summing up, 'cause it finally summed up in my head

[acroyear]

Being Christian is neither the exclusive requirement of, nor fundamental evidence of, being a moral person.

I have met far too many moral, caring, sharing and contributing atheists to think that atheism is proof of amorality.

I have met and have read about far too many assholes who call themselves "Christian" to ever think that claiming to have faith (any faith) or being part of a church is automatically proof of leading a moral life.

If anyone throws out the word "atheist" like it is automatically proof of their position, I will redirect them to this post.  Regardless of whether or not the subject actually is an atheist, it is IRRELEVANT to their moral character.

Comments

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

can you explain the Jewish interpretation as you know it?

For me, having been raised on the "Love God / Love Your Neighbor" commandments that Jesus quoted from Leviticus as the core (with the 10 commandments easily (philosophically) derived from them), I grew up in a church (Anglican/Episcopalian, with strong ties to some aspects of Catholic doctrine remaining) that put far less emphasis on the specifics of the original 10 commandments themselves.

If you choose to Love God and Love your Neighbor and show it in your actions, the original 10 simply happen automatically. Hence, those two become "the great commandments".

Below, I already addressed the idea that anything involving "Loving God" is inherently not an applicable requirement for morality when it comes to the State in a free society.

[the-mishka.livejournal.com]

The Jewish version is very similar to what you wrote, but not what javasaurus wrote. Loving your neighbor is not secondary.
Jews have the rabinical 613 commandments (this has always been an interpretation from the Torah) that also includes the "top 10". We call them the mitzvot - the laws that God commanded us to live by. Interestingly, commandment #1, "Ani Adonai," says nothing about love and is ridiculously open to interpretation as it simply says "I am God."
It is assumed that if you accept commandment #1, you are also accepting the rest of the covenant at Saini - which is the Torah - the law.
In the law (as it was interpreted)we are commanded to act and not just to pray. So that "action" is how we worship (and yes, love) God.
My roundabout way of saying I believe our denominations are in agreement.