Do you think it’s necessary to believe in God to be a good, moral person?

Actions speak louder than words

Mehdi and Farhang Khosh, doctors of naturopathic medicine and owners of Natural Medical Care, 2601 W. Sixth St. They are members of the Baha’i faith:

It is not difficult to find people who behave morally even though they do not believe in God. There are many such people in the world. It should be remembered that many people do not believe in God because they are rejecting superstitious ideas about God. If a concept of God is presented to them that makes good sense rationally, and does not contradict science, they might change their minds.

As stressed throughout the Baha’i writings, the primary purpose of God in revealing his will through his messengers is to effect a transformation in the moral and material conditions of human existence.

Although the world’s ever-shifting moral climate has led some modernists to reject or modify elements of God’s historic moral code, Baha’is — members of the Baha’i faith — believe an unbiased survey of contemporary conditions leads inescapably to the conclusion that society will only suffer if human morality is not revitalized.

The Baha’i teachings state that sincere belief in God adds another dimension to the life of individuals and society. Spiritual blessings will come to those who believe in God, who pray for divine guidance and seek to do God’s will. Belief in God is a source of strength to do what is right. We also see in the Baha’i writing that morality alone is not sufficient: “When a person performs a good action, although it is praiseworthy, if it is not caused by the love and knowledge of God, it is imperfect.”

However, if someone says they do not believe in God, yet lives a good life, their actions speak louder than their words. Such a person shows more reverence to God than the “pious” believer who commits cruel or dishonest acts.

Send e-mail to Mehdi and Farhang Khosh at mlkhosh@yahoo.com.

Believers must live, preach moral life

The Rev. Emilee Whitehurst, associate pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway:

There is no doubt in my mind folks who believe in God, myself included, have got some serious explaining to do.

How can people, literally in the name of God, murder and war, exploit and lie and yet claim that belief in God is a prerequisite for morality?

Now, I know that all religious people are not immoral. But how can we explain the fact that devout people have been discriminating and hating under the guise of religion since time immemorial?

To the casual observer, one might easily conclude that it is precisely believers who are poised to destroy every last shred of morality. Even as a Christian minister, I understand why some might accept John Lennon’s invitation to imagine a world without religion.

I wish there were easy answers.

What I know for sure is that until we who believe in God are actually able to live as well as preach a moral life, we certainly cannot claim a monopoly on morality.

It cannot be said any better than this: Let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7)

Send e-mail to the Rev. Emilee Whitehurst at fpcassociate@sunflower.com.