Motivation to act good
I think it is quite curious that theists have to use heaven as their motivation to act “good.” If they are only acting good because they want to go to heaven, is the act really good? I mean, after all, their motivation is selfish. They don’t act good for god, they do it because they want to go to heaven and live forever. God is going to reward them for that and then punish non-believers for using their brains that he gave them? Curious indeed.
Obviously, non-believers do not act “good” or “rightly” because we think we will go to heaven if we do. We do it because we think it is simply the right thing to do. If there were a god, wouldn’t he see these acts more honorably then that of those just doing them for the reward?
14. February 2008 um 20:18
You have identified a huge concern in the Christian church (and maybe other theistic churches as well).
A Christian should be one who does not act “good” because it is “how we get to heaven”, but rather because that is who we’ve become. “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me.” “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” Heaven should serve as no means of motivation to “act good”. Our “goodness” is instilled in us when we are born again in Christ.
Christianity does not teach that we must do good works to “get into heaven”. Christianity teaches us who we are and who we ought to be.
31. March 2008 um 17:09
Nat you are so right. The Lord is the reason for good acts, Christianity is the only faith were you are saved by faith and faith alone. All others you have to do “good” works to gain salvation. And I don’t think that terroism and the killing of Christians and Jews could really be considered “good” works. And Paul I believe it was was so right when he said that line.
17. August 2008 um 18:10
there is a slight flaw in your argument. if u would allow me to point it out, one athiest to another. you said/
“non-believers do not act “good” or “rightly” because we think we will go to heaven if we do. We do it because we think it is simply the right thing to do.”
not so sure we do it because when we do it we feel good about ourselves for doin it. say i give a homeless person soe money they are apreciative i feel good about myself it improves my self ego. makeing me feel i am a better person and therefore more important. is this really a good reason for acting either.
or for instanc ei am nice to my friends they in turn feel happy i am happy i have spread happiness. for me it is like i do this act, i become happy. this is my payoff
in truth the only selfless act is one that u would take back if you could as you have not recieved something worth the sacrifice.
but then u ask wat makes people makes a person good. is everyone evil. ive decided a good person does ‘good’ things because they come naturally to you. u dont have to think about them, u just do them naturally. you have built a personality that rewards yopu wehn you do good actions and not when u do bad ones.
from a christian view point i believe this is where nath would say that christ lives in me. that u have become a person that does what christains say is good because they feel it is good rather than they feel they must do it.
interesting thing about this point of view is that if u say “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me.” then are u sayin that all good things a man might do are christ acting through u. so in affect the only way to do good is to let christ do them through u. so all good things originate from christ, and not man. so men are evil, theefore not made in god image. but also interestingly the only way to be a good person is to give up your free will and let christ take u over, as it where. to be hionest this is the point i dislike about christianity is it seems to say we are shit you are great god. and although i think humility is a good thing havin no self respect is not healthy.
this may have rambled a bit. sorry for that. hope it makes u think
28. October 2008 um 06:43
You write very well.