question-do you think its better to live your life as a good and decent person not because you are expecting some reward when you die but because you think that its the right thing to do or because a book tells you that you have to and if you don't you will burn in hell
2007-11-14 13:56:37 · 12 answers · asked by upside 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
you are in good company
If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
Albert Einstein
2007-11-14 14:01:11 · answer #1 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is normal to do well with the expectation of getting something in return. I work hard with the expectation that I'll get a raise for it. I know that I won't do get a raise if I do sloppy work - I may even get fired.
When Peter asked Jesus what he would get because he left all to follow Jesus, Jesus did not scold him for being selfish. Jesus told him that he would be greatly rewarded. So it is not wrong to have a motive for doing great. We all will do what is expected of us, more or less. But to do great takes a motivation, an expectation of something better than merely doing the good that is expected of us.
There are many promises in the bible for those who will believe God for great things, and as a result there are Christians with amazing stories to share about how God followed through because of their sacrifices and desire to please God mightily.
2007-11-14 23:10:45 · answer #2 · answered by Steve Husting 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the bible says that if you do good works but don't do it with love, then it is vanity/useless, so (at least for christians), it doesn't matter what they think - the bible clearly states that you should live a good and decent life because it is the right thing to do.
2007-11-14 22:13:03 · answer #3 · answered by James Bond 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course
unfortunately there are some people that can not do good for the sake of it being good.
They need some kind of reward or threat of punishment to keep them in line.
That is why systems like Communism failed. Most people are inherently greedy and will do only what is good for themselves and not for the good of society.
2007-11-14 22:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live a good life because I have a horrible guilty conscience and I like good karma. If it weren't for that I would be an evil millionaire. As it is I will have to settle for being a nice conscientious millionaire (when I hit the lottery that is)
2007-11-14 22:01:52 · answer #5 · answered by Khimaera 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think its better to live your life how you see fit not expecting some reward at the end. Thats just selfish.
2007-11-14 22:00:42 · answer #6 · answered by Emily 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'll take A. Living decently just because it's right - no threats needed.
2007-11-14 22:01:31 · answer #7 · answered by t_rex_is_mad 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer to live life in a way that pleases me. Unlike some of these people I will openly admit i will trample whoever and destroy whatever i must to get to where i want to be in life.
2007-11-16 16:55:15 · answer #8 · answered by Shadow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. I do the right thing because it is the right thing, not because I want some future reward.
2007-11-14 22:01:29 · answer #9 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it better to live a happy life rather than a good life.
2007-11-14 23:14:50 · answer #10 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋