People who use religion as their reasoning for acting morally right are not on the same level of morality as those who act morally right in the name of being good people for the sake of themselves and others. To do something because someone told you, rather than do something because you believe it is intrinsically good is a lower rung of morality. I know I’m just spitting out Kohlberg right now, but this is something I find very important.
The desire to act morally good to avoid punishment, as many people within religious circles do, is the lowest rung of morality. It is a selfish approach, even when one is acting correctly. I strive to act morally in the name of some higher, universal authority. Not God, necessarily, but rather the idea that I can achieve a moral conscience that runs in the background and always inspire me to do the right thing. To me, having faith in true justice and true morality trumps the faith that people have in God.
Oh, and I do believe in God. Adamantly. I just don’t think of God as a moral authority, but rather as power that started us down this path and guided our creation. It’s now up to us to do right by what he has given us, not for him, but for each other.
(via weallfruit)
Source: thirdworldd3mocracy