It seems like every time I mention the concept of "GOOD" atheists in the R/S section.....?

Question

i get someone who has moderate knowledge of apologetics say something like "but "man's" good isn't worth any thing because when a man does good, it is in his own benefit any ways."

to elaborate the point here, the reasoning goes that any logical atheist who does "good" will recieve happiness because he knows he is moral and that the he will recieve the favor of those around him.

but isn't that hypocritical? when a christian does "good", isn't it in the same situation. when a christian does good, he knows that he is in favor of god. that itself brings him happiness without any regard to the eternal reward he is to receive in the afterlife.

please, i bring this question with no animosity. Im not specifically trying to call anyone dumb or wrong, here
its just that i think i am right and i want to make sure that im not considering anything

im sorry, i have to break the no-animosity deal here.
any one who says that "without god, there is no good" is retarded and needs a safety hat so they don't bam their little retarded heads into walls or other things

howdigethere, you have astonished me. you descibe the situation that is really experienced by Atheists, not christians.
for the most part, christians never have good answers for great skeptical questions.
most always, the most intelligent christian answerer, at best, puts forth something that still feels like a mild "cop-out" argument
and then you state the oldest fallacy ever stated on this r/s board, that being "why are atheists EVEN on this board. they are proselyzing (sic?) as well"
i suspect that your are an atheist being facetious, sarcastic. Yes/no?

Answer 1

You are absoloutely right. if an athiest does something good and it is assumed that he is doing it just so he can reap rewards at a latter time, there is no difference between that and any religion, not just christianity, you do good, you go to heaven, you do good, you get 72 virgins, you do good...you get rewarded, in every religion...i doubt there would be so many "nice and generous" christians if they thought they were going to go to hell anyway.

Answer 2

When I do good it is only because it feels like the right thing to do. I always try to do the kindest thing, or the most compassionate thing. That is because I truly believe that only kindness matters. I am not always able to live up to my own ideals, but I always do the best I can. Not, because I am expecting to be rewarded, but because that is the kind of world I want to live in, and I feel I have to do my part, by being the best example I am capable of being.

I am not however, a religious person. I am, instead, a spiritual person, and I believe that anyone can be a good, kind, compassionate person, and it doesn't matter what you believe, or don't believe. I also know that some religious people I have known, or known of, were the greediest, most intolerant, most self-righteous, most unkind, most snobby, etc.............!!! people you could imagine. And some of the kindest, most moral people I have ever met, were not religious at all.

Answer 3

You appear to be seeking a sincere dialogue, but I have read the post twice and am unable to find the question.
Do Christians, animists, athiests, shintoists do good. Of course. Does doing good make them good - sticky wicket there. It depends on one's view of humanity's condition sans morality. Christians would say no - doing good does not make one good.
Doing good does not always bring good for the doer - the person who sacrifices life/job etc. for another. Perhaps in some esoteric sense they are better, but n ot by most communcal standards or by personal awareness.
And - ala The Tale of Two Cities - there is the balancing of good within the whole situation as well as for the individual participants.
Thank you for the caveats to keep this from being a brawl.

Answer 4

I don't know why non believers feel they have to defend their position. A Christian cannot win. There is nothing we can say that does not bring a scratch-your-head answer that usually has nothing to do with your question/statement. When they can't find anything else to say, they will come up with 'not much of a Christian are you'.
Don't loose sleep over it. Atheists accuse us of being closed minded and trying to win everyone over. Seems that is what they are doing all the time. Why else are they so interested in this category?

Answer 5

I thought about that a lot. and i didn't resolve it completely in my mind.
i ll tell you what i think; not all religuous people think of it or just do "good" for the sake of God only, it also bring very rewarding feelings. Even, if i assume that someone do that just for God, then i ll have to assume that he is really fighting himself with will power supported by religuous beliefs, and that's ok, doesn't make him hypocrite that much.

Answer 6

I never do good because it will cause the "favor of those around me." That's the furthest thing from my mind.

I often do "good" in spite of what people around me will think. Giving rides to hitchhikers with little kids in the car is frowned on, but I do it because it feels right to me in certain situations. But the last thing I get is "favor" of anyone. Least of all my husband.

False premise. Bad assumption.

Answer 7

The ultimate "good" is done anonymously with no expectation of anything in return. Simply doing good because it's the right thing to do.

Answer 8

i could ought to declare A & B. because i'm neither a Xian nor an atheist, coming right here satisfies my would desire to be counter-cultural and rebellious. ; ) and that i like each and every of the folk who make me chortle.

Answer 9

I agree....many think I only do good out of fear or Law of G-d

Its because of the love and new heart I have been given, not out of obligation!

Blessings
David

Answer 10

A Christan knows that apart from God nothing is good. We don't depend on our works because to Christ they are a filthy rags. So your argument has no foundation.