tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post3805970672517179447..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Atheism, Theism, and CharityAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-62358770228226713222009-06-08T23:26:30.497-06:002009-06-08T23:26:30.497-06:00such as someone who does a charitable act not beca...<i>such as someone who does a charitable act not because they believe it to be good, but to receive praise for it and so as to appear charitable when they really aren't</i>.<br /><br />I find this confusing. Praise is one of the tools of social conditioning that we use. Thus, if someone does something to receive praise, we should praise them. That's what it's there for. To promote behavior we want to promote.<br /><br />Besides, if someone does something often enough, even for reasons we would see as non-celebratory, it will eventually become an ingrained habit and they will do it for its own sake. "Fake it 'till you make it" really does work, in most cases.<br /><br />Also, how can one <b>appear</b> charitable without <b>being</b> charitable? Unless they are writing bad checks, the only way to be charitable is to give resources to charity. Even if they are doing it for reasons other than "it feels good to do good", I think giving resources to charity is charitable by definition.Eneaszhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500232958398471146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-74251794086170674402009-06-06T17:43:51.637-06:002009-06-06T17:43:51.637-06:00I totally agree with you here; it seems that you a...I totally agree with you here; it seems that you are sort of getting at a Kantian sense of morality where an action can only be truly moral if you do not have an interest in it. A Christian may be charitable to promote their church or to assure themselves a place in heaven, where an atheist has neither of these in mind and does the action (presumably) because its good in itself.<br /><br />That being said, there are selfish reasons to be charitable that apply to theists and non-theists alike such as someone who does a charitable act not because they believe it to be good, but to receive praise for it and so as to appear charitable when they really aren't.Inquisitive Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02291881843655430666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-69963765534636624612009-06-02T20:58:39.910-06:002009-06-02T20:58:39.910-06:00The flip response may be flip, but I certainly fou...The flip response may be flip, but I certainly found it amusing! I'd use it purely for the sake of being snarky before providing a real answer to the original question.Ian Andreas Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103464386296743152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-61092069732499946082009-06-02T14:33:28.677-06:002009-06-02T14:33:28.677-06:00Could we ask the question: "Is there a special or ...Could we ask the question: "Is there a special or significant social benefit specific to religious institutions."<br /><br />Or alternatively:<br /><br />"Would society suffer a significant loss if it lost its religious institutions?"<br /><br />I might say "yes" to both. Channeling Joseph Campbell, I wonder if their myths, partially the Christian myth, champions a character that was charitable, kind, and loving to the poorest (in health and wealth) among us. With out that inspiration, I am arguably less courageous when balancing my needs versus the needs of those less fortunate.<br /><br />On a psychological level, a proper Christian may experience a stronger motivation to do good, since their mind is concerned with an eternal reward beyond death. In addition, they have heroes and champions, stories of people who were selfless in life, to live up to.<br /><br />As Atheists, might we benefit from maintaining our neurological spiritual faculties? And by spiritual faculties, I mean our appreciation of the irrational aspects of our experience: Humor, Love, Compassion, and Awe at unknown the Universe still holds.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-41727333832640446902009-06-02T05:51:32.843-06:002009-06-02T05:51:32.843-06:00I have read your blog for a long time. I am wonder...I have read your blog for a long time. I am wondering have you read "god wants you dead" and what you think of it. Many similair ideas you share with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com