Can people be good without God?

I think we can be. People can be great without God; we can be compassionate, nice, beautiful without God. I don't think the point of God is to make us better. I believe He does make us better, but that's not His point. I don't have a point or motive to existence--I just am. So, if I don't have a point, why would a higher, better, more being have to have a point in existing? God just is. If His point in living was to make us better, that would mean His existence would rest with us; the creator would exist because of the creation. That doesn't make sense. It would be like an architect existing solely to make a building; the architect doesn't exist to make the building, the building is a side effect of the architect existing. The creation exists because the creator made it; the creator exists outside of the creation. His point isn't to make us better, just like my point in living isn't anything. A side effect of knowing Him can make one better, but it doesn't have to make one better, and you can be good without knowing you know Him. If God is love and God is good, then whenever love or goodness are present or known, God is present and known.

7.9.2011