People who do good deeds, selfish? Options

[sakaitone]

Examples:

edited//

(BAD EXAMPLE, as noted by Kurd Jam) Do people do good deeds because they don't want to go to hell (if they believe in hell)?

(BAD EXAMPLE, as noted by Kurd Jam) Karma is the belief that if we do good things it will come back to us. Does that make people who believe in karma and do good things because they want the good things to come back to them selfish?

How about the people who do good things because it makes them feel better (because they did something good that day), does that make them selfish (because they're making themselves feel better)?

And when we're feeling sorry for someone and do something good to make them feel better, is it because we don't want to feel sorry for them and see them sad because that makes us sad, so we try to cheer them up because that way we can cheer ourselves up, is that selfish?

When someone is happy and they see someone who is having a rotten day, they do a good thing for that person because they want to spread their happiness so, maybe that way the happy person feels like they justified their happiness because they don't think it's fair that they're happy and someone's not. Does that make the person selfish?

Are people who do good deeds selfish?

[sweetangel2128]

I don't think there being selfish and not everyone who does good deeds thinks they'll go to Heaven for it and that's there reason for doing it. I believe if I am a good person I will go to Heaven, I do not need to do good deeds, I just have to be who I am. You do have some good points though but I don't think those people were being selfish with any of them!

[viugiufgjhfhjfhg...]

They are slefish if they perform such acts for selfish reasons; which would eventually cast doubt on the "goodness" (ethically speaking) of the actions committed.

Also, the tenets of Christianity and Dharmic religions are misrepresented in the opening post, since both religious credos list selfish acts amongst no-no things to do.

[flaymzofice]

The questioned posed is reflective of the view taken by a cynic (which to a large extent I am) so in certain instances, I do believe this to be the case - that people commit good deeds for selfish reasons. However, I also like to believe in the good in people so I try not to dwell on the fact that people may be spreading joy to others only to feel happy in themselves. And it is very subjective upon the individual themselves. Some people reap no reward for doing a good thing for someone else; they feel neither happy or sad that it has happened; it's just something that they did, and it bears no attachment to them personally.

[cori-catastrophe]

I wouldn't say so. Everyone does things in their everyday life for their benifit. And I mean EVERYONE. You can sit here & tell me that you're perfect & you've never done something for your benifit but I know that is a lie. =]
Plus, some people do good deeds because of the right reasons. But everyone does things like that. It's just human nature. But yes, I do think some people commit good deeds for selfish reasons that only they benifit from. In those cases, it is selfish. In others, not so much.

[sweetangel2128]

I wouldn't say so. Everyone does things in their everyday life for their benifit. And I mean EVERYONE. You can sit here & tell me that you're perfect & you've never done something for your benifit but I know that is a lie. =]
Plus, some people do good deeds because of the right reasons. But everyone does things like that. It's just human nature. But yes, I do think some people commit good deeds for selfish reasons that only they benifit from. In those cases, it is selfish. In others, not so much.

You have a good point

[cori-catastrophe]

You have a good point

Thank you.

[oXMuhNirvanaXo]

Just doing good deeds is not good enough. You could do all these good things for the ones around you and still not go to heaven. Everyone dose wrong so that person has to ask God to forgive them for the sins that they have done and move on with their lives.

The other week at my church there was a skit. This is how it went. There was chairs lined up on the stage and 3 people sitting on the seats with numbers around their necks. (paper) There was a angle standing at a post that was yellow in the middle of the stage. The angle called out some random number and this lady rose and went up to the angle. The angle said.. " Why do you think that you should be let in to the gates of glory. " The lady said all these good deeds that she has done in her life and the angle just shook his head and told her to sit. The lady went to sit down and the angle called another random number and another lady rose. He asked her the same question as he did the other lady.. She shook her head this time and said. " I didn't do many good things in my life and if I did I can't remember them right at this moment. I do know all the bad things I have done and I was hoping that Jesus would for give me for all of them. " The angle had a big smile on his face and let her through the gates.

The pastor then said that doing good deeds is not good enough.


I think that the people who think that just doing good deeds and not doing all the other things that are a must to get where your going is selfish.

[lKVNiiKINKYl]

yeah i agree with that completely.
if i decide to help my friend with their homework or anything, i get happiness knowing that i had that ability which = self satisfaction
would anyone help like...a trashman pick up trash? no. why? because they get nothing out of it. how does it help me and how does it make me feel good about myself?

[MrStrife]

It's not out of the way to help someone out with a little hurdle in their life and you're basically doing it because you care. Well that's me actually so don't mind.

[sweetangel2128]

Just doing good deeds is not good enough. You could do all these good things for the ones around you and still not go to heaven. Everyone dose wrong so that person has to ask God to forgive them for the sins that they have done and move on with their lives.

The other week at my church there was a skit. This is how it went. There was chairs lined up on the stage and 3 people sitting on the seats with numbers around their necks. (paper) There was a angle standing at a post that was yellow in the middle of the stage. The angle called out some random number and this lady rose and went up to the angle. The angle said.. " Why do you think that you should be let in to the gates of glory. " The lady said all these good deeds that she has done in her life and the angle just shook his head and told her to sit. The lady went to sit down and the angle called another random number and another lady rose. He asked her the same question as he did the other lady.. She shook her head this time and said. " I didn't do many good things in my life and if I did I can't remember them right at this moment. I do know all the bad things I have done and I was hoping that Jesus would for give me for all of them. " The angle had a big smile on his face and let her through the gates.

The pastor then said that doing good deeds is not good enough.
I think that the people who think that just doing good deeds and not doing all the other things that are a must to get where your going is selfish.

Exactly! Cause afterall the Bible states that you MUST accept Jesus because he is the only way to Heaven but it also says that NO ONE is good but GOD. Which is why Jesus is so critical for your salvation.

[YaGurlSukedMe2SL...]

but it also says that NO ONE is good but GOD.

no, i am good

[Kontroll]

Examples:

edited//

(BAD EXAMPLE, as noted by Kurd Jam) Do people do good deeds because they don't want to go to hell (if they believe in hell)?

(BAD EXAMPLE, as noted by Kurd Jam) Karma is the belief that if we do good things it will come back to us. Does that make people who believe in karma and do good things because they want the good things to come back to them selfish?

How about the people who do good things because it makes them feel better (because they did something good that day), does that make them selfish (because they're making themselves feel better)?

And when we're feeling sorry for someone and do something good to make them feel better, is it because we don't want to feel sorry for them and see them sad because that makes us sad, so we try to cheer them up because that way we can cheer ourselves up, is that selfish?

When someone is happy and they see someone who is having a rotten day, they do a good thing for that person because they want to spread their happiness so, maybe that way the happy person feels like they justified their happiness because they don't think it's fair that they're happy and someone's not. Does that make the person selfish?

Are people who do good deeds selfish?

If people do good deeds purely for the satisfaction, then it is selfish. But the feeling of happiness usually follows after doing a good deed. Don't get them mixed up.