Both do good but for different reasons. Likewise, if someone turns in a lost purse full of money because they may get a reward versus some who turns in the same purse full of money without any thought of a reward. Who is the better person?
2007-02-02 17:01:00 · 33 answers · asked by Big Brother 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well I am an atheist and agree with you. I've been using this argument for years. I don't need an invisible man in the sky policing me. I do things because they are right for the sake of being right and for the betterment of society, not because I'm going to heaven.
2007-02-02 17:05:29 · answer #1 · answered by fifimsp1 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Well... being an atheist vs. being a christian isn't about who isn't about who is the better person. As a matter of fact, being a Christian is not supposed to be about the "fear of damnation" at all. A christian isn't a better person than an atheist... no matter how you cut it. And as for being guided by a conscience... depends who the conscience belongs to doesn't it? The sense of what is right and what is wrong varies as widely among individuals as their shoe sizes. Being an atheist or a christian has nothing to do with the quality of a person's conscience. I won't argue doctorine... or lack of it. There's really no point because you just can't measure people's worth nor the quality of their actions based upon their faith or lack of it. I also must disagree that both atheists and christians do good but for different reasons. Is that to imply that christians have no conscience or that their fear of damnation overrules their conscience? Is that to imply that faith (not necessarily in God) does not guide some portion of an atheist's life? Again, those are individual decisions as are the actions of those individuals. You're stereotyping people... and that just doesn't provide consistent patterns of behavior based on the criteria by which you are discerning the intent of their actions.
However, in regard to your second question (almost a trick relevancy)... the person who returns a lost item who expects no reward is a person of great character whose noble actions will bring him far greater returns than an offered reward. Though the same action of returning it... for a reward (different intent) also shows great honesty of a person it does not signify the same depth of character. Where your relevancy to the previous question grows weak is ... who is to say that the one who seeks no reward is an atheist or a christian? Does religion have any correlation with a person's conscience? Really? I don't think so.
2007-02-02 17:21:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jessica 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When an atheist is guided by his conscience is becomes the same as a Christian guided by fear of damnation. There is no difference.
If someone turns in a lost purse full of money because they may get a reward versus some who turns in the same purse full of money without any thought of a reward. Who is the better person?
The second one is better than the first.
2007-02-02 17:07:23 · answer #3 · answered by Gaura 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
1
2007-02-02 17:04:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Clearly the one seeking nothing is the better person, as it is an unconditional deed that was done. I don;'t know if 'better person' is how I would describe them, as they could both be good people. I think the paths they each take will be different. The conscience driven will have a more exciting life, as they won't be held back by rules they were taught to follow. Experience will be their educator. They will choose more un-beaten paths then the Christian. Sure the Christian may take a couple, but will turn back much earlier than the 'unchained'.
2007-02-02 17:10:59 · answer #5 · answered by degroove 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given that you asked a thoughtful question, I would ask what drives the "conscience" of the atheist. You assume Christians do things to "avoid" damnation that is a false assumption! What about the conscience of the Christian. Most true Christians do what they do because it honors and brings glory to God. Their desire is to please God because He graciously forgave their sins and restored a right relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Christians have no fear of damnation or condemnation because they are in Christ Jesus {See Romans 8: 1+2.
In the situation you describe the better person is the one with no self serving motives. What of the one who refuses the "reward" because they already have their reward BY DOING TO OTHERS AS THEY WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO THEM!
I stop to help others change flat tires on the road because If my wife has a flat, and she can not get me, I hope and pray some nice person {atheist, Christian, Jew, whatever} will help her because she needs help.
Thank you for the great question without bashing people because of their beliefs!!
2007-02-02 17:13:14 · answer #6 · answered by Roll_Tide! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Christian guided by fear of damnation is in a much better position spiritually than any atheist.
2007-02-02 18:21:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians may be rligious and faithful, but we generally do things as all good natured "conscience weilding" citizens....... I don't help an old lady open a door because I want to earn brownie points with God.... I don't use my blinker in traffic because I "think God is watching me" and "ready to strike me down"....
Does that mean if you are an atheist, that you do not act in good concience, but base all of your decisions in life with the fact that you are not "God Fearing"?
Religion and good concience are two different things....
Know what I mean?
Hope I helped.
2007-02-02 17:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by VocalistGirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Better is defined how?
The amount of good done is important. Christians though, are not usually motivated by fear of retribution from God as they already perceive that they are loved by God. Their motivation is usually one of gratitude toward the God they love. Christians have no fear of damnation. It's those that are on the edge that fear damnation, and these aren't yet Christian. Typically, works follow faith, not the other way around.
2007-02-02 17:09:21 · answer #9 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually a christian should not be guided by fear of damnation, instead we are guided to get eternal life!
An atheist dies and becomes dust :( but a christian who follows God's commandments will live for eternity!
I choose eternity!
God bless you and illuminate you to consider what you want for your life!
2007-02-02 17:11:37 · answer #10 · answered by C a R L i T a 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋