No matter how many times I watch this it gives me so much hope. Clay is amazing.

This has been my motto for decades: "The freedom of a nation is dependent upon the moral strength of it's individual citizens." Steven Hall

“I have gained this by philosophy … I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law.” ― Aristotle

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people”. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams

RIP Clayton Christensen. May your teachings live on.

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

This is so true. We are seeing effects of America's shift away from its religious institutions, teachings, and standards. If this continues, things wont get better.

Thank you for a powerful and truthful statement. Blessings, Brigid

The need for religion in a democracy, stated with remarkable clarity in just a minute and a half..

Thank you sir for releasing this video.

For years I would say "stop expecting a law to change behavior and just do the right thing - when each law is passed each person gives up Freedom". This truly expresses my internal voice all along and it is TRUTH. We each have this internal "right & wrong" voice (some call it conscience) yet as we accept worldly ways and if it is "church" or named something else, there still is not some type of moral teaching then lack of Freedom is reflected in all areas of economic life. Sadness continues.

Thank you for sharing this. Clay's thought that there are numerous people which are under the costly illusion that without religion, people would not engage in a moral and ethical manner adds to our understanding of the human psyche.

Quick comparison: Sweden: 16.5% say religion is important in their lives. 66 of 100 000 inhabitants imprisoned VS. USA: 65% say religion is important in their lives 793 of 100 000 inhabitants imprisoned Wow, that backfired. (source: GALLUP 2012 - religiosity index)

I liked Clay's message. It's simple,without an introduction and reinforcement of basic moral and ethical standards at a young age, people tend to become more self-centered and benign to what's going on outside their small day-to-day existence Christianity has been a global force for Good based on the moral teachings of Jesus. While there have definitely been bad actions and offenses committed by Christians over the past 2,000 years, the same can be said for people of other beliefs. I won't comment specifically on Islam, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Shinto, Zorastrianism or other religions, because I'm certainly no expert. However, these faith-based tenets shaped cultures and gave hope to overcome the struggles of difficult human life. Today in the freedom of Information Age, people are more free to choose what they believe or seek out. They can access it all and have more time to investigate, dissect, fact-check, and arm chair debate in a faceless community. But in this overload, more people seem lost than ever before -leading to bad decisions, as Clay alluded to. I'm not advocating that there is a one-size-fits all religion for everyone. But spreading the Good News cannot be a bad thing! Telling someone that you love and respect them because they are another unique human being is what it's all about. I can't say that I do it everyday, its very difficult, but it is the probably one of the greatest things you can do. The key is people need the message, regardless of where it comes from, they need to hear the truth about Love, Equality and coexistence. The pursuit of Greed and Lust while it can be powerful and productive in many ways, ultimately leads to someone else's negative consequence on the flip side. Keep that in mind. I felt compelled after reading so much negativity, after what I thought was very positive and thought provoking message.

Fabulous, short sweet and to the point. "G-d bless America"

How succinct and a call to act- in our own homes and then our communities.

Amen! Thank you for this.

Response to one quoted before me: I Believe God is Watching me, not out of fear, but Gratitude. MY God, is a Loving God, whose watchful Eye and Angels Enfold me. I admire My God, therefore I wish to keep myself in line, by knowing all my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are know by My God, The Great I AM.

"The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted: precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden." - G.K. Chesterton

Timely even more today!

Very simple and true. THANKS!

It is depressing that the, self-professed, most sentient species on the planet, has a large number of individuals who make no effort to be sentient. To value primitive scribblings above actual observable knowledge of the universe about us is a travesty to intelligence, and a true insult to every single ancestor that added to the sum of knowledge just to get us to this point.

I love it! The uplifting video should be praised. Teaching about multiple religions can promote mutual respect and reduce religious prejudice by dispelling stereotypes and misconceptions. Hence the reduction hate crimes.

Excellent! Such a simple but profound video!

AMEN!

I have been discussing with my daughter about "Common Sense" having a prerequisite of "Common Morality". The Common Morality that was prevalent when this nation was founded has over the years been compromised to the point that many people's sense of self government is now based on their own desires and not the teaching they grew up with in a godly home or church. Self government according to biblical principles, whether you like it or not, created common morality. If we don't have a common morality in that we all desire to follow the law, then one person's view of the sensibility of another is no longer common. For instance, the moral foundation of a conservative republican is so completely different than a liberal democrat that there is virtually nothing in common between them. If there is no longer a deep down common moral foundation, then there can be no reasonable compromise that benefits both parties. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with 2 points of view. Where we go wrong is that the 2 points of view, in the interest of their agendas, push to the extremes with no apparent common foundation. This can be illustrated with specific issues such as Right-to-life vs. Right-to-choose. One moral foundation is based on the individual's right to choice as the most important factor of their personal moral foundation whereas the other is based on the sanctity of life as valued from a religious foundation. Here we have this video pointing out the fact that as religion loses its influence over society, you can't hire enough police. Even our founding fathers knew this. John Adams, Our second president is quoted saying, "...we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." I suggest that if there is no longer a common morality then the forces of separate foundations of morality will contend one with another to the disservice of all. In the pursuit of "fairness" without a common foundation of morality, we will most assuredly bring to destruction all of our cherished human freedoms we were given that were once based on the common sense and common morality that this nation was founded on. This is important because people of differing religious influence have a different moral foundation. For example, a Muslim has a different foundation than a Christian which is different than a Pagan, which is different than a Satanist. What would this nation look like today if it were founded on any other religious foundation other than Christianity? Some would not have had the conviction to lay down their own life for the benefit of others. Another would lay down their life, but it is for a significant reward in the afterlife at the expense or destruction of others. I would dare say that the United States of America would have never come to be. I agree with the statement made in this video with a slight adjustment because religion alone is not sufficient. Without a Godly influence in people's lives and in turn the loss of a common morality, any and all laws will become meaningless to the people and everyone will once again do as they please. If we as a nation fail to return to our Christian roots, we will certainly cease to be United after which we will certainly fall.

So true and why we Oro Valley women have done three hour worship intercession over the lost to see them awakened to God and repentant for twenty years!

I echo the comments of the previous commenter. I must watch and repost this video at least once a week. And in the short script I am almost always moved to tears. Not just for the wisdom but the loss ... for how far we have descended. We do live in a country that no longer voluntarily follows the rules. Especially, the government no longer follows the rules. And when that happens ... police are no longer sufficient ... court are no longer sufficient ... then what do we do? It is not the people who do not follow the rules, government no longer follows the rules.

This is so true! We have become a society without faith. This is why so many churches have closed. I could not live without the Love of my Lord.✝️

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." -John Adams, President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

I miss Clay. 🙏🏽💛

The questions he poses at the end: what would happen to democracy if you took away religion? has many answers, depending on the quality of the people in that country before the transition. But we don't have to look very far for an easily verifiable answer. The country might look a lot like Norway. From Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway: "From 2010 to 2012, Norway was classified as the most democratic country by the Democracy Index." And: "In the early 1990s, studies estimated that between 4.7% and 5.3% of Norwegians attended church on a weekly basis. This figure has dropped to about 2% - the lowest such percentage in Europe - according to data from 2009 and 2010." So there's at least one answer. It would look like Norway, a country which consistently ranks in the top 4 countries to live in as measured by several indices, such as the OECD Better Life Index www.businessinsider.com/top-countries-on-oecd-better-life-index-2013-5?op=1 The other Nordic countries perform similarly in quality of life and in low religiosity. There are other possible outcomes too, but the Nordic countries are an easy example to point to as a real test case.

If you are only moral because you believe god is watching you, then you aren't really moral at all. You are obeying out of fear of an eternity in hell. Being moral is doing the right thing, because it's right, not because you fear punishment. What is the right thing? Try to do no harm to others, unless they harm you.

Yes, we are losing a lot of good things in our modern retreat from and rejection of faith. One thing Mr. Christiansen didn't emphasize was the nature of the faith that provides the positive foundation for democracy. In our effort to be respectful of people of all faiths, we are very reluctant to consider the unique qualities of each different faith. It is no mistake that Christianity, with its close ties to Judaism, provided the grounding that sustains democracy.

If you take away those things that live and thrive inside of us -whatver deity you honor, some higher power, faith - nothing heals. And there is no REASON to heal anything. 💞

It takes my breath away. Thank God fo the good people responsible for this message.

I'm an atheist. I voluntarily follow the law because it's simply the right thing to do. The law protects me, my family and my belongings. I don't want to be killed or stolen from, so I do not kill or steal. I want others to follow the law, so I must do so as well. It's common sense and religion has no part in it. These kinds of beliefs actually scare me. Are you saying that religious people would start breaking the law if their beliefs were somehow proven undeniably false, simply because they no longer have a fear of hell? The extremest, sure, but those are nut jobs. Many Athiest and believers in religions that have no eternal damnation get by just fine in society, I'd hope the average Christian/Muslim/Jew could too, even without their god... Otherwise, you're saying you're terrible people inside without the fear of your god. I sincerely hope that's not true.

When people say you don't need religion to be moral but every one you know who is religion has the highest morals out of anyone else you know😑

I follow God not out of fear that I'll go to hell, but because I love God. He created all of humanity to receive His love. When we receive that love we are able to return it to Him and others. Perfect love casts out fear! His love brings peace, joy and hope!

The B.S. quotient in BYU's pronouncements on law and morality of late is growing.

wow....powerful

And Knowing MyY God is watching me, does not depend on a Church, yet Can include one. My God is All Loving, therefore no controversy. Game Over. God Bless All!

Excellent message and point made!

I believe what this man says and I find may of the negative comments part of the problem!

Wow man hw simple but such words of wisdom... "The law is written on their hearts..." A principle of the Kingdom of Christ.

I will read books and study science for this man. Our thoughts go out to you, get better soon.

So true, Well said sir! ☦️🙏🇺🇸 Congress should designate America a Christian Nation!🇺🇸

It's like this guy has never been to Europe before.

Absolutely correct! Look at the decline of Church attendance and the rise of crime and disregard for human life.

After reading most of the comments, I have come to the realization that following God, Jesus or a Religion is so much easier than trying to wage word wars with the other side. I am a believer, but not a crusader. Wow, that wasn't so hard.

I agree with the views expressed here, and I believe that what most people don’t know is there is a Biblically consistent design for governing God’s authority (our own personal authority from God, and that given to us to lead institutions under our care, such as our marriages, our families, and our business, churches, schools, etc.) that helps each of us as individuals, leaders and groups of leaders govern well and wisely. The only thing I would add to what he said to take it a bit further is that stewarding our authority rightly for God goes beyond obeying the law… it is goes further to being a person of total integrity and stewardship to DO THE RIGHT THING, even when there is not a law to follow. Part of the problem in our society these days is that things change too fast for the laws to keep up with it, so if I only use the law as my barometer I may still do things I should not do for the common good of society simply because “it’s not against the law” (there has been a lot of that in corporate America - that’s why so few people go to jail despite very poor decisions and behavior). Secondly, we have also been entering into a period more deeply where many of the laws are not just or Biblically consistent… which of course then only basing our behavior and choices on “the law” becomes problematic as disciples of Jesus Christ. The problems we have are solvable with God’s help. But we have become such a hard hearted and rebellious people towards God, I’m not sure we are going to listen and repent before it is too late. My experience has been that Corporate America, the Church, and the Country have not been willing to listen, despite very clear evidence that we have not been governing well or in a manner that will sustain the freedom of our marketplace, our church, or our republic. Bad behavior and a lack of true integrity eats away at the ability to be truly free. This is true for institutions as much as it is true for individuals.

Could not have said it better myself. If we all followed the Ten Commandments, there would be no need for police or prisons.

Brilliant !!!

The real question is how can we improve our consciousness so that we can make the right choices? By turning within and realizing that we can live a beautiful life by strengthening our consciousness. So what should we do? Create more places that help us look within, because with a society full of unconscious people, they are robots of the external and poor masters of their life.

How are there 1.2k dislikes? What's to dislike?

If he were wrong, atheistic governments and societies should be at least as free as ours is (was), if not paradise on earth.

I agree. Please forward to capitalists on Wall Street

To all the 'haters', obviously, Clay knows, and we all know, that crime and religion are not 100% correlated. Every trend deserves a multifactor analysis. We can argue about different countries who are supposedly "less religious" but honestly, I'll just give you my own experience. It wasn't until I found God that I gave up bad habits and even crime. Ain't no amount of philosophy, logic, or political theory was going to get through my thick teenage head as much as you would have preached it. Only God could change my heart and get me back on the right path, for which I will forever be grateful.

Saw this post today and thought it quite appropriate given all the comments on this thread. It said: Everybody will believe the Bible on Judgment Day. Why put off what you eventually cannot deny? Why burn in Hell for something you refuse to confess in life but will have to confess for all eternity? Eternity is far too long for irony... You will either confess Jesus Christ is Lord on your way to Heaven...or on your way to Hell, either way, "EVERY tongue WILL confess Jesus Christ is Lord.(Phillipians 2:10)"

Good parenting instead of relying on religion. What ever happened to taking account of your own children and teaching them proper values such as empathy? Why do so many people think religion is their only solution when they already have it in themselves?

It's amazing to me how people cannot separate the generality of Clay's comments with their own limited experiences. So, you happen to not believe in God yet obey laws? Well, good for you. But on a grander scale, it simply makes sense that a concept of being accountable 100% of the time and not being able to 'get away' with anything will instil greater desire in people to obey the rule of law. This video is just common sense, but those who hate God are blind already. Clay is only echoing what John Adams said centuries ago: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Great Video! Dont be intimidated at all!

Makes sense - a lot of sense!

Dear Chancellor Hawkins, American Atheists is contacting you on behalf of a Troy University student, who is concerned about a video you sent to all students and staff in your end-of-year email on December 30. The video asserts that religion, particularly Judeo-Christian beliefs, are necessary to be moral, law-abiding citizens, and implies that those who do not attend church will be anti-democracy and anti-social members of society. Atheists are not a trivial minority. In Alabama alone, we represent 11% of the population, and statistically even higher numbers in universities and among college-aged residents; as many as 32% of people under age 30 are not religious. On behalf of the student who contacted us, the Alabama members of American Atheists, the thousands of atheists at Troy University, and the hundreds of millions of atheists worldwide who live productive, law-abiding lives without religion, we demand an apology from you for using the public university email system and your publicly funded position to disparage atheists and minority religious groups as well as perpetuating the discrimination and anti-patriotic sentiment against atheists in the United States. As you represent an institution of higher learning, we would like to take this opportunity to educate you about atheists and morality. Atheists are overwhelmingly ethical and upstanding people. It is not true that religion is necessary to keep people from becoming criminals. According to leading secularism researcher Professor Phil Zuckerman at Pitzer College, “We can plainly see that the least religious countries and states are generally the most moral, peaceful, and humane, while the most religious countries and states are the most crime-ridden, corrupt, and socially troubled. End of discussion.” In fact, in the United States, in states with the highest percentages of atheists, the murder rate is lower than average. In the most-religious states, the murder rate is higher than average. Further, on average and generally speaking, atheists have fewer divorces, abortions, and STDs, and lower poverty rates, homicide rates, overall crime rates, and teen pregnancy rates. As a demographic, atheists have higher IQs, incomes, education rates, and literacy rates, and more Nobel Prizes and university professorships. We need to teach young people to use critical thinking and be more skeptical, not more obedient. Teaching as such leads-demonstrably-to more ethical behavior. American Atheists will be hosting its annual national convention the first weekend in April at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. We invite you to attend any or all of the events to experience for yourself what atheism and atheists are like. We believe that personal experience helps fight ignorance so we invite you to be our special guest. We ask for a public apology to the student, and other atheists whom you have disparaged with the video you included in your email. Sincerely, David Silverman President, American Atheists

"Because if you take away religion you can't hire enough police." That is a staggeringly ignorant statement. There are many countries in the world that are both significantly less relgious and far less violent than the United States.

Revelation 22:11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.

Brilliant and bravo!

This is embarrassingly simple-minded for someone who is a university chancellor. It's always a bit shocking to see seemingly intelligent people hold beliefs which are demonstrably at odds with the evidence, but it confirms that reason plays little part in the formation of those beliefs to begin with. Such appalling ignorance is highly insulting to a large number of people, but it's unfortunately still pretty common. We'll continue working on that.

Glad to see that Harvard still has "some folks with common sense"! AGREED! For those of you who have been indoctrinated/taught in our public school system lately--I wouldn't expect you to even understand his point! Capitolism is co-dependent upon Religion/morality! Simple really....just check-out where it has ever flourished and let history teach you! Clay is Absolutely spot-on Correct!

I also act ethically, and have done so my entire life. I have never felt I was living under any threat whatsoever. Mine is a God of Grace, no Divine Punishment.. You and i are simply walking life's pathway and parted at the fork in the road. As my deceased wife used to say 'That is why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Semper Fi

He says "religion", not excluding what your brand might be, kixbak. But it is important to remember it was predominantly Theist and Christians that lead the founding of this nation.

He point might be well taken if he applied his reasoning to the fact we are not a democracy but a republican form of government.

I am known to be extremely mouthy and say what I want. I stay away from Religion discussions. I do think this removal of God etc. with all the latest screaming etc. has taken things so far out of having any reasoning. Is why people are angry on both sides. Our Country has totally spun around and seems to not know how to stand up for what the country was built on. You have new people telling you the color green is not really green and our leaders now have a new color green that means nothing or makes any sense. Making us have to accept it.

Even Science agrees. The Big Bang Theory points out that the universe required creation from an outside causal agent (God). Yet there is another aspect of today’s scientific evidence that strengthens this claim even further-the intentional design of the universe. Rather than a series of random occurrences or simply explainable evolutionary chain, the complexity and intentionality of the observable universe points toward an outside force of vast wisdom and power.

Spot on. For sure.

Looks like a pretty obvious piece of religious propaganda. If the main reason that people voluntarily obey society's laws is merely out of fear of a spanking from an imaginary father figure in the sky, then I don't have much hope for humanity. Thankfully, I'm a firm believer that you can have morality independent of religion. I'm all for religious freedom and letting people pick whatever flavor suits them best (or none at all), so long as their beliefs and actions don't infringe on the rights of others. However, for Mr. Christensen to imply that the survival of democracy is dependent on religion is intellectually dishonest, in my opinion.

00:35 "most people most of the time voluntarily choose to obey the law". What does that have to do with religion? MOST people, MOST of the time in jail, are religious. Hardly ANY one in jail is a non-believer. He defeats his own statement, and, as an educator should have set his "exchange student" correct with the facts.

The America of old Prayed with a heart of gold They knew to obey the law Because they believed in God I live in Henderson, Nevada. I ride my bike by all kinds of churches. It is a beautiful city and I meet wonderful people of faith. I forget that the LasVegas strip is right next door.

The thing is, you CAN escape the grasp of thought police (religion) but you can't really get away from living in society. So it is a way better alternative to teach children to relate to one another and to build meaningful lives, so that they at least have something better to lose instead of a tall, pointy building full of judgmental people. Religion alone can't provide people with a reason to behave well, only a successful social upbringing can do that. If you add that to a scientific education, you might actually have a human being that is not only well behaved but can actually do something to help the next generation like find cures to diseases, discover the next breakthrough in technology, etc. Charity is a good thing to do, very well-intention but we need for everyone to be scientifically minded as well as to have good intentions, you can't do much with good intentions alone.Religion can teach us only one thing, how to create communities, then again, we just need the know-how not the religion or the dogmas.

Clay's point that the democratic function relies heavily upon the compliance of the majority is well taken. A state where the majority does not voluntarily obey the majority of the substantive laws would be inefficient at best, and dysfunctional at worst. His second point, though, is poorly supported at best, and inaccurate and insulting at worst. He said "If you take away religion, you can't hire enough police," and explicitly drew a positive correlation between weekly church attendance + a belief in accountability to God, and obedience to laws. I think a rather large proportion of those who either do not attend church or do not believe in God would balk, despite the persuasive mellow tones playing in the background, at the suggestion that the only leash holding them back from law-breaking is the threat of police enforcement. Religious do not enjoy a corner on the moral market, and I am not aware of evidence that they are, on average, any more or less law-abiding than their non-church attending, non-theistic counterparts. Though not acquainted with the relevant literature myself, I would also be unsurprised to find a lack of empirical evidence supporting Clay's claim- I can think of some relatively godless countries with much lower crime rates than some highly religious ones, for example. I would speculate that other factors (the corruptness of the government, the economic security of the actor, the efficiency and fairness of the country's laws, the cost of compliance, etc.) are more predictive of voluntary compliance with laws than one's church attendance. If your aim truly is a functioning democracy, then you should focus on the factors that most powerfully predict that functionality: like economic opportunity, an efficient and accessible justice system, a strong and stable central government, etc. Regardless of whether I've speculated well, what Clay's done is inappropriate: used the fear of law-breaking masses in order to promote religion, bereft of compelling evidence.

I like the part where the churches all vanish.

Following the law for no reason other than fear of punishment is the very definition of Preconventional Morality. It is what motivates children to behave, but fully developed adults generally develop to a higher stage of moral functioning. Incidentally, most biblical "lessons" are too rooted in preconventional morality.

why are all of you picking this apart??? The message being that if one believes in a higher power, then one will be law abiding!!!

The myth of Christianity has GOD as Big Brother and/or Santa Claus watching our every move. "He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." As a humanist, non-religious person, I can only agree with the last sentiment. Be good for goodness sake.

You don't need religion to have morals. If you can't determine right from wrong then you lack empathy, not religion.

Amen!!!!

Right on.

I can't quite believe that an intelligent man thinks the ideas expressed in this video are true.

What a steaming load of shit. This is the sort of sloppy thinking that happens when you let dogma taint reason.

Cool - and true

Since religion is a foundation of democracy, and strappado was instrumental in enforcing christian religion, would you recommend it to strengthen democracy? Perhaps you could Collaborate with Dick on other enhanced religious/democracy building techniques?

So HE only does what is right because he "knows" that he is being watched and will be punished or rewards accordingly. So he really has NO moral sense of his own. All he has is self interest that causes him to act in a certain way.

Surprise: AMERICA IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC not a democracy.

Amen to that!

It should be noted that we are a Constitutional Republic and not a Democracy, thank God for that.

If you can't do right without the threat of divine punishment, then you are a horrible human being.

What the absolute garbage is this? My whole family is Atheist and not a single person in our family are lawless criminals as you are implying. We obey laws because we are part of a civilized society and appreciate that facet of our lives. WE OBEY THE LAWS BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES OF BEING A PART OF A SOCIETY OF PEOPLE.

The main thing wrong with his argument is that the crime rate in the USA has steadily been decreasing and so has the influence of the church. People will tend to be good citizens when they are furnished with security, housing, health, human rights and the opportunity for employment. Desperation and poverty is what causes wars and crime.

"The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful." Edward Gibbon