Can we be good without God? Can we be bad with God?

I would be biased in thinking that all human beings that walk this earth have God in their lives. I would also be remiss in thinking that because God is not part of their belief system, that these human beings are unable to be good. Authors, Conyers and Harvey stated the following statistic from Where We Stand regarding the United States : 91% of the population believes in God. But does a belief in God equate to a good or a bad person?

Religions can be organized groups with a structured belief system and practices to follow, which usually include worshipping a God or idol. Religion can give a person a moral compass to help determine good from bad. There are many religions that exist in the United States. I myself have been raised Catholic. Catholicism is the religion I am most familiar with and I have been raised with a belief in God. I have also been educated to follow the Ten Commandments. These commandments can be surmised in 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40). My faith also includes retribution if you break one of the rules or commit a sin. The structure for American society is similar. We are citizens who have state and federal laws to follow and if we do not follow the rules, we are punished.

So does a belief in God equate to a good or bad person? Lee Ellis’ research found the Catholics to be the most criminal group among denominational religion and the Jews and the no religion affiliated group, the least criminal. (Conyers and Harvey 1996) A god does not seem to be a common thread when it comes to being good or bad. More research should be done on personal belief systems or what I like to call a persons moral compass. Ultimately, the personal choices remain within the individual and will point them into the right or wrong direction. God does not make a person good. A person can do good, or a person can do bad, with God in their lives or without.

Conyer, Lisa and Harvey, Phillip D. (Summer 1996). “Religion and Crime: Do they go together?” Free Inquiry Magazine, 16 (3).