Do you believe it is possible to be a saintly person without believing in God or the reward of a heaven?

Question

One of my favorite writers, Albert Camus expressed this belief in a book he wrote called the Plague. I became convinced that it was far better to do good for its own sake rather than for the sake of being rewarded for it in an afterlife. What is your opinion on this?

Answer 1

Love Camus--he had it spot-on with that one.

I believe in neither of those things, at least not in any way where I'm expecting a reward in an afterlife. And yet I do believe in doing good, wherever and whenever I can--and I try to do it daily in small things and in big things wherever I can. I've built houses in New Orleans and knitted blankets for the homeless, all without a religion or proscribed moral code. It's certainly possible, much to the disbelief of those who would disagree.

Answer 2

I agree that it's better to do good for the sheer sake of doing good rather than for rewards. The basic tenets of all religions share one common thread - and that is to treat others in the manner in which you'd like to be treated. They can't all be wrong.

I do believe, however, that there is a God and a Heaven - if for no other reason than to keep myself going in this world. If this is all there is - I'm depressed. Believing that there's something more out there gives me hope that all the lessons i've learned in life will have been worth something and that I'll see those that have gone before me once again.

Great question!

Answer 3

Hello Gelato Crazy!! :o) I hope you're OK. As a Christian - I have often been bothered by the idea of being rewarded for any and all 'good works' that I might do. That might sound odd - but I don't like the idea that I need some 'carrot' to motivate me to be a decent human being. But I suppose - it IS human to need the encouragement of a promise of something 'good' IF WE are 'good'. The 'nature' of man is to be self-centered and self-serving. Perhaps - because of that - the promise of a reward is necessary. But can a person be a 'good person' and not believe in God and/or be motivated BY the promise of heaven? I think so. That said... Based on my faith - no 'man' can ever 'earn' his way to heaven no matter how 'good' he may be. And THAT [based on my faith - at least] is the great equalizer. Getting to heaven comes through faith - not by works. [No matter how 'good' those works might be] Didn't mean to get all 'religious' on you - but there you are!! lol Craig!! :o)

Answer 4

Your question might be different with Biblical definitions.

Saint: a person sanctified
Sanctified: Made Holy
Holy: Cut off, If you had a pair of shoes you only wore to church and no where else , they would be holy.

A person , who lives in this world with a sanctified spirit
Made Holy by God is a saint.

Yes I believe a carnal person can do good acts, or mimic the acts of the saints. They do not do these things for reward, it would be a sin of Omission, that is to know to do good and don't.

Answer 5

First of all As a Christian I would like to say that i do not "do good" to go to haven and be rewarded, i do it because it is the right thing to do..I am going to heaven because of Christ...not anything I can do on my own.
Secondly, it is in the bible to love our neighbors. "Doing good" is a way to follow that command.

Also-
Saint
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For other uses, see Saint (disambiguation).
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A saint is a term used to refer to someone who is a holy person. The term comes from the New Testament, where the Greek word "hagios" ("holy" or "saint") is used to refer to those in the church. This was translated by St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate as "sanctus," which also means "holy." Over the years it has grown to be used and accepted in other Christian, religious, and even secular contexts, to refer to those who are considered to be exceptionally virtuous or glorified in heaven. Hence a "saint" (cont. with sinner) is a (usually deceased) person whose life is regarded by a community as a good example, and their life story is remembered for sake of inspiring others. It is important to note that Saints are not "worshipped" according to strict Christian terminology. Worship is reserved for God alone, whereas Saints are venerated (see veneration), respected, and viewed as role models.

Answer 6

before each little thing, each little thing in existence became no longer created through human beings: the universe is one aspect. Secondly, there are a range of variations of God and there are more desirable than one holy e book. Now that we are sparkling on those factors, definite, i think that each little thing IS GOD (Pantheism) and the Bible is a gaggle of hogwash, that "godist" religions, for the most section, mean properly yet fairly have not had a lot of an excellent impression on the human race, that there is not any such position as heaven or hell - those are states of being, no longer quite "places", and evil of direction does it exist, so there is no longer something to disbelieve there.

Answer 7

I believe that if you do not believe in god or the afterlife but believe in your own moral beliefs and restraints and lead a good, honest and admirable life, you can live a saintly life, yes.

Answer 8

I find the notion of "doing good" as a means of achieving some reward to be disingenuous ... the concept of generosity is lost, as you are mainly seeking to gain for yourself (selfish).

I think the answer would depend on the individual application ... one could perhaps believe in God and yet still do good with an untarnished motivation ... but I'm sure there are many whose actions are strictly dictated by what they will receive in return. People are selfish by nature, afterall.

Answer 9

i personally believe that to be truly what one would call saintly .. has to be done without any thought of reward , or it is done for the wrong reasons at all
if we do good things because god expects us to or that we are promised heaven etc ... that is not doing a good deed .. that's just doing what you are told to do
i think that writer has it spot on xx

Answer 10

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

3:30 He must increase, but I [must] decrease.
3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him].

3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

no one can be a saint by himself