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Pope Francis is dead, Cardinals meet

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GBS61 said:
I have often noticed that many atheists are better people (not all of them, of course) than believers, just an observation on my part.
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That may be true, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Only those who's sins are forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus are clean in God's eyes. ("I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father but through me.")

The 144,000 must be one of those.
 
Well tomorrow 8th is the last day for the prophecy of the destruction of the 7 hills. Looks like it will be confirmed the prophecy is a load of BS and all those Catholics who were discussing it will be able to breath again and just wait for the white smoke. At the moment the back smoke from the chimney is worse that wat came from my old diesel Landcruiser
 
If we look around, we see people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof, doing things that aren't good. People are people.

Almost everyone has a sense of right and wrong. We generally know that things like lying, stealing, hurting others, or being selfish are not good for society or for individuals. However, knowing what's right doesn't automatically mean we always do what's right. There seems to be a kind of "gap" between our ideals and our actions.

Christians: In Christianity, the concept of "sin" is central. It's often described as missing the mark of God's perfect standard, disobeying God's laws, or having a selfish desire that goes against God's will. Christians believe that this tendency towards sin is part of the human condition, often linked to the idea of "original sin" stemming from the biblical Adam and Eve. So, even Christians who strive to follow their faith will still fall short and do things that are considered sinful within their belief system.

Other Religions: Many other religions also have concepts of wrongdoing or actions that go against their teachings and moral frameworks. For example:
  • Buddhism talks about actions that create negative karma, rooted in things like greed, hatred, and ignorance.
  • Islam has the concept of "sin" which includes disobeying Allah's commands and acting against Islamic principles.
  • Hinduism outlines dharma and adharma, with consequences for actions that violate dharma.
    While the specific definitions and reasons might differ, these religions generally acknowledge that humans are capable of acting in ways that are morally wrong according to their beliefs.
Atheists: Atheists don't believe in a god or divine laws, so they don't subscribe to the religious concept of "sin." However, this doesn't mean they don't have a sense of right and wrong. Many atheists base their morality on things like:
  • Reason and Logic: Figuring out what actions tend to lead to the best outcomes for individuals and society.
  • Empathy and Compassion: Recognizing that others have feelings and trying to avoid causing them harm or suffering.
  • Social Norms and Ethics: Understanding the rules and values that help societies function and trying to uphold them.Even with these secular frameworks for morality, atheists are still human and can make mistakes, act selfishly, or cause harm, just like anyone else.
Ultimately, the fact that people across different belief systems (or no belief system) can do bad things points to a shared aspect of being human. It suggests that there might be inherent tendencies or weaknesses within human nature itself that contribute to these actions. This could include things like:
  • Self-interest: We often prioritize our own needs and desires, sometimes at the expense of others.
  • Emotions: Feelings like anger, jealousy, fear, and greed can cloud our judgment and lead to negative actions.
  • Weakness of Will: Even when we know what's right, we might lack the strength or discipline to consistently act on it.
  • Social and Environmental Factors: The societies we live in and the circumstances we face can also influence our behavior.
Whether it's called "sin," negative karma, going against dharma, or simply making a wrong choice based on secular ethics, the tendency to do bad things seems to be a common human (and inhuman, see example below) experience. Different belief systems offer their own explanations and frameworks for understanding this, but the observable reality is that no group is immune.

Doing wrong isn't just a human trait. My cat knows she shouldn't chew on the plant in the dining room, as she's known since she was a kitten. Yet, she does it every day. What does that imply? That implies that the capacity to know what is "wrong" (in this case, a learned boundary) and still act against it isn't unique to humans.

It suggests that:
  • Motivation can override learned rules: My cat likely has a stronger drive (perhaps curiosity, taste, or attention-seeking) than the learned aversion to chewing the plant.
  • Understanding doesn't guarantee obedience: Even if my cat understands the "no chew" rule, it doesn't always translate to compliant behavior.
  • Different species have their own forms of "misbehavior": While not "sin" in a religious sense, animals can exhibit behaviors that go against learned rules or the desires of their caregivers.
Essentially, my cat's behavior highlights a basic struggle between knowing and doing, a struggle we often associate with human fallibility but can observe in other creatures as well. My cat's naughty plant-chewing shows that knowing what's "wrong" and doing it anyway isn't just a human thing. It teaches us that desire often trumps knowledge, and the struggle to do what we know is right is a basic challenge across different beings. This suggests that the reasons for "bad" behavior are complex and go beyond just understanding rules or having a specific belief system.
 
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