who would you say was a better person, someone who's kind and decent through choice or someone who's decent and kind through fear of what some god might do to them if their not? And yes i'm aware that if someone is decent and kind they are a good person regardless but surely the motivation for it plays a part.
2007-11-22 00:17:20 · 28 answers · asked by Ste B 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Like you say, they are both good people. Probably!
This point was raised by Richard Dawkins who wrote 'The God Delusion' in a documentary he made.
A vicar who taught children asked Dawkins "If you have no fear of god, what is your motive to avoid sin?"
Dawkins answered " Well, I guess just having good morals and being a good natured person. Are you saying if you had no god you would have no motive to avoid sin?"
"That's right" the vicar said
"So you would think being a paedophile and murderer is acceptable if you had no belief?" Dawkins asked
"Yes" said the vicar, and went back to teach his children..
2007-11-22 00:49:35 · answer #1 · answered by always right 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Your question is based on belief in God. Those who act on fear of what could happen do actually believe. A person is not saved by actions so anyone who is being good to simply save their *** from Hell is not actually good but is actually being counterfeit.
A person who believes in God, a person who is a good christian will be good because of the act of belief and not wanting to go against the will of God much in the same way that a good husband would not cheat on his wife (if he truly loved her and visa versa).
The question is whether good is good for whatever reason. Actions will not save but that is another question totally unto itself. If a person is good simply for not wanting to be persecuted for not being good then that person is not truly being good but is simply refraining from what is in the heart. It's what is in the heart that makes a good person because Jesus knows what is in a person's heart. thereby to simply copout and not indulge in evil does not make a person not evil simply as not being evil does not make a person good.
2007-11-22 01:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by Lil' Joe 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the person who chooses to be kind is a better person.
It's like United Way giving at work years ago. We had a choice of how much we wanted to give, and some people were very generous. Everybody had to give at least $1 (company trying for 100% award or something.)
The ones forced to give $1 were not being charitable even thought the money went to charity.
2007-11-22 00:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Well I hope I can give a third option. Someone who is decent and kind because they love God and out of her love for God just desires to do right.
2007-11-22 00:26:48 · answer #4 · answered by Joy 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I want to be humble and say let God judge me.You guys are better than me but only because of God's grace am I saved.
Because I have learned what kind of attitude I need to have--
The attitude I should have is the one Christ Jesus had;
He always had the nature of God,but He did not think by force He should become equal with God.
Instead of this,of His own free will He gave up all He had,and
took the nature of a servant.
He became like man,and appeared in human likeness.
He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death-- His death on the cross.
For this reason God raised Him to the highest place above
and gave Him the Name that is higher than any other Name
2007-11-22 00:25:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
God judges the hearts of men - God loves a cheerful giver and all of that - so yes I agree - our motivation is important - I would argue however that as opposed to your fear motivation, most believers discover the dirty little secret of compassion and giving and generosity and being a kind and decent person....
....it makes you feel good all over!
2007-11-22 00:23:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The urge to be kind and decent has nothing to do with any religion. It is a natural thing which humans have evolved along with a number of other species. It had and still has advantages for the survival of the species
2007-11-22 02:43:27 · answer #7 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I see where you're going with this, but in the case of Christianity, it's not about our good deeds or 'niceness.' It's not about what we can do for God, it's about what God has already done for us. If our deeds could get us into heaven, then Jesus had no need to die. He died to pay the penalty of death for us that we deserve for all our sins, big and small, and can never hope to attone for by ourselves.
Christianity is the only faith based on the grace of God. All others are based on law, so they do have to follow rules to try to be accepted by their gods.
2007-11-22 03:05:30 · answer #8 · answered by good tree 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
on the face of it they are both honest and kind and theirfore good people but if someone is naturally that way does't have to strive to better themselves in that respect but someone who strives to be better could be said to be better as they are fighting their nasty side but in my experience the latter is only honest and kind on the surface no deeper as they are normally just hiding their true face for later. .
i would say someone who is truely striving to be better in any respect no matter if it is easy or hard for them is a greater person than someone who doesn't.
2007-11-22 06:33:21 · answer #9 · answered by manapaformetta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically - is someone who is naturally good and kind better than a guilty and paranoid good and kind person? The answer is it doesn't matter to me as long as they are good to me. However I wouldn't like to go around "God Fearing"
2007-11-22 00:31:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋