why am i so cool?...just kidding. If your parents are watching you, you are pretending to be on good behavior. If you believe God is watching you, are you also pretending to be on good behavior. If so, then wouldn't it be better to believe God doesn't exist, so you are acting from your genuine self and not from fear of punishment.
2006-07-17 15:38:57 · 27 answers · asked by ? 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
This question is intended for discussion and not necessarily my opinion.
There is some validity to the idea that authority does influence our behavior in ways that are inconsistentent with our feelings or intentions. Non-authorities have this effect too, just by simply being in public, on dates, or any situation requiring us to make an impression.
I always assumed that God or god was the highest authority, yet i see people who claim to worship this Highest authority acting in ways that would lead me to believe that this authority doesn't exist.
I also see people acting in ways that would lead me to believe that people have the highest authority and not GOD/god. For example, how many times have people tried to behave in ways that are designed to show off or creat a false impression of goodness, kindness etc.
So. it seems that people behave more to impress other people than to impress their God/god.
2006-07-19 10:28:25 · update #1
This leads me back to the question of a persons true intentions. are we acting from our true intentions when we behave in ways that are designed to impress or comply with authority or others.
I suspect the answer is no, but i also believe that acting from your a good character or heart is possible with or without authority, but it seems to rare. If you don't think it's that rare, then i challenge you to do the things that you do in private or with friends and do them in public. It's not easy, is it. Thats because we are all actors and performers in the world, which explains Shakespears quote, "all the worlds a stage."
Anyway im tired of writing, eventhough there is much more i have to say....later
2006-07-19 10:37:59 · update #2
just act like he's not there...i'm sure God isn't spending all of his time monitoring us...be yerself...he's not the judge and jury...
2006-07-17 15:43:23 · answer #1 · answered by Joseph V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think your question should be in the Religious/Spirituality section, but I'll give it a shot...
Not everyone pretends. There are those that believe in God and just be themselves and know that God's loving them whether they mess up or not. They are motivated by His love. Yes, they'll still make mistakes and all - from time to time - but they are not acting out a false sense of "pretending."
Besides, there is no option - either you believe God exists or you don't. You may change your mind later though, as you go through life. I'd advise you to keep an open heart and mind. Hope this helps.
2006-07-17 22:48:39 · answer #2 · answered by KnowhereMan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your only motivation to act properly is a fear of punishment, then you aren't genuinely acting in the way you believe is correct. Theologically, God knows your every thought anyway, so there's nothing you can hide from him. He'll know if you're only pretending to act the right way. Ideally you would desire to act the right way because it's the right way to act, not because you're afraid of being punished.
If you take God out of the picture, then you have the much larger and more difficult problem of coming up with a "right way to act" without a good, infallible source of morality.
2006-07-17 23:20:53 · answer #3 · answered by thizzlethethird 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The root of all 'good' and 'bad' is in the definition of why we do ANYTHING in life.
We do things to further Life in general. The real purpose of all Life is to create useful structure in the universe (more living things, more things for other living things to use, possibly creating matter from energy in the future with our creative mind's ability if we remain as a species). The determining factor of whether or not we are living this purpose as a species is when we subtract the things we consume from the things we create. All rules and societies evolved under this purpose, and the rules and behaviors that give a positive quantity as the result are the ones we keep.
If you consume your parents' attention, time, and resources, you owe them something in return and more. You can't prove the existence of God, but the use of the rules and resources of religion can contribute a positive result. Being afraid is no way to go through life, being creative is.
2006-07-17 22:47:29 · answer #4 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being good provides its own rewards.
Those who do not understand the meaning and appreciate the benefits of good behavior are doomed by their ignorance and fear to suffer the consequences of misguided and self-destructive actions. If you have lost the motivation to be and do good then you have either forgotten or have never learned what good is. When it come to choosing the right thing to do there is no substitute for knowing what that is and the motivation that the joy of knowing that you are a good person for having done it gives you in return. No one or nothing can provide a worse punishment of greater praise for ones actions than the one witness that you can not escape; yourself.
Who's watching? You are!
2006-07-18 05:57:58 · answer #5 · answered by Dmstifk8ion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would definitely be better if you behave in good manner without fear of punishment. People on higher level of consciousness don't need fear of God to act that way and they find it self satisfying if they act such.
My belief is God is a concept created by wise people of societies for benefit of the society. That way people have someone to look up to in times of trouble and they'd be afraid of wrong doings because they fear God.
2006-07-17 22:47:43 · answer #6 · answered by Gautam Kelvekar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Look at it this way.
Whether your punishment is at the hands of God, parents or your own self, it is punishment.
If you refuse to eat, you die. Thats your punishment. If you refuse to take out the trash, you suffer the smell, bugs and disease.
Even if you are your "genuine self" and dont do the right thing, it WILL come back to you in time. It may not be immediate, but you will suffer the punishment or consequences some time or another.
In one word----Kharma
2006-07-17 22:52:47 · answer #7 · answered by billydeer_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont beleive in god but I beleive that being a good person is important, not because of a fear of punishment, but because its the right thing to do and life is actually better in the long run if I am a good person
2006-07-17 22:43:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
better for who? believing your parents aren't watching doesn't change the FACT that they are. Most parents aren't sitting around waiting for their child to mess up so that they can fulfill their desire to punish. And for sure I know that God is not. Read what He says about you in the Bible "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace not of evil to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) You should be real with God because He loves YOU!
2006-07-17 22:50:28 · answer #9 · answered by sarah b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are flaws in your logic by assuming that people only pretend to be on good behavior and that the only reason for being good is fear of punishment.
2006-07-17 22:45:40 · answer #10 · answered by LadyJag 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, honestly, there could possiblu be a an overseer watching me every move.
I wouldn't advise to believe he's not there (whatever you're into).
I act my original self, it's just that you can be forgiven, y'know?
When you act yourself, 10 times out of 10 says He knows already.
There's no use hiding what you did, what you're doing, or what you're going to do, because He knows already.
2006-07-17 22:45:39 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋