"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
Albert Einstein
2007-01-06 13:44:19 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree that ethical behavior should not be based on fear of punishment and/or hope of reward after death ... however, I'm not certain that sympathy, education and social ties and needs should be the criteria either. I think mankind has an innate sense of what is right and wrong, good and bad, what makes one feel good, etc .... If everyone treated others as they would like to be treated, that would be a pretty golden rule.
2007-01-06 13:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I do.
I happen to believe in a Deity, but my actions are not based on fear of invoking wrath or suffering punishment or the promise of some distant reward. I actually feel sorry for those who can only do good things with the hope that they will earn "brownie points" with God, or because they fear they will get in trouble and be punished later. They seem to have no moral compass of their own. Without an internal compass telling you how you should act, you are reduced to the level of a child who fears punishment, or an animal that fears a beating. I would like to think I am more highly developed than that.
2007-01-06 13:54:00 · answer #2 · answered by Bronwen 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Where Einstein misses the point is that man is incapable of acting solely on sympathy. Without moral absolutes (which are provided by God) - man is incapable of transcending his fallen nature and you will end up with Hitlers and Saddams and others who will take advantage of lawlessness.
2007-01-06 13:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course I don't agree with it. I'm rather surprised someone as learned as Albert Einstein would think loving God and wanting to follow His ways is based on fear of punishment; that's not a very educated thing to say.
2007-01-06 13:47:30 · answer #4 · answered by Esther 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
everyone is always putting Christians down because we follow the teachings of the Bible especially Jesus,yet people put us down , but these very same people live there life's based on what other people have said ,Albert Einstein.....Goundy...Fusius...
Nostradamus..just to name a few.....and i wonder were they are right now.....and their little sayings and writings don't mean a hill of beans to them right now if they are not in Heaven
2007-01-06 13:52:41 · answer #5 · answered by purpleaura1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! If people did not fear God the world would be terrible. A lot of people just help others because of what they believe they would recieve after death. Also... it is not a poor way to live... it is called HOPE
2007-01-06 13:47:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Morals and social circumstance could be taken into consideration when being judged. But this judgement is also relative to discernment of such, by these very same criteria, and as to then its folly. (The quote)
2007-01-06 13:58:24 · answer #7 · answered by Garret Tripp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agree - only in the worldly view.
Men shall not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God.
2007-01-06 14:27:11 · answer #8 · answered by childofGod 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like those with criminal behavior to feel restrained by fear of punishment, ...if that's ok with you.
2007-01-06 13:50:12 · answer #9 · answered by janesweetjane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This shows why Albert Einstein was so brillant.
2007-01-06 13:46:46 · answer #10 · answered by I OnlyHaveEyes4U (A.B.O.C) 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋