikeLike
Funny how that works…
Here’s an interesting example LouAnn:
https://davidkanigan.com/2011/12/23/oh-wow-oh-wow-oh-wow-quotes-inspire-holiday/
LikeLike
I definitely don’t believe in a god, but I feel very strongly about morality and good values. I think there are a lot of us out there. I don’t condemn others for their beliefs, but I have noticed that over thousands of years more people have been killed in the name of religion than any other issue, and it’s not over yet.
LikeLike
And I too believe strongly in morality and good values (and family values while we are at it.)
LikeLike
So we can’t be all bad!
LikeLike
interesting….touchy subject since its impossible to decide what will be politically correct next week…so most choose to say nothing I think….
I saw the other-side…. and came back….and the journey continues…
good post…
Take care…
)0(
ladyblue
LikeLike
🙂 Thank you. I hope what you saw on the other side was enlightening!
LikeLike
Very interesting; not surprising.
LikeLike
It is Judy.
LikeLike
David, I am a bit shocked by the many cliche’s left as comments. (Republicans starving children?…please, give me a break). First, going to church does not mean that someone believes in God, or at least that they have any kind of profound relationship with their God. I think that a large number of people go to church for the social components and to be able to say to themselves, “I go to church, therefore I am a good person”…it is just one hour and they forget about it for the other 167 hours of the week. The survey may also indicate how poorly we have formed our children to where they do not see any correlation between living a life based on Godly principles vs living a life based moral relativism and doing whatever feels good. Too many teachers and parents told them it did not matter…”2+2 can equal 5, as long as you try and feel good about yourself”
I’m a 53 year old white guy who, recently sold two businesses, but still works 60-70 hours/week and goes to church. My Catholic faith helps guide my life and my decisions. I am old enough to look past the human imperfections of others and to not use their failings as an excuse to accept mine. I also believe in the existence of right and wrong…not everything being a subjective shade (one of 50?) of gray. And by the way….I don’t hate anyone.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing Ray. I’m still finding my way. When I crossed 50, many of these questions (and answers) you pose become quickly relevant. I have a lot of work to do, on many fronts.
LikeLike
David,
I do think you invited all the caricatures to show up today. Alas, morality heeds no boundaries.
Peace to you!
Debra
LikeLike
🙂 There it is. Morality does heed no boundaries. Let’s take that to the bank Debra.
LikeLike
Not an American so I will stay quiet but bit shocked with the survey results.
LikeLike
Really (shocked)? I wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
LikeLike
We had a discussion about this and similar content at our UU fellowship a few weeks back. Morality is being found elsewhere.
LikeLike
“Morality is being found elsewhere” would make for a long discussion and very long essay in today’s times….
LikeLike
With age I can see the need for God increases substantially. People need no religion to set their own rules.
LikeLike
That’s true Alex.
LikeLike
God, morality and good values are subjective terms. Seems like many immoral acts and questionable values are done/exhibited in the name of a god.
LikeLike
Unfortunately you are right…
LikeLike
As you see the survey charts reduce the amount in the belief in God and values so goes the moral decay of our country. You could also relate the same to the statistics in crime, poverty and/or dependency on government for the support of our children. God bless and save our country.
LikeLike
I tend to agree with you although many atrocities have been performed in the name of God and under God’s roof (aka churches). Therein lies some of the hypocrisy that many feel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike