By "theists" in this case, I mean those that believe in an afterlife. If you are constantly believing that your good deeds will be rewarded in the afterlife, doesn't that mean that you're really doing the good deeds for yourself?
2007-02-13 06:40:23 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you just do good because of the reward, and it's great, you won't understand the love of God who does good because it's good and God is goodness itself.
2007-02-13 06:44:49 · answer #1 · answered by carl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
~~~ num num,,,,,Altruism begins in The Conscience of The Giver. In order to Qualify as Altruistic, by definition, the giver would have had to "act" within those parameters of "Good Conscience" WITHOUT the notion of "Heavenly Reward" even being considered. If the Act of Giving is Motivated by "Scoring Points for Heaven" then The Act is generated by The Ego and therefore NOT Altruistic. Altruism is generated from The Heart.
2007-02-13 15:47:34 · answer #2 · answered by Sensei TeAloha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some, that may be true. There are several reasons that people choose to follow God. Some do it out of fear. Some do it for the reward. Some do it out of duty. Some do it because they truly love God.
2007-02-13 14:58:31 · answer #3 · answered by rbarc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not only possible, it is one of the reasons many theists believe in a God.
2007-02-13 14:43:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nopes.
2007-02-13 14:48:52 · answer #5 · answered by Atheist Eye Candy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can, but the question is, how many do?
2007-02-13 14:43:27 · answer #6 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋