I have observed that people do good deeds due to one of the two main reasons:
(1) To show off or to save the face.
(2) Purely for the sake of God.
(1) In case one, although the good deeds are performed in alliance with the teaching of one’s religion, it is mostly a show off or to avoid people looking down upon the person.
(2) In this case, one does good deeds solely for the sake of God and without the factor of showing it off. However, sometimes to avoid the feeling of show off, the person would want to do good thing anonymously and therefore, avoid public display of it.
Discuss and share your observation and if there are other reasons why people perform or do not perform good deeds.
really LKK?
so people normally do good only by the fear of god? no doing good deeds for the sake of humanity?
and where does that leave atheists ? they dont normally do good!
A) Out of guilt … They may have done something bad and they try to rectify it by doing good
B) Out of not being different … They may be doing good because those around them do it
C) Out of competition to be better in piety
D) Out of sympathy for others
E) Out of seeking pleasure of God
F) Out of humility, finding honour in serving others
G) To fulfil a need to see others happy
H) To get personal gain
I) To test their own patience
J) To deceive others and really deceive themselves
K) Or a combination of the above
The underlying question is whether any act is either selfless or selfish … there can also be an endless spiral if anyone should think about it … The key distinguishing factor is whether the selfless act drives the motive in order to acquire a selfish gain by proxy, or to undertake a good act selfishly in order to qualify for doing a selfless act … The latter is less virtuous than the former, but its not without virtue … But it may be without benefit in the spiritual sense.
really LKK?
so people normally do good only by the fear of god? no doing good deeds for the sake of humanity?
and where does that leave atheists ? they dont normally do good!
I think you're reading it incorrectly. Why?
(1) LKK never said people do good things just for the fear of God. He used the words "for the sake of God" as if in obedience to God or in love of God. The fear factor should not be there at least not in the sense of terror. Fear of God is simply love of God that you do not want to do opposite of what God instructed you. Would you want to do something totally different than what someone you love would ask?
(2) He did not just say that we do it for God, his first point is not that.
(3) He just gave two of his observations, and in his closing remarks, he is just asking for more reasons in readers' opinion on the subject. Isn't he?
really LKK?
so people normally do good only by the fear of god? no doing good deeds for the sake of humanity?
and where does that leave atheists ? they dont normally do good!
We do deeds so who will be going to judge our deeds whether it is good deeds or bad deeds? How come one define it good or bad? I think 'religion' teach us to do good deeds and that would be solely for the sake of God or for humanity again for the sake of God. Is there any other source other than 'religion' which teach us what is good/bad deeds?
