Regardless of whether God exists, Should we discount the notion of God in how we live, and focus on this life?

Question

Fact - God may or may not exist. We don’t know.

That said, if belief is essentially about self assurance, about glorifying and appeasing a God and finally about getting into heaven, it seems to me that being ethical in your actions is simply chasing a reward (i.e. a happy God and decent afterlife) then actually doing the right thing because it is right.

Would it be better to remove God and heaven from our actions & simply live as we feel is right - because it is right? To not act like we are chasing an afterlife & instead work on this life and treat it as if it is our only chance, and to get more from it as a result for all of us?

I am not saying we should ban religion, ideas are a personal freedom and important to a lot of people - but that rather then putting our faith in a God that seems happy to leave us be in the mess we make, put our efforts in mankind and do what is good now, for the right reasons, and if there IS a God and afterlife, we will get the same reward?

(I found it very hard to condense that idea down into the word limit, if it is not clear I can add further detail. Also, it isnt intended to rile anyone or cause anyone to get defensive, it is simply an idea I was musing)

Is that a Nietzsche reference you are making Thomas or a joke? If it is the former, I like the irony.

But Dan H, that means that belief and not action are the only things that count. What kind of a religion lets people into paradise because he sang hymns to the right religion, rather then what he actually did that made him a good person? Some of histories greatest monsters had deep religious convictions!

Surely an athiest is a capable of performing human good on this Earth as a believer (i.e. alleviating suffering), they simply do it for a different reason...

St. Clement of Rome - If I understand you, what you have said is really not a basis for belief or a reason for choosing how to living ones life, especially as doing good can require us to take personal sacrifice, which is deeply unpleasant sometimes and therefore in a paradox to having beliefs only to make us feel good about things.

Surely there must be more to it?

Selektap, if I am called into account in the next life I would say I lived well based on the world I was put in, and that I acted to do what was right for the reason only that it was right, to make the world a better place and not to gain Gods approval, especially when he himself leavs the world in our hands and isnt even clear on his existence.

I think the big man would be impressed.

Answer 1

Everyone, at one time or another in their lives, decides upon a "code of behavior" for themselves.

For some, bringing God into their personal philosophy is paramount to a successful life; for others, the converse is true. Living a good life, regardless of a future afterlife, is important to many people who question the exisitence of God, or truly do not have any belief in God.

For me, seperating the way I live my life with my belief in the Lord can not happen. I believe in the Lord completely, and offer the good works I do everyday to the glorification of His name.

My parents raised me with love, discipline (some I which I really resented!), and a strong moral code. I saw my parents helping neighbors, strangers and other family members. They did not resent what they did, and never felt that their faith, or the commitment to God that their faith required of them, was ever a burden.

Because of their example, and the positive way in which they lived their lives, I, too, have adopted a similar philosophy.

Growing up, they encouraged my siblings and me to "see the face of God in everyone you meet". I still do this, and do not do it with the anticipation of future glories or rewards in Heaven.

Yes, I really would like to have an afterlife that is rewarding and loving, and I concentrate on this through the day. My colleagues respect me for my work ethic, and my professional support. I do not wear my faith "on my sleeve", but live my life as a consciencious friend and co-worker.

I would never ban religion either, because so much good is done in the name of God. Yet, there are many who use their faith as a tool of condemnation of other religions and peoples, thinking "their way" is the only way.

I live my life according to the tenets of the Bible, and hope that I represent what a Christian is every day (including my failings).

I can not remove God and Heaven from my daily actions, but I can show my love for the Lord in quiet and dignified ways.

Answer 2

Right off the bat, it is not about heaven. At least Christianity concerns a supernatural relationship/fellowship between the Creator and the created. This relationship is everything; heaven is just a place to be with the Creator. Heaven is not the reward.

You said, "if I am called into account in the next life I would say I lived well based on the world I was put in, and that I acted to do what was right for the reason only that it was right, to make the world a better place ...". Your Creator is not asking you to make the world a better place, He's asking if you want a relationship with Him and your answer will be "no".

If there is no Creator, then there is no such thing as right and all of our feelings about right and wrong are just a combination of evolution and societal pressure. So the "right reasons" you speak of are feel-good rewards and fears of punishment.

The Christian idea is that our Creator has placed in our human nature the desire to know Him and that ought to drive us to seek Him. But deep in our hearts we don't want anyone to whom we own allegiance and to whom we are accountable.

Answer 3

In my opinion this is one of the best ideas i have come upon on this site and i'd like first of all to congratulate you on it. People aren't very open minded about these things most of the time as i found. I agree very much that the decision of doing a good deed should rather be made selflessly out of compasion and not because of the fear of hell or greed for heaven. I'm sorry to say that today's society is mostly based on those two negative feelings and so if someone does something good he likes to brag about it pretty much and if someone does something bad his perception is even weaker because of his fear. The fact is that no good or bad life will bring anyone heaven or hell because we have a very limited time in this life. How many mistakes can one make in such a limited time?.. And how many good deeds? Whatever the number is, it most certainly won't earn us an eternity of torment or happiness. So the best thing would indeed be to continue our search for us and for God and to be open in front of the unknown because things are bad only as long as we don't know them. A child is afraid of the dark because he doesn't know that it's the same room only in a different intensity of light. Once he grows up he will realize this truth and his perception will outgrow his fears. We are all like that child and we are all growing up. So at some point in life we shall have to face the facts and to face ourselves. That is the only Day of Judgement one will ever need to face.

Answer 4

Humm... yes I see where you're going with this. Good thought. You're right on track too; people should not do things because they will be rewarded by god. People should do good things because they want to. The problem is, sometimes people need a little motivation to do the right thing. If they are chasing a reward does it make their actions less good because they acted out of selfishness? I would way rather have a person do good deeds because they think they will be rewarded than have someone do a good deed because they think they will be punished.

Answer 5

I can only speak from a Christian perspective.

If you believe in God, it is impossible to 'pretend' that he isn't there or isn't/shouldn't be relevant to everyday life.

If you believe he is a loving God, then the natural response to him is loving also: it isn't a hope-of-heaven/fear-of-hell thing at all. And what is 'right' is largely determined - and justified - by what is truly loving, often after the example of Jesus himself.

If you do not believe in God, however, where do ideas of right and wrong come from? Peer pressure and societal pressure are hard to buck: does not then 'conformity' equate to hope-for-acceptance/fear-of-sanction? "Doing what is right because it is right" sounds a great principle to live by, but 'what is right' is far from being self-evident.

Answer 6

I was asked once if I feel guilty about my past or worry about my future. After some thought I realized I live in the now and since I started doing that, good things have come to me and stress has all but disappeared from my life.

So, I pick ... living in the present in THIS life cuz this is the only one you have 100% control over.

Answer 7

[i'm disregarding my own belief as i answer this question]

based on my cousin's statement, he said that his life did not have purpose when he did everything for himself. but when he realized that he should do life right for God, then he became happier

now, based on my own belief, afterlife is not a reward. It is our rightful place. Since we were created by God, then we're really bound/destined/meant to be returning to Him. But if we did not live life in earth like we are God's creations [children], then, we ourselves rejected God and afterlife.

Answer 8

I am an Athiest and although i do not believe in a God i feel that we should all live our lives by the majority of the 10 commandments, they give a good basis for any society.
I`m not sure if i`ve answered your thoughts but this is my view...

Answer 9

Yes and no.

The way you behave in this life has nothing at all to do with if you get into Heaven after you die.

On the otherhand, once you accept Jesus as the Savior of your sins, Heaven will be a Given, then you need to serve HIm, so others can hear the Good News too.

Answer 10

Boring.

You live you die that's it game over.

Make the most of the time you have on this planet, just try not to upset too many people.

You don't go to "an after life" you do don't have to "give account" of your self.

I find all religious people such bloody hypocrites, love thy fellow man.

Unless he has something I want