Why are religious people so selfish?

Question

Their main goal is to go to heaven and thats all they can think of. And if they try to be nice, it's only because thye want to go to heaven. They just can't genuinely be nice for the sake of being nice and helping others. They need a reward such as heaven, otherwise they see no reason to be nice.
We are all selfish to an extent. It's a survival instinct but why do religious per se, think they have the authority on morals and ethics, when their main goal is built on selfish motives.

please NO bible verses. if you're going to respond...respond only in your own words.

Answer 1

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

I am partially legally blind, so reading scripture this morning is something I could not do. I am not selfish and my main goal is NOT to get to heaven, though that would be nice. My main goal as a Christian is the same as my life goal, and that is to help others whenever and where ever I can. I had to retire when I lost my sight but with special help I am able to help people online.

What many Christians do not understand and the reason they are so zealous is that no one can earn their way to heaven. As I see it the most I can do is to try to make here and now better. I have no special dispensation on rules and ethics...I have broken many in my time and probably always will.

If a Christian comes up to you and says you are amoral or a sinner or unethical...please know that person is not a real Christian because those things are not for us to decide about others...only ourselves.

I sometimes ask them if they have something in their eye (referring to Jesus analogy about not trying to take a splinter out of someone else's eye when you have a log in your own). Its really funny (see, I am just normal nuts like everyone else) when you say "Do you have something in your eye," because they are pulling out mirrors and asking other people if they see something in their eye.

Well...my eyes are clearing a bit now, better go before I am tempted to paste scripture in, lololol.

Grace, Peace, Love
Peg

Answer 3

I'm a Christian, but I know what you mean. There are some people like that, but not all of us. I, myself, truly enjoy helping people and behaving honorably (no, I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I can't even say that I've read the entire Bible). I think a lot of the ideology that you are talking about comes from some churches' "fire-and-brimstone" preaching. You know, the whole "if you drink a beer, you're going to hell" kind of thing. Anyway, people that have this attitude, I think, always have fear in their minds, whatever they do. Even when something is done out of goodness of the heart, they still feel fear. It's quite depressing living that way. I hope I helped.

Answer 4

You are kind of on track with your thinking. Most religoius people are FALSE and they know it. In their jeallously of good, they lie and perportrate a believer. This is even mentioned in the latter of the new testament but I can not remember the book,,,,,,,,,or Am I trying to get you to go and read it. The latter part of the new testament are actually SHORT books. It will not take you long to read those books. Remember, verse numbers are created by man,,,,,,,,,,, the bible was actually written as several books, not verses. Yes, we are selfish. One time in my past ten years, I gave a window air conditioner to a poor neighbor who had no cooling. I thought I was being generous but later on God in his way lead me to believe that I should have not helped those people. If I had not helped her, I would have been selfish. This may be confusing, I'm sorry, I just have TOO much to say and ask, myself.

Answer 5

I am sorry. I didn't hear you say that YOU did anything for the better of this world (or any other world).
As a Christian, we DO look forward to going to Heaven.
BUT, this is not the only reason we are nice to people. When we learn what it takes to be in God's presence, we try to be more like that. It may be hard at first, but it does come naturally later. And what about BEFORE we were Christians?

Answer 6

Not just selfish, it is also based on fear. Some follow the rules so as not to go to hell.

Would you consider it selfish to enjoy yourself at a party, while family and friends were locked out and in trouble because they didn't have similar belief systems. Many Christians don't realize that when they finally go to heaven, their friends and some family members will be in intense pain in hell. I wonder how anyone could really enjoy heaven, with the knowledge that friends were being tortured at the same time? That takes a great degree of selfishness.

Answer 7

I understand what you are saying. According to the mentality of the Christians on here nothing has intrinsic worth. To them it appears that life is nothing but a piece of poop. I find their attitudes to be deplorable. And their knowledge about the development of ethics and morals indicates that their education stopped somewhere in the first grade.

Answer 8

to be honest, going to heaven is not what i think of each and every day... i think about acting like Christ and helping others.. sharing what i have, whether spiritual, material or emotional... i don't 'play nice' to show that I am a christian... some people don't like what I have to say, and wouldnt call me nice.. but that is ok as long as what i say is 1. true, 2. from the heart, and 3. not meant to hurt or chastise or demean anyone. Going to heaven isnt an instinct, it is a hope for a future after death... i need no other reason to be nice except I am to follow Christ, and if, by His example i appear nice.... it is only because of Jesus

Answer 9

Your claim is not supported by the facts. Charitable giving, on a per capita basis (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet aside), is far greater among those who affiliate with a religion than those who don't and far more participatory. This is based on census and irs data. Bottom line...without religious people giving to charities, most charitable organization would fold.

It is the secular that find it so hard to give of their time and/or money.

Answer 10

Generalizations like this only show that you are not being fair. I am a Christian and I can only answer for me. My service in this world is because of my love for Christ and his creation. Yes, I believe I am going to heaven and want as many people to go with me as possible. But I am not nice or kind for the so-called reason of receiving heaven as a reward. The Bible is plain that doing good deeds does not get me to heaven. So being nice or kind doesn't guarantee me anything anyways.

I am sure that David Brainerd died at the age of 29 when ministering in Africa because of his selfishness. I am sure that Jim Elliott was martyred by cannibals in Ecuador because he was selfish. I am sure that all the martyrs that die in the world today are doing it because of selfishness.

You are right, selfishness is a human trait that is the basis of all sin. When you have surrendered to Christ, you no longer live for self, but for Him. Simply because you love Him - not because of heaven.

Answer 11

You might rephrase the question, "Why are selfish people so religious." - then the question has answered itself.

When you think about it, they're also very egotistical...

Just imagine what you would be like if you believed the following: THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE loves you personally, cares about you, talks to you, listens to you, reads your mind constantly, watches over you every minute of every day, and wants the best for you. What kind of ego would a person need to swallow this crap??