Has the human race become so intent on gaining personal happiness........?

Question

that they have forgotten how to do nice things for someone else without getting anything in return?

Even all you religious believer's out there. Do you only believe in God and do nice by others only so you can go to heaven?

Is that or is that not personal gain?

Answer 1

That's an interesting point you've got there. But when you think about it, it does seem so.

If a student works hard for an exam, he expects to get good grades, not only for his own satisfaction, but so he'd get the praises and etc. from his peers, parents, and teachers. Also, he'd want to make sure that he'd have a good average so he'd be able to get into a good university, and then in turn get a good job. And when he gets a good job, he wants to work hard to be able to attain whatever material wealth he may desire. And although he may say that he works for his kids, he'd still want what he wants. There is also the issue of having material possessions to have his peers envy what he has. This is somehow driven by a desire for pleasure of some sort.

Even for example government charities, the government doesn't just give away their funds for no reason. They hope that by supplying these people will goods, these people will end up doing something, for example working, in the future that the government will end up gaining from.

But that's looking at it from the material worldly point of view, if you look at it from the Christian point of view, somehow you do see the similarity in it.

If you believe in the “do good things and you go to heaven” belief, then you only see doing good deeds as a method for getting into heaven. You think of this as a way to secure your entry into heaven, to get happiness after you die.

Now, if you think that you have to accept Jesus into your heart and make your Savior is the way you get to heaven then somehow you are also driven by personal gain. You want to go to heaven, do I have to elaborate any further. What if you accepted him in times of hardship, you expect some comfort and support, or at least to feel better, when you do so. You want something back when you depart from your sinful way, you want to be assured of your entry when you die.

So, when you think about it, most of the things we do in life are driven by the desire for personal gain of some sort, but I can’t say that everything is this way. When you give up your seat for a stranger, help pick up the scattered things of another, or even just keep the door open for another, what do you accept back, a thanks? Sure, that’s something to expect, but is that really personal gain? Maybe it is, like a feel good factor of some sort.

But I have one final point, for example, you’re a Christian, one of the goals of a Christian is to evangelize. They go to far-off places to preach the word, but what do they expect back? They expect to get persecution from those they preach to. That isn’t personal gain. Their goal of getting people to believe in Christ and go to heaven doesn’t really get them anything as well. If you say that it will make them look better in front of God, then you’re mistaken. We are all equal in His eyes regardless of what good deeds we have done; we are all equal. So what is the gain there? They suffer, and expect nothing in return.

So even though the majority of the human race is driven by personal gain, I can’t say that everyone is.

Answer 2

I, personally, cannot find a single example where one can do something without expecting something in return, be it physical (i.e. money) or emotional (i.e. personal satisfaction of doing something good).

I believe that the human race has always been like that.

I'm religious, and I know that the reason we want to do what God wants us to do is to gain eternal life; a pass to Heaven. Think about it, why do we want to please God? Because he's done so much for us? He gave us the life of his own Son? We want to show our gratitude for this ultimate sacrifice. Showing gratitude makes us feel better....personal gain.

Answer 3

I do agree with you that our culture seems to have become selfish to the extent that there is no longer such a thing as un unselfish act. But every now and then I see someone do something completely unselfish. And it sure does make me feel better.

I don't think most Christians do good things specifically to get to Heaven, because they know that their place in Heaven is not secured by their works, but by the blood of Jesus. They do good things because they want to please God. And that's not a bad reason.

Answer 4

Wow you said a mouthful. It's sad but true for many people. So many hypocrites.

Answer 5

3 things drive people from building a utopia : Greed, Power, Lust.

Answer 6

Humans in general have always been motovated by happieness.