God’s Underlying Role
Many people make claims today that “God is dead,” that society no longer has a need for a so called figure of a higher being entitled “God.” Conyers and Harvey in “Religion and Crime: Do They Go Together?” (62) use research showing that it makes no difference if you are religious or not if one commits a crime. Religious believers, and non-believers alike, commit crimes. Christianity is based on values such as love, charity, and goodness. Because supposedly religious people commit crime, does this mean God has ceased to exist? Because people do good acts, but do not claim to be “religious” or even believe in God, does this constitute a vanishing of God? Although members of society may not believe in God, or are not even predominantly religiously active, God in the United States is the underlying influence over how we are morally governed, which in result constitutes in overall goodness.
America was founded and built on Christian values that are still in effect today, however faint or subtle they may be. God is the underlying influence due to the Christian morals this country was erected upon. One example being, Christians believe in the Ten Commandments, a set of commandments given to Moses from God. One of the commandments is “thou shall not kill.” People today, irregardless of what their religious beliefs are or are not, know it is wrong to kill. Because of the influence of God, there are consequences for our negative actions. If we kill we have broken a law of God and of society and we pay the price by being sent to prison. Due to the Christian nature of society, this underlying notion of a God keeps a person in check and is what governs what is right or wrong. Conyers and Harvey said “Rather, certain characteristics related to the activities surrounding religion happen to attract non-criminals. These activities include obedience and frequent attendance at church services” (66-67). What they are saying is that those who regularly attend church have more religious convictions, have a better sense of what is morally right or wrong, and live those beliefs. A practiced religion constitutes certain rules and requirements that govern its believers. What then governs those who believe in God, but do not regularly practice an organized religion? God, the answer is simple. What about those who do not believe in God at all, what or who governs them? The answer is the same, God. Because of his magnitude of influence over previous generations, we are still influenced by Him today and that is what governs society. Without a God, society would be in complete disarray.
Tinder says, “If we turn away from transcendence, from God, what will deliver us from a politically fatal fear and faintheartedness?” (88). God is what gives us a purpose to be good; something to strive for. With belief in a God there is hope that there is a reward in living a good life, thus this leads to people trying their best to do so. The influence of generations past is still in full force today. God may cease to exist in people’s minds, but his influence still controls and ultimately rules over them.
Works Cited
Conyers, Lisa and Harvey, Philip D.. “Religion and Crime: Do They Go Together.” Academic Communities/Disciplinary Conventions. Ed. Bonnie Beedles and Michael Petracca. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 62-67.
Tinder,Glen. "On the Political Meaning of Christianity." Academic Communities/Disciplinary Conventions. Ed. Bonnie Beedles and Michael Petracca. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 68-88.
No comments:
Post a Comment