Well- I certainly agree overall that doing something good for the sake of reward or recognition isn’t inherently good- a “good” person by definition would naturally want to do good wouldn’t they? Ah. But there is the trap. What about people who struggle to do good? Those who do not natively do good- but do good based on reflection or after thought as a conscious decision and not a natural instinct? Are they less good? It doesn’t particularly matter to this discussion though, because it shows us that good can be a conditioned response. Look no further than politics. There are those who think Brexit or the wall are “good” and those who think the opposite. Few people wake up thinking they are evil right? People do what they believe is good in emerald don’t they? Most people with healthy minds would say they are generally good people wouldn’t they? And when do we say they stop bein good? If someone directly and personally saves 10,000 lives- are they bad if they kill one person? When...
Does the evil a person has done cancel out the good? If a person gives $1 million dollars to charity out of their $100 billion fortune- but they do it to “buy” themselves karma, versus a person who gives $1 out of their $1,000 bank account who does it with a genuine wish to help- who has done more “good” in the world? That million bucks will feed or cloth more than that $1. It will make more of a difference in more people’s lives than $1. Both donors FEEL they’ve done good, both donors have taken positive action to change the world- but which has actually effected more good? More over- did the person who gave that $1 ACTUALLY do so out of pure altruism? Or was even some component of that social conditioning, or some subconscious guilt that they have it so well while others do not? Or did they feel anxiety? That they’d be a real jerk with the cashier and everyone in line knowing they declined to round up theor purchase for charity? Was it good? Or did they just say “meh- it doesn’t...
... really set me back to give $1, and someone needs it. I won’t miss it and what would I buy for $1 anyway?” So when is it truly good? Surely the person who genuinely wanted to good could live with less? People survive with less than any one of us has- if we were to give away allwe didn’t need for absolute survival, we could likely afford to have 1-3 other people at least live in similar status. But generally people give what they feel they can “spare” right? An amount which doesn’t seriously undermine their standard of living or upkeep or future plans? Why the car payment? Why not walk/bike/public transit/car share/buy a used jalopy and donate that $100/300/+ payment a month to charity? So even in “good” deeds with “good” intentions and no desire for reward (if such a thing exists) most are still putting themselves first are they not? The “reward” is a feeling they’ve done good without actually having sacrificed anything of meaning to them. Would you trade your own life to end all...
... hunger? Agree to end all current and future relationships, love, friends, and family to end all other suffering on earth so long as you were alive- and you couldn’t die? And if in 10/100/1000years this genie came back and said you could back out of the deal and they’d return suffering- after a decade of isolation would you reneg to end your own suffering? We can’t even define good, and we do know that the concepts and particulars of what good actually is are rooted in culture and individual perception. So I offer that argument, not that it is rightoues to do “good” for reward, but that we can’t so easily judge what is and is not good especially in the hearts of others let alone ourselves. We are unreliable narrators. Often unaware or in denial of why we truly do things. Our perceptions are influenced by emotions and a view of self and the world we cling to as our only barometer to judge reality. Every time a cop shoots a kid you can see the schism in how people define good.
Why would anyone try and change your mind? You don’t need a toothbrush to have good dental hygiene either- or can help, but if you use the toothbrush wrong it can do nothing or even make your hygiene worse since you figure you’re brushing already and don’t need to do much else. Plenty of bad folks with religion in their lives and plenty of good- the same for folks without. Folks are just folks, and religion is a philosophy like any other.
I could highfive you for that, but I sadly know of a lot of people who don’t agree that you can be moral outside of religion. The book for our book club dealt with knowing the day you die and what you do up till then, and our librarian had a very concerned look on her face and said “I’d be worried about someone who well doesn’t believe... I think just you know.... might commit crimes or hurt someone...” she said that to a room of either Athiests or friends of Athiests.
There is but one God. He asks for obedience to his Word. Jesus issued the new commandments Matthew 22:36-40. There is no need for religion only faith and obedience.
Actually there is only need for Love. Jesus said that above all other commandments we were to love one another unconditionally. Unfortunately, most Christians seem to forget about that and cling more to the old testament judgments rather than the "judge not" parts
Actually there is only need for Love. Jesus said that above all other commandments we were to love one another unconditionally. Unfortunately, most Christians seem to forget about that and cling more to the old testament judgments rather than the "judge not" parts
I finished watching True Detective a few days ago and I am in love with it. Anyway, Rust says that-
"If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward then, brother, that person is a piece of s***. And I’d like to get as many of them out in the open as possible. You gotta get together and tell yourself stories that violate every law of the universe just to get through the goddamn day? What’s that say about your reality?"
/change my mind/
"If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward then, brother, that person is a piece of s***. And I’d like to get as many of them out in the open as possible. You gotta get together and tell yourself stories that violate every law of the universe just to get through the goddamn day? What’s that say about your reality?"
It has to come from somewhere.