Which is "more moral," the idea that one must do good deeds to go to Heaven, or belief in something?

Question

This is something that has bothered me for sometime. I am pagan, Germanic Heathen to be specific, and my religious belief is that the only way to get to "Heaven" is by doing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds. If you do do a wrong deed you must atone for it in someway, and there are some sins for which there is no way to atone (i.e. you are damned). If you fail to atone you can be punished in this life and the next.

Yet, I have seen others of my belief seen as somehow not as moral as Christians in divorce and other civil cases. Christianity, of course, believes if you repent and ask forgiveness you will be forgiven. But isn't this just a way to get out of being punished for the sin?

So I ask, which is more moral, the idea you must do good deeds to get to a good afterlife, or the idea you must repent and ask forgiveness? Or are they essentially just as good as the other?

jamustrip, very good response.

icarus62, you have given me something to think about.

BrotherMichael, why should God need glory? He is a god, he already has glory. What good is a person who is not willing to do good, be it for glory or for selflessness?

Answer 1

Neither, it is doing good to others simply because you care.

*edit*
Thx

Answer 2

Heya Swain, long time no see.

I think that the deeds we do in this life will have some influence on what happens in the Otherworld - but that's not the reason to do them. Good deeds shouldn't be viewed like frequent flier miles - rack up enough and get a free vacation.

Good deeds are done to foster and strengthen bonds of friendship and community. They're like hospitality gifts - they bless both the giver, and the receiver.

Repenting and asking forgiveness is certainly part of making up for ill deeds - but it's not the only thing. If I offend a person, asking forgiveness of the gods is only part of the solution. I need to make reparations to that person, their family, or society in general. That second part seems to be the far more moral part - the fact that someone takes the responsibility to put things, to restore balance.

Answer 3

The only reason for repentence is so that you convince yourself it's okay to move on.
There IS such a thing as grace. You CAN change your life in a moment by choice. You need not 'repent' or 'make ammends'. Simply, gain the knowledge of what has happened and choose differently in the future.
Morally, you can't ever fix the past. You can only live NOW. Christ can not 'forgive' you. LOL Only you can do that.
Doing good deeds is not necessarily moral. Doing what is best for your Self is moral. YOUR Self...higher, not lower. That doens't mean living according to someone elses' standards. Sometimes YOUR soul's evolutionary needs require you to squash someone else's feelings. Guilt is definitely something you need to live withouth, though, so being sure to follow your own morality is very important.

Answer 4

Kill a person, then run to a rival country and your greeted with open arms.

The problem with that is religion doesnt explain the world, and theres a difference between religion and what can be refered to as "Karma". All people atone one way or another. Whether they know it or not. Most religions just make a easy way for people to come to terms with their mistakes by saying they did the right thing or their babies are with god. Or the people in heaven forgive him, or anything else...

Answer 5

Doing wonderful things for no reward at all like atheists, I think is the most moral. Not being a wimp and saying oops me again - I did something bad again - come one forgive me as I cannot take self responsibility OR being good because one wants to be rewarded.

All my donations and social service are anonymous for this reason, if I did it for others to notice I would feel it would also devalue my committment.

Answer 6

You do not understand God's economy. In the Scriptures, it states that all our good works (in the flesh) are filthy rags to God. They are worthless. In God's view, one sin is worthy of eternal punishment, if you transgress the law in one point, you have transgressed the whole law.
According to the Scriptures, Christ's sacrifice forgave all the sins of the believers, past, present and future. There is no more forgiving necessary, it has all been done. Christ willingly took the punishment due us for our sins.
When you leave this realm for the next, either you will stand before God, clothed in Christ's righteousness, redeemed and justified by His work, or you will come before God with your works, all of them. If there is one sin, you are considered guilty and face the penalty for sin, which is eternal death.
If one could get to Heaven through his good works, who would get the glory? The person. Where would be the grace? Wouldn't it, in essence, be like God "owed" it to you? God will not share His glory with anyone. If we are saved purely by grace, God gets all the glory, and that salvation is a gift, not a debt owed.

Answer 7

The most important thing to do is love.
Love will inspire you to do random anonymous kind things without thinking much about it.
Works come from your nature. If you "Think" what can I do and figure out the most moral thing you can do to get brownie points with God it's useless unless you do it for the love of the people it'll benefit.
If you love you'll find inspiration to help people not for points but for concern of their well being.
It's all real simple.

Love God, Love people. God is love. Experience God.

♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞

Answer 8

Helping and caring for others without any thought of reward, whether on Earth or in Heaven, is a great virtue.

.

Answer 9

Modifying your behaviour out of self-interest is not moral at all. Morality is based on conscience. That's why most religions are amoral.

Answer 10

Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God.
Albert Einstein

Answer 11

Faith without works is dead. Faith and obeying God and repenting and exepting Jesus ae your personal Saviour will get you into Heaven, if you do not give up. Jesus said "Those who stand firm to the end will be saved"