Assessing Character

[naomi24]

Is a penchant for religion an indication of a trustworthy character?

[grasscarp]

What would religion or lack of have anything to do with trustworthiness? What prompts such an odd question?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I'm with Grasscarp on this. I don't see what religion has to do with trustworthiness, the same as I don't believe race, sex, sexuality or circumstances have a bearing on trustworthiness. What makes you ask the question Naomi?

[Kathyan]

Definitely not. Although religious people would probably say there was.

[naomi24]

Mojo-Jo-Jo , //What makes you ask the question Naomi?//

Something Beso said here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1329256-3.html

//However I have never found religion to be an indicator of a person's character.//
22:14 Wed 16th Apr 2014

It struck a chord because a highly respected Christian of my acquaintance, a veritable pillar of society, whose oft-repeated public expressions of her personal piety, humility, and self-depreciation know no bounds, is, in fact, probably the most craftily manipulative woman I’ve ever known. Mibs summed it up when he said, //Some it seems use religion as a means to cloak an even more sinister nature than those 'sins' they are all too eager to preach against, like a pack of back stabbing wolves in sheep's clothing ….//

Grasscarp, see Birdie’s response at 00:27 Thu 17th Apr 2014. I think it’s safe to say that priests, imams, etc, are generally considered to be trustworthy simply by virtue (not sure that’s the right word here!) of the position they hold.

[Peter Pedant]

grasscarp

it came up in one of GoodLife's threads.

Ny - the lady who wears her religion on her lapel -we would call 'pi'.
NOT a good sign to good moral character altho by her nature she would strongly dispute that. memo: give wide berth at all times
I had to work with one [ probably for being a murderer in a past life ] and and the disconnect between what he said and what he did ....
I have been scarred ! scarred !

[AB Editor]

I think the question has moved from:

"Is a penchant for religion an indication of a trustworthy character?"

To:

"Do those in a position of power seek to abuse that position?"

Which is a much fairer question and doesn't tar everyone "with faith" with the same brush.

[naomi24]

Peter, sadly life's circumstances make it impossible for me to give that one a wide berth at any time.

[mrs_overall]

From personal experience, I have a handful of friends who are devout believers and attend church. They never broadcast it or discuss religion. Every one of them I would trust with my life.
I also know a few people who claim to be devout and broadcast it loud and often. Over time, every single one of them has been proved to be a hypocrite and I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit.

[Peter Pedant]

Mrs O : Every one of them I would trust with my life.

No, I have met some pretty dim devout ROman Catholics I'm afraid.

[bert_h]

It used to be that sexual behaviour was taken as an indication of character. However, the modern view seems to be that society has become mature enough to accept most variations of sexual behaviour without making any character assessment from them.

How long will it be until society is mature enough to accept most variations of religious belief or unbelief without making any character assessment from them?

[naomi24]

bert, Who knows? Perhaps when religion finally acknowledges that the vast majority of non-believers are no less morally aware than anyone else.

[ludwig]

// What would religion or lack of have anything to do with trustworthiness? What prompts such an odd question? //

So your answer is 'no - the two things are unrelated' then. See, it's not that hard is it?

I agree with Grasscarp. I don't think they're related. IE, I don't think it's an indicator of trustworthiness or lack of it either.

[pixie373]

I think, Bert, because the choices you make (such as religion) do give indications to your character. Not necessarily in a good or bad way, but judgements are made on the way people choose to think. Sexuality isn't a choice, so you can't judge somebody on that.

[atalanta]

You have to admit that religion provides far more opportunities for hypocrisy than does atheism.

[modeller]

Judging by the reported behaviour of so many RC priests and that of some nuns and others who who supported them , the answer has got to be No!

I had a CofE vicar neighbour who at one time was responsible for the recruitment of new applicants to the priesthood. However he rejected so many as unsuitable ( over 50% ) that he was asked to explain why. He said because they were homosexual . The result was he was immediately sacked by his bishop. Or to use the bishop's words , " for health reasons he was reassigned to a less demanding role " . Something to do with allocating furniture in vicarages. I assume he was trustworthy enough to do that job.

[naomi24]

I think there’s a perception that those with religious leanings are usually of good character, but I don’t think it’s necessarily accurate. People are people.