Theists: What makes people decide to do good things or bad things?

Question

Please don't just say "free will", because that is not an answer. What makes one person choose to do a good thing and someone else choose to do a bad thing?

Some valid points, but it doesn't really get us any closer to an answer. For example, if one answer is 'character', then why does one person's character compel them to do good things, and another person's compel them to do bad things? Does a person choose what their character is going to be? Does a person choose what experiences are going to shape their consciousness, and in what way? And so on.

It seems to me that if you believe in a god then he either chose how we would turn out or the way we turn out is random.. or some combination of the two. That being so, how can we be responsible for the way we turn out?

Answer 1

Paul wrote in the Bible that he did the things he hated. ouch.

This is a painful situation, the state of man. Many of us try so hard to do the right thing and so often end up in the wrong again. I guess that isn't an answer, so here:

C.S. Lewis posed that there are no selfless acts (I honestly don't know if I agree or not, but for the sake of discussion...). He said that a person does good because of the recognition, status, reputation, or good feeling he gets from it. Even doing things to glorify God can be done out of the motivation that we feel good or well-statused (not a word!) with God.

Who knows the heart of man on this side of Heaven? I think it would be best for us just to try to have the purest motivation of loving God and attempting to be glorifying to Him...but the question arises again...why do i feel that way?

Answer 2

This isn't a theological question because "free will" is all about the human's right to decide (no divine intervention). If you're atheist you also believe it's up to the human to decide.

To answer your question first we need to define what is a "good thing" or a "bad thing"? In some religions we celebrate a major holiday by a big ham dinner feast. In other religions it's *wrong* to eat ham any day of the year. Which person is right ?

With so many religions out there, there is not one single moral code. So each individual person has to interpret the teachings they're given and decide what they think is moral/immoral. They weigh the right/wrong with their own selfish urges and short-term goals. We're all human with base instincts and urges, and part of our decisionmaking is our instinct, horomones, and drive.

In some cases it isn't even clear how people decide right/wrong. Sociopaths have a totally different moral perspective, and they never feel bad doing what they do. "Special" people often can't help their urges and they may be rude, impolite, & sometimes even violent because they don't have the control normal people do. Are they "good" or "bad" for being who they are?

Good question though!

Answer 3

Ppl generally do what makes them feel good. For the majority, doing good things makes them feel good. For a few who have either been aggregiously abused or lacking basic emotions, doing bad makes them feel intrigued if not good (psycho killer for example). Of course, this is the black and white Stars Wars version of reality.

Then there are the infinite grey shaded areas. Some ppl need rules to tell them what to do in those circumstances, some use a more sensitive conscience, some use a mix, and some are simply obtusely dogmatic about the righteousness of their religion's interpretation.

Can't say for sure, but I think Camus may have been the philosopher that laid this perspective out. Anyway, it makes a lot of sense to me.

PS - I intentionally made no effort to define or use examples using good or bad. They are part of the grey, context dependent with no hard rules, at least for me. Is theft always bad? I'd argue not always.

PSS - Hahaha, I now see how far to the source your want answers to go. It's at the source, in which case there is only one answer: faith, whether one believes in many gods, one god, or no god. In other words, there is no conclusive answer. Complete determinism is something no one can prove or disprove since any test could be predestined, possibly to disprove that determinism exists when in fact it governs all. Free will, converserly, appears to run immediately into only partial possibility. We all are limited by our physiology and interaction with the environment (to a yet to be determined degree). This, however, is dependent on the definition of free will used. A more macro one may be extended out beyond our capability to prove or disprove. Anyway, it all pretty much circles back to faith, which as is posited here, may or may not be a matter of choice. :)

Very interesting debate material.

Answer 4

.that is a question that may have asked and many will study and looking into doing research and more research, some say environment has a lot to do with what one chooses, others say genes, or even yes free-will (as right as that maybe that is just the beginning, what dose one do with their free-will is more to the point).
I personally think it can be many things and different for everyone,
example:
a child that grows up in a poor, drug infested neighborhood with most being single mom's living off the system would turn out the same? well it is not always the case, what would make one from that upbringing to look for more and to be an adult in a middle class home with a stable marriage, and to say they have never even tried a drug or even a cigarette
I wonder after see that life more don't follow them out!!!!

Answer 5

The people that do the good and bad things, obviously, are the ones doing the deciding. And "free will" is an answer, whether it is a welcome answer or not.

The quantum mechanical nature of thought (as Roger Penrose so vividly describes in "The Emperor's New Mind") surely suggests that the individual will and the "eureka" factor of human conciousness are fundamental aspects of human conciousness.

Human beings, by and large, are equipped with a conscience: a moral faculty that helps the individual discern which actions are good, and which are "bad." The conscience is a malleable thing, and people can often convince themselves that good is bad, just as bad is good, in a way almost reminiscent of Pettruchio bullying Kate (in Taming of the Shrew) into accepting that night is day.

The foremost duty of a person - the place where their free will is truly accountable - is in forming one's own consience. We all have an obligation to learn what it is to be good to others... and to know what is harmful, selfish, and cruel. If we form our consiences well, it is in this very thing that we learn the skills necessary to climb the summit, and become good people.

Answer 6

People who do bad things don't have a conscience. They just don't care about the repercussions and consequences. They don't even care about their own lives or how their families will feel. A lot of the times, the things they do at first are opportunities, like breaking into a car when it's unlocked. Then they want something more exciting. The more dangerous, the better, and then their crimes get more serious. When they do go to jail, it's almost like a rite of passage and they are proud of it, but they soon learn more bad behaviour with the convicts and the cycle repeats itself.

Answer 7

I believe, materialism, leads to determinism, leads to rationalism, leads to atheism, leads to nihilism [at least in the grand scheme of nature]. I think the flaw is determinsism.

Consider this: In a totally materialistic universe, you cannot have free will. It is impossible. Cause and effect rules. Thus, you do what you must to survive, instinctually, right or wrong.

If god gave us free will, then God does not know all things. How can he? He gave us free will. Therefore, determinism does not make not sense.

It may be hard to believe, but, determinism only makes sense if there is no God. For then cause and effect rules, and ideas can be uncaused.

Short answer to a complex question.

Answer 8

the respond to all your questions is that God does answer prayers, he only would not answer them the way which you or i think of He might desire to. case in point, you are able to tell me the thank you to respond to some thing yet that doesn't mean i visit take heed to what you're saying by way of fact i'm my own individual, and that i visit respond the way that i think of is suited and is terrific for the placement, so why would not God be a similar way? If God unearths it mandatory to eliminate his secure practices from an harmless baby and allow that baby die then there's a reason which you or i don't be attentive to. although, God is all understanding and so His permitting issues to ensue is often for the terrific, yet you may desire to believe to appreciate that and stay with that actuality. God is love and each thing that occurs in this earth would be labored into God's purpose. we desire our very own freedom to make selections and God needs us to love Him without being forced so He gave us that freedom, and each stupid, egocentric mistake we make as people God will ultimately paintings into His better purpose. it may recommend eliminating secure practices from a baby, or protecting Charles Manson alive, only God is acquainted with why. additionally...for the rather solid people, their reward is in HEAVEN and the promise of it rather is well worth any wait :o)

Answer 9

as there are no "perfect" people let's leave the God stuff out of this one... people do what ever makes their ego purr... in other words, do what feels good to you... if it is bad to someone else, tough... however we(mankind) has formed socieltal groups which put controles on the ego... laws... written or otherwise...so that determins what is good or bad... don't like the rules...move to a different group... religion... sect....cast... pod...whatever...or just make up some new rules...

I personaly have some other reasons..but I said I's keep the God stuff out of it here this time any way... did I do good?...or did I do bad?

Answer 10

for either there is thousands of reasons;
society, financial pressure, relationship hassles, work place issues, acceptance, loneliness, pride, self loathing, unemployment, war, religious beliefs, everyone has a limit and it comes down to how you cope with your limits that determines if you'll commit good or bad as your answer.