Are all of us Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc., just a bunch of self-centred jerks?

Question

I had an athiest friend of mine say that we only want to get into a nice afterlife and that is the only reason we follow our respective Gods.
He feels this is selfish and goes against all of our doctrines and beliefs.

Answer 1

our belief in god is to go into the afterlife, yes, not to benefit ourselves but to go with God's promise that everyone who follows in christ will enter the kingdom of heaven. our religion (im talking about christianity/catholicism here) is not based on ourselves but around christ

Answer 2

I don't think so, we all really follow the same God, but refer to Him differently. I would hope that a good afterlife isn't the only reason people are following Him, at least that's not it for me. I am more after having a meaningful relationship with the Divine, or finding oneness in Him.

I guess it helps that I don't believe in an afterlife, only reincarnation. Even so, I'm not faithful just because I want a better birth next time around.

Answer 3

No. Religion started out as a quest for truth while no science was available. Unfortunately, some religions were abused and used, whether from the very start of their existence or gradually. Semitic religions in general are more apt to brainwashing and propaganda, because they are told to follow certain rules. The higher levels of Eastern spirituality are a free for all: Just like science, you are on a journey to find your own answers. Some religions that only preach God need to be weeded out. Others that reveal the path and let you take it, as a peaceful way of life, can remain. Can you guess which are which?(Semitic religions can stay only if their institutions i.e. Catholic CHURCH go.)

Answer 4

And the only reason that your atheist friend goes to work is that he wants to get paid so that he can live in a nice home? Is he just being selfish since he wouldn't work if he didn't get paid?

What's his point?

There is a difference between being selfish (i.e.: not caring about anyone but yourself), and pursing legitimate self-interest.

Answer 5

Hey man I'm glad you asked ;)

I am one of those guys and I do it just because it makes me feel good to help people.

That afterlife thing is totally overrated anyway, I mean by then, your freakin dead anyway!!
A street paved with gold? oh joy. And if I dig up this gold can I take it to the shop to buy comics? OH WAIT , I'M FREAKIN DEAD!

Not to dilute the subject, there are a lot of annoying *** Christians, Muslims, and Jews. But most of them are ok.
I've met some fanatical atheists in my time as well ;)
People are just people, regardless of their beliefs they can still be good people.

Answer 6

Your friend's opinion is one of many millons out there.
Did he mentioned his opinion about Atheists. They are not a bunch of self centrered jerks right?
Atheists are a bunch of sober, high minded intellectuals who have no opinions about the ills of this world because we religious cause them, right? And it is not their business to be part of the human experience. An Atheist is a thing apart altogether, right?
Does it matter if we the rest of us are a bunch of self centered jerks?
Even Popeye said I am what I am.
We all have to deal with what and who we are individually and no amount of hammering your contempt down our throats will change that.

Answer 7

if youre doing it all to guarantee a good place in heaven

yes you probably are a selfish self centered human

but religion to me means a little bit more than that

it means awareness of that which you normally dont have...awareness=enlightenment

so its a constant seeking of knowledge motivated by faith

Answer 8

I'd say we are centered on God and not self if we are true. Also God loves us and wants to bless us. There is nothing wrong with wanting the blessing of heaven.

Answer 9

Psalm 14:1 "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

That's a pretty blunt accusation - that a person who says there is no God, is a fool.

Our modern overly-sensitive ears are startled when language like this is used. However, when the Bible speaks of "fools" and "foolishness" it isn't engaging in adolescent name calling.

Instead, the word "fool" is used to describe a person who is in a state of moral and intellectual dullness. Greg Bahnsen cuts to the heart of the biblical teaching regarding fools and foolishness. He writes:

"If we are to understand how to answer the fool, if we are to be able to demonstrate that God has made the pseudo-wisdom of the world foolish.

In scriptural perspective the fool is not basically a shallow-minded or illiterate ignoramus; he can be quite educated and sophisticated in social reckoning. However, he is a fool because he has forsaken the source of true wisdom in God in order to rely on his own (allegedly), self-sufficient, intellectual powers. He is unteachable (Prov. 10:8) and despises instruction (Prov. 15:5); whereas the wise man heeds council given to him,

'The way of a fool is right in his own eyes' (Prov. 12:15). The fool has utter self-confidence and imagines himself to be intellectually autonomous. 'He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool' (Prov. 28:26).

A fool cannot think of himself as mistaken (Prov. 17:10). He judges matters according to his own pre-established standards of truth and right, and thus his own thoughts always turn out in the long run to be correct. The fool is sure that he can rely on his own rational authority and intellectual scrutiny. 'The fool beareth himself insolently and is confident' (Prov. 14:16), and therefore he utters his own mind (Prov. 29:11). In actuality, this autonomous man is dull, stubborn, boorish, obstinate and stupid.

He professes himself to be wise, but from the opening of his mouth it is clear that he is (in the biblical sense) 'a fool' - his only wisdom would consist in keeping silent (Prov. 17:28). 'The heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness' (Prov. 12:23), and the fool flaunts his folly (Prov. 13:16). He eats up folly unreflectingly (Prov. 15:14), pours it out (Prov. 15:2), and returns to it like a dog to his vomit (Prov. 26:11). He is so in love with his folly and so dedicated to its preservation that 'It is better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool is his folly' (Prov. 17:12).

The fool does not want to find the truth; he only wants to be self-justified in his own imaginations. While he may feign objectivity, 'A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself' (Prov. 18:2). He is committed to his own presuppositions and wishes to guard his autonomy. Thus he will not depart from evil (Prov. 13:19), and thus all his knowledgeable talk reveals nothing but perverse and lying lips (Prov. 10:18; 19:1). He may talk proudly, but "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare of his soul' (Prov. 18:7).

He shall not endure the judgment of God (Ps. 5:5).

(Greg Bahnsen, Always Ready, pp. 55-56)

Answer 10

So you must be Athiest, do you know that you are hurting the keyboard and damage your computer.