No More Anti-Theists

[Catholic_Lady]

Growing up Catholic, I learned about the virtues of charity, generosity, forgiveness, honesty, etc etc, and I learned about having respect for and seeing the dignity in all people. Because all people (and all creation, really) are made by God and thus have inherent dignity and worth, no matter how small or insignificant they may appear. Those are the values that I was taught in my faith based upbringing, just like everyone (religious or not) grows up being taught certain values. 

Basing a standard of value on the fact that everything is created by God is still religiously motivated. I believe the point Nestor was making is that religion is not required to be good, which was offered in juxtaposition to Comet's comment that loosely supported a view that religion for some is a motivating force for being good.

I agree with your assertion that many religious people don't behave in a manner we call good [i]explicitly[/] for the expectation of future reward (heaven); however, the behavior of many believers is significantly influenced by the fear of going to hell. For me this is just the other side of the same coin.

Oh I know it is religiously motivated. I am glad to say my religion motivates me and teaches me a strong set of values and virtues. 

What I was saying to Nestor was that being religiously motivated to do good deeds is not necessarily about doing them for the sole purpose of being "rewarded" in Heaven.

I agree that religion is not required to be good. And I agree, that the particular people who are "being good" only for their own self serving promises of an afterlife, are missing the whole point and being extremely counter productive. The whole point is love and selflessness towards others.