A guy who does good and obeys God because he wants to avoid hell and get into heaven or a guy who doesn't believe in God but does good because he has compassion for others?
2006-07-25 19:17:55 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hi,
A person who is compassionate regardless of reason or pressure from an external source is definitely more selfless as he/she needs no reason for extending compassion.
2006-07-25 19:23:15 · answer #1 · answered by Benjamin T 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
My views:
a) Believing in God has nothing to do with being selfish or selfless. Keep that one clear from the equation which will help focus on the relevance of the matter.
b) If you look at both from one angle, both are selfish becaues both are doing it for something they like. One likes the heaven stuff and other like something he is compassionate about.
c) I'm also trying to think the intent behind this question to understand where are you going with this. In my mind doing good for others is good and will be credit to person irrespective of his liking of heaven or compassion to others as long as person doesn't expext anything in return from the person (or society) being helped.
2006-07-25 19:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by RKM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The guy who has compassion for others; because God said it is not what you do that matters, it is what is in your heart when you are doing what you are doing that matters. Remember when Jesus was at the synagogue, and a bunch of people came in paying their tithes. Among them was a poor woman who had only 2 pence left between her and starvation. Some gave what would be the equivalent of thousands of dollars today, but she put a mere 2 pence in the basket. Jesus said she had done the greatest deed, because she had given all that she had and had been selfless when she did so.
2006-07-25 19:32:02 · answer #3 · answered by Haveitlookedat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think first one is selfless cause if your seeking the kingdom of heaven your told to be as Jesus was LOVE others as I love you, so a person knows they cant make it to heaven without a pure heart.. compassion kindness understanding forgiveness etc... can a person who doesn't believe in god be compassionate???? I guess that would be my question
2006-07-25 19:29:52 · answer #4 · answered by c_sev 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, but I'm gonna use a little biblical thought here.
Someone who is obeying for a reward...heaven, a cookie, whatever, is displaying greed, which is one of the 7 deadly sins.
Doing good, without regard to a reward is definitely more selfless.
Here's hoping others realize that you didn't ask which one is going to heaven...
2006-07-25 19:28:04 · answer #5 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally don't think that anyone is totally altruistic when he comes to God for salvation. All of us want to avoid hell, and I believe God understands that.
Selflessness comes from the transforming power of God in a person's life. No matter how much compassion an unbeliever has for other people, it pales in comparison to a life transformed by God.
2006-07-25 19:23:01 · answer #6 · answered by freedomnow1950 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty obvious that it is the man who doesn't believe in god. Belief isn't very easy, but the fact that he doesn't take his nonbelief down a bad path is probably a good thing in god's eyes. If the only reason you do nice things for people is because you think you're avoiding hell, you're selfish.
2006-07-25 19:24:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are both fine people, but the most selfless is the guy with compassion.
2006-07-25 19:25:48 · answer #8 · answered by Lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course, the last one. I've met many christians who completely don't get the concept of unconditional love. When they're told that all go to heaven, they COMPLETELY miss the point and say, "Then why should I do good if the sinner and I are getting the same result?". MOST are like that and you can't make them understand; understanding takes time.
2006-07-25 19:28:08 · answer #9 · answered by republicannotneocon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one with compassion for others! FOR THE WIN
2006-07-25 19:19:51 · answer #10 · answered by upallnite 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about it from the point of view of the person he is helping. Does that person care why he is being helped, or that he is being helped.
The first person wont go to heaven for doing good things anyway.. you can only go to heaven if you accept that you are a sinner and that Christ died for you and you accept him as your savior..so if the first person is doing good things just to get to heaven.. he's in trouble.
2006-07-25 19:25:36 · answer #11 · answered by rccola1979 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋