Is it only the atheist that do good for the sake of doing good?

Question

It's worth reading or I wouldn't have put it on here: (Yes I know it's kinda long.)

During the Seventh Crusade, led by St. Louis, Yves le Breton reported how he once encountered an old woman who wandered down the street with a dish full of fire in her right hand and a bowl full of water in her left hand. Asked why she carried the two bowls, she answered that with the fire she would burn up Paradise until nothing remained of it, and with the water she would put out the fires of Hell until nothing remained of them: ''Because I want no one to do good in order to receive the reward of Paradise, or from fear of Hell; but solely out of love for God.'' Today, this properly Christian ethical stance survives mostly in atheism.

Source:
http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Politics/atheism.htm

Answer 1

Well, I don't think it's fair to say that all Christians are instinctively, intentionally, or primarily acting out of the fear of Hell or in anticipation of Heaven - but when you break down their arguments, yes, that seems to be both their ultimate motivation and a larger part of the Bible's message. It's true that only atheists can say they are good people for the sake of being good, in this lifetime, to the people around them here on earth.

Which I think is something that more Christians would understand, if they realized the inherent rationality of the Golden Rule, outside of a religious context, and the betterment of life made possible by a cooperative society.

When viewing the Christian standpoint without the familiar tenets of Heaven and Hell, it's much easier to equate "love for God" with "love for others," and in fact, love itself. It's then easier to start consile the Christian lifestyle with the atheist lifestyle - yeah, God loses a bit of his deity status, and atheists start to sound more like hippies, but at least we'd all get along a little better.

Answer 2

I do not believe in heaven or hell, so bending to the rule of scripture is no more influence over my way of being than is fear of hell. I am an agnostic. Whether there is or is not a power greater than the simple miracle of life, I have no way of knowing. I choose to live peaceably and with acceptance of others living as they too choose because it is the way that is most meaningful for me. I see a similar philosophy far more in atheists, agnostics, and followers of some eastern philosophies than the judging followers of formal religions. Not all are by far, but a great many, yes, I believe that they are motivated for selfish concerns about how they are perceived by their gods and demons. Btw, very nice parable.

Answer 3

yes, I agree and would wish to add, why in my opinion why we see religeous persons especially in hierchal positions actually start to lose a bit sense of reality after a while.
Hense, the faith that Jesus being devine instrument to remove guilt might have a bad effect on a person's psyche over a long time. It doesnt necessarily reenforce bad behavior but perhaps in some people may indeed cause a cavity for rationally developing bearing on moral or corrode it somewhat. To feel that which is closest to your heart for example, rather than the fear of the God being supplanted by love of an alternative middleman whom will make all your wrongs right as you give your soul and focus to him.
This is just my opinion. I could be vastly wrong for those that would read this as a generalized statement, but its definately a phenomenon in my opinion striken to leaders in monotheisms evident through history and to this very day.
But I do know a couple of cases where this is true, outside of the leadership, where the lack of conscience in the leadership spreads ideas amongst their lambs to gain thier interest based in fear. I am not attempting to generalize christians, just that this may be the way some individuals are hardwired or accept their gospel in turn. Some very devious things I have witnessed committed by Christians, for example, the girl that commits a heinous, premeditated fraud and deceit directly after attending service, who was even was a counsellor at their youth summer camp. She was enabled to conduct herself in such a way even though she has a sweet demeanor because of her belief that common sense and moralities are a spin off from God, that she also sees and believes she has the inside track because her heart is given entirely to Jesus, prays regularly and is of the school of thought 'if you don't believe EVERYTHING written in the Bible you are going to Hell' (obviously a fear tactic planted to her by her leadership to keep her coming back so she may recieve exacting interpretation, as if it were a cookbook I suppose) maybe Im wrong but the bible seems itself to say not to take itself into account to seriously as it was written by other men. "The Gospel According to _______". The bible doesnt say 'According to God' as if he spoke clearly to someone other than Moses his commandments. If I do recall correctly. Was supposed to be a direct interpretation, and the wisdom in those words is fairly evident. Esp., due given experience to most, but not for all individuals.

Answer 4

No. i be attentive to Christians who do issues for the sake of helping somebody, despite if it extremely is simply by fact they are poor, have experienced lost, or purely prefer a rapid %. me up. i'm a Wiccan and that i donate to church charities that help the homeless around right here and that i've got offered foodstuff for homeless human beings earlier. i believe it relies upon on the justifications.

Answer 5

I enjoyed your story. I am a Christian and I have done things throughout my life based on how they make me feel. When I do good it makes me feel good. When I am able to help someone it is enjoyable for me weather I get credit for it or not. The reward is the happiness my acts give others. That's the reason I visit this site. I hope my answers will help or uplift someone else.

Answer 6

Psychologists have argued that people do good for only one reason; to satisfy themselves. Though I see the logic in that, I must protest people do good for their own reasons. Granted, some people do good only because they expect people to do good for them in return.

As for me personally, I do good because I don't really know any other way. Much how the samurai lives by Way of the blade, doing 'good' it's my Way of life.

I admit, I am a Christian, but my views have been declared by many church elders and officials as blasphemous and heretical. By no means do I do good to please God. If it ends up being good in His eyes, so be it. I'm not out to be a saint, after all. If that were the case, then my wrong doings and sins would be to please Satan. And that, I assure you, is not my intention.

Answer 7

People of every sort do good for the sake of doing good and bad for the sake of bad, and bad for the sake of good, etc.

It doesn't really matter what your religious beliefs are. And not all of religion is about moral condescension, but if someone can twist something to their own advantage, then given a large enough population someone will.

Also, how do you know atheists do good for the sake of good? They could do it for the sake of their appearance, or to attract a mate, or whatever.

Answer 8

turns out that the capacity for "altruism" is genetic, even essential, to the human species... its one of the reasons we can get along (reasonably well) in HUGE groups.

i read about this recently in more than one science journal/news ...sorry, i didnt save a link, but i'm sure google can find it

addition: its not hard to notice some religious folk have awful ethics... i have explanations for this, but they are just conjecture

Answer 9

Well, I am an "atheist" as you all like to call it, but I prefer free lance religious person. And no, to answer your question, no I don't do good for the sake of doing good. I do good because I enjoy helping people.

Answer 10

No! Atheist's are not the only people who do good for the sake of doing good.

Some people have "no label"....I'm one of them....and I understand your point. Morality and ethics are an ingrained part of the person living the life.....regardless of their choice of "title".