"Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
2007-01-04 08:07:34 · 16 answers · asked by Myaloo 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Albert Einstein
2007-01-04 08:12:34 · update #1
As a Catholic, I agree with it completely. The motivation for what we do in this life should not be fear of punishment or hope for a reward. The motivation for this life should be love for our fellow man and a desire to make this life a place of peace, mercy, and justice for all people.
Today, well done, takes care of tomorrow.
2007-01-04 08:15:24 · answer #1 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
But even atheists are restrained by fear of punishment - by the government!
A Christian realizes that this fallen world is not our home. This is just a practice run for the real thing. It's not so much a reward we are looking forward to, but the chance to have face-to-face fellowship with the One who Created our bodies, Created this universe and everything in it.
An atheist believes that he only needs to "be good" in this lifetime. But why? Why not be hedonistic and just do whatever feels good, whether it's right or wrong? Since the natural tendency of humans is to be bad, what is an atheist's motivation for being good? He has no external rules of behavior.
2007-01-04 16:26:21 · answer #2 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a criticism of the common belief in some kind of an after-life of reward or punishment. The author means to say that man should not be so childish as to be controlled in this way.
2007-01-04 16:21:56 · answer #3 · answered by HarryTikos 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have never heard this quote, but if you are saying this refers to Christ you have missed the boat. It would read more like "Man would indeed be enriched and blessed if he was retrained to believe in the goodness and love of God, which is a free gift to all. His reward would be to live a blessed life and after death spend eternity with His God. This is the beauty of Christ a sweet fragrance for those who believe.
2007-01-04 16:15:38 · answer #4 · answered by angel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree.
As do all those who trust in the promises of God:
Rom 8:1
8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
(from New International Version)
Rom 3:19-24
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
(from New International Version)
2007-01-04 16:58:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am impressed by the quote, and I general agree with it. Why? Because the fundamentalist view of the world is just so simple and uniforming that I rejected it in my early life.
Life is larger than what the fundamentalist believe, I am saying that fundamentalism should not be ban because some people need that type of rigid structure to maintain there own demons, like drug addicts, but I am not agreeing with the fundamentalist.
"Live and let live" is my point of view, and that is not absolute because some actions are wrong, period.
2007-01-04 16:21:53 · answer #6 · answered by zclifton2 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Matthew 16:26 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
2007-01-04 16:15:36 · answer #7 · answered by mariedockins 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What do you think of this quote?:
"And we have come to know and believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.
By this love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR, because fear is related to punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. (I John 4:16-19)
2007-01-04 16:26:58 · answer #8 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Saddam.
2007-01-04 16:13:03 · answer #9 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not much as it is absolute nonsense.
Further, it is improper to quote someone without credit.
2007-01-04 16:11:23 · answer #10 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋