“To do somebody a favour because it is commanded by a God is not goodness but obedience isn't it?

Question

"The fact that you have acted to please your God rather than to please the human recipient, automatically drains your act of all moral worth.”
(Anonymous respondent on Comment is Free – Guardian)

Answer 1

Every man is responsible for his own actions.

Answer 2

absolutelly agreed.
its the same, like in a usualy job situation.
your boss orders you to do a certain task.
lets say customer service, which comes close to do a favor because commanded by god.
So in this case, its your boss commanding you to do a client a favor.
There a two scenarios. If you like that client, because its a nice guy, you have no problem doing him a favor.
But if that client is a real pain in the a**, you do it because your boss told you.
The feeling is different, and for sure, you will also perform different doing the task.
I believe, that people perform way better, if they do it because of their "free will". Ironically, "free will" is an attribute of the Christian god, well, its how he made humans, with a free will.
Its actually one of the biggest controversially in Christian religion. How can a free will be commanded by god to do anything ?

Answer 3

I don't help people to please God - I help people because it's the right thing to do. For years I've given to charities and volunteered at the hospital, library, and soup kitchen on holidays, and encouraged my children to do so as well - not because I expected some heavenly reward.

I did it because I spent years working hard to provide the best for my family, and now that they have it, I feel it's my duty to set an example for them.

Primarily though, I did it because I know that no one chooses to be the way that they are, they just end up that way. There's no good in kicking anyone while they're down - and believe me, I've seen some people who were way down there. For those of us who are fortunate enough to have everything we've ever wanted, it isn't an option to give to those less fortunate - it's a priority.

Where does God fit into that equation for me? No where.

I do suppose, though, that if God is in fact real, then I will end up in hell for eternity.

Answer 4

Pleasing the human recipient isn't the goal anyway. Doing the best for that person is the goal.

What drains an act of moral worth is when we realize we acted to please ourselves and not the other person.

Worshiping God, which includes obedience, changes who we are, our very being.

Answer 5

If you are commanded to do good, and you do it, does this demonstrate mere obedience, or also a willingness to do good?

And if God places His Holy Spirit in a person, and they do good, is it not therefore the work and effort of that Spirit?

It is written that an evil person can do good. This though does not negate the overall nature of the man. The nature needs to be changed. "Moral worth" becomes irrelevant.

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Answer 6

To do someone a favour when you're an agnostic is a more rewarding feeling because, even if you don't get a thank you, you know you made someone's life better. But there are a dozen reasons and motives why religious people help others. I prefer the simplicity of agnosticism.
:)
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Answer 7

Col 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Yes, it's obedience. However, this is what gives the act moral worth.

Answer 8

Depends on the God.

The Christian God is "goodness" so by default you are doing good acts if you obey commands.

To Norse gods, killing someone in battle is doing them a favour, but I doubt the recipient of this "goodness" would agree.

Answer 9

Exactly!! It almost makes altruism impossible in the presence of faith. I honestly believe this may be one of the reasons atheists are so disliked by fundamentalists.....jealousy. A good deed done by an atheist is done for no reason other than it is good.... A good deed done by a fundamentalist (be it christian, muslim, jew, etc...) is done with the expectation of an eventual reward.

Which is the kinder deed of the two?

Answer 10

it is said to do unto to others as you would have done unto you; he doesn't command the favor for others but rather you treat others as you want to be treated; you choose the path, method etc ; I can't tell of anyone who does something good for others and doesn't feel great themselves after doing it; the law isn't really for God's sake to be kind but for man to man, just like a parent wants all their children to get along and be kind to one another, same thing