At the heart of the divide between secular humanism and religious humanism is the question:
Why do people choose to be good?

For religious believers, morality is often tied to divine reward and punishment—heaven for the righteous, hell for the wicked. Even when good deeds are done sincerely, they often come with an external incentive.

“If you don’t believe in God, what’s stopping you from doing whatever you want?”

I remember the first time I was asked this question.

It wasn’t meant as an attack—it was genuine curiosity.

And honestly?

When disaster strikes, we don’t ask about immigration status before offering a helping hand. We don’t check church attendance before pulling someone from the rubble. We don’t hesitate to help our neighbors rebuild.

But somewhere along the way, a different version of Christianity took root. A version that forgot about the loaves and fishes and instead became obsessed with who is worthy of food in the first place. A version that turned 'love thy neighbor' into 'love thy neighbor—but only if they look, speak, and believe like you.'

For too long, morality has been hijacked. The idea of "loving thy neighbor" has been twisted into something unrecognizable—a tool for control instead of a call for compassion.

We can have better conversations. We can challenge ideas without tearing people down. And we can bring curiosity, kindness, and respect into every discussion.