Same Moral Obligations for Non-Religious?

[nMbR1BaRlOwGiRl]

My friend raised this question and I wasn’t sure how to answer him… Wondering if anyone could help?

Are people who are raised with no religious/Christian beliefs held to the same moral obligations as those raised with religious beliefs? The example my friend used is saving sex for marriage. Some people are raised to believe that it is completely normal to have sex before marriage. They do it seeing no wrong in it because that is how they were raised.
As Christians then, are we to look at them as sinners? Should those people be expected to match their beliefs to the ones we are taught as Christians, even though they were never exposed to our beliefs and moral standards?

This one really stumped me, and any help would be most appreciated!!

Thanks!

 

[karebear92]

It depends on the culpability of their actions. If they truly do not know the Catholic or Christian teaching, then they may fall under invincible or vincible ignorance. The same can be true if they are raised in a family that would engrain a certain behavior, which could also affect the culpability of their actions, but this would most likely fall under vincible ignorance. In such circumstances, they may be judged on their own beliefs and their heart. This does not necessarily mean that it would not be considered a sin, but an action that may be considered a mortal sin for a Catholic or Christian may not necessarily be a mortal sin for them. Invincible ignorance is rather rare in the United States today, however. Most people have access to and knowledge of Catholic and Christian teaching on such social and moral issues.

This link will lead you to a more in-depth explanation from Jimmy Akin.

 

[Conor7]

Obligated? No. It’s called free will. None of us are obligated, Christian or not.

 

[theyuha]

All suffer the consequence of sin. If you cut the floor out from under yourself- you fall whether you know it or not. Working on sunday is not a sin though-- some things that some religions ask are not actually sins. Some people have their sabbaoth on Saturday which was the original sabbath so they do not sin on Sunday if they work. Some have a sabbaoth on Thursday and some do not have a sabbath. We really should pray though. If we make a promise to pray or do a devotion we should do it and vows are to be taken seriously. Do not sign up or take on devotions that you dont intend to do-- this includes marriageSome sins are universal though and have universal consequences. We are not to kill and we are not to harm other creatures if we have other sources of food. Eating meat causes harm to our body and makes us more aggressive but God does not torture us in a Hell for all eternity but we do suffer debilitating health and societies that consume meat are more violent and less loving which makes a sort of hell on earth. If we sin in this life our soul carries the results and attachement to sin to the next life, but our spiritual progress is also carried foward as well. Those who have a sabbath on different days should observe them out of love for the leaders of their religion, if we are a member of a religion and believe in the tenants we have a natural love and respect so we do the practices in devotion. All people are bound to not steal , not injure others (ahisma) not take your neighbors wife, not talk negative about your neighbor etc. All people are equal before God but everybody is on a different level spiritually. We should grow spiritually- this will make us happy. A cat does not have to abstain from meat because he is a lower form on a lower level and has to eat meat to live where as we do not have to and should aspire to be kind to others. in some ways we are all equally responsible but we are all on different levels-- God loves us all equally as though we were the only one on earth. May God bless you