2006-12-16 23:35:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
do good deeds.
2006-12-16 23:38:26 · answer #1 · answered by chi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's best to do good deeds for the sake of the deeds, regardless of whether one is rewarded or punished. If good deeds are done in the hope of a reward or to fend off a punishment, then the good deed is worthless.
This brings my favorite Bible verse to mind. (Even though I'm not a Christian, I still find some universal meanings in some passages of the Bible. This is one of them.)
"If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
I find it sad that the majority of people who believe in this book and who should find more meaning in this passage than I are the ones who often do good things for the sake of reward rather than the sake of the people they're supposed to care for.
2006-12-16 23:45:20 · answer #2 · answered by Avie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is better to do good deeds....
Regardless of the outcome (God in Heaven -vs- something else), it is too constrictive an idea that 'belief in his son' can be the only criteria for being saved.
I would have a hard time strumming on my harp sitting next to a serial killer pedophile while he played dominoes with Adolf Hitler.
2006-12-16 23:42:17 · answer #3 · answered by wolf560 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is punishing you if you don't? That's crazy. If you're going to do good deeds, they should be done out of the goodness of your heart, not irrational fear.
2006-12-16 23:42:39 · answer #4 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put yourself in the shoes of the one who is receiving the good deed. Would you like receiving a good deed because they like you or are enjoying the deed, or how would you feel knowing that the good deed was just to appease their god?
2006-12-16 23:48:29 · answer #5 · answered by big Q 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
THE BELOVED OF GOD
The spiritual love of God maketh man pure and holy and clotheth him with the garment of virtue and purity. And when man attacheth his heart wholly to God and becometh related to the Blessed Perfection, the divine bounty will dawn. This love is not physical, nay, rather, it is absolutely spiritual.
The souls whose consciences are enlightened through the light of the love of God, they are like unto shining lights and resemble stars of holiness in the heaven of purity.
The real and great love is the love of God. That is holy above the imaginations and thoughts of men.
The beloved of God must each be the essence of purity and holiness; so may they be known by their purity, freedom and meekness in every land; they may drink from the eternal chalice of the love of God, enjoy its ecstasy, and through meeting the Beauty of Abha, they should be joyful, active, aglow with zeal and wonderful. This is the station of the sincere. This is the quality of those who are firm. This is the illumination of the faces of those who are near.
Therefore, O ye friends of God, ye must in perfect purity attain spiritual unity and agreement to a degree that ye may express one spirit and one life.
In this condition physical bodies play no part; the command and authority are in the hand of the spirit. When the spirit becometh all inclusive, the spiritual union shall be attained. Night 366 and day endeavor to attain perfect harmony; be thoughtful concerning your own spiritual developments and close your eyes to the shortcomings of one another.
By good deeds, pure lives, humility and meekness be a lesson for others.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 365)
2006-12-16 23:51:04 · answer #6 · answered by GypsyGr-ranny 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As murphys_lawyer said in his answer, "today anything goes", HOW SAD it is that way though. You actions are determined by your heart and the love you show from it. A man is not determined by how big physically he is, but be the size of his heart. Never grow up my friend, but grow wise and caring, and the growing up part will take care of itself.
2006-12-16 23:45:33 · answer #7 · answered by Ex Head 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the cause of good but even the other reason is better than not doing good at all.
2006-12-16 23:42:13 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Neither. Salvation produces good works. You can never do enough good works to "earn" your way to Heaven. It's always a good thing to help others, to be generally a "good" person, but if you're not saved, it doesn't get credited to your account, so to speak.
2006-12-16 23:48:38 · answer #9 · answered by lost and found 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
do it because it makes you feel good, firstly. don't boast that you did the good deed. don't tell anyone about it, so that you'll get kudos from everyone. keep it secret, so that you and God know about it.
2006-12-16 23:48:41 · answer #10 · answered by snafu1 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
giving without expectation
give with out attatchment to results
give your love to others with out obligation
for if every one were to give then none would be lacking
your own concience will punish you enough
2006-12-16 23:43:31 · answer #11 · answered by fugwumpa 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋