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Would be interesting to go in grey territory between signalling theory and psychology. If you give anonymously, you also send a signal to yourself that you are

by 0wis 6y ago

Would be interesting to go in grey territory between signalling theory and psychology. If you give anonymously, you also send a signal to yourself that you are this kind of person. Christians or others, the image of self can be non negligible in decision making.

raxxorrax 6y ago
Very true, it doesn't mean you aren't doing something for yourself if you donate anonymously. Again, that is nothing restricted to Christians in my opinion, nor should it be, because I believe having a decent conscience is something one should try to hold on to.
DennisP 6y ago
Go too far down that road, and you're applying it to all altruistic behaviors, claiming there's really no such thing as altruism because it's all in service to the ego, and concluding you might as well act as selfishly as possible. Personally I think it's ok to do altruistic things, and conclude from the evidence that you're an altruistic person. It is the most simple and straightforward explanation, and Occam's Razor is as sharp as ever. And given the way cognitive dissonance works, even a person who starts out as ego-driven will likely become more altruistic over time, if they do altruistic things with no concrete reward.
reitanqild 6y ago
Agree with DennisP but will add some more: Since the Bible has already been mentioned, here is one key word to (mostly) put to rest this idea from a Christian perspective: "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. " James 2.18. I think from this (and the context) we can conclude that the Bible is very much in favour of putting in the actual work. That said, a concept that I was introduced to when I was younger is that of "dead works", a concept that is harder to explain in a technical text only forum, but which sounds very much like what you describe based on the explanations I received: "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9.14. Shortly summarized as far as I remember and understand "dead works" was explained to me as things you will do just because you feel you "have to" to please your conscience, not because of a drive inside you to do what is good and right.
- tk75x 6y ago
  I'd like to elaborate on the Hebrews 9:14 passage. To me it references another concept in the Bible where works alone do not guarantee salvation, but only the blood of Christ. The distinction Paul was making here to the Hebrews was that the old testament rituals weren't enough for salvation. James speaks more generally to all new testament Christians and explains that once you have living faith, the works will emerge naturally.

by 0wis 6y ago

raxxorrax 6y ago

Very true, it doesn't mean you aren't doing something for yourself if you donate anonymously. Again, that is nothing restricted to Christians in my opinion, nor should it be, because I believe having a decent conscience is something one should try to hold on to.

DennisP 6y ago

Go too far down that road, and you're applying it to all altruistic behaviors, claiming there's really no such thing as altruism because it's all in service to the ego, and concluding you might as well act as selfishly as possible. Personally I think it's ok to do altruistic things, and conclude from the evidence that you're an altruistic person. It is the most simple and straightforward explanation, and Occam's Razor is as sharp as ever. And given the way cognitive dissonance works, even a person who starts out as ego-driven will likely become more altruistic over time, if they do altruistic things with no concrete reward.

reitanqild 6y ago

Agree with DennisP but will add some more: Since the Bible has already been mentioned, here is one key word to (mostly) put to rest this idea from a Christian perspective: "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. " James 2.18. I think from this (and the context) we can conclude that the Bible is very much in favour of putting in the actual work. That said, a concept that I was introduced to when I was younger is that of "dead works", a concept that is harder to explain in a technical text only forum, but which sounds very much like what you describe based on the explanations I received: "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9.14. Shortly summarized as far as I remember and understand "dead works" was explained to me as things you will do just because you feel you "have to" to please your conscience, not because of a drive inside you to do what is good and right.

tk75x 6y ago
I'd like to elaborate on the Hebrews 9:14 passage. To me it references another concept in the Bible where works alone do not guarantee salvation, but only the blood of Christ. The distinction Paul was making here to the Hebrews was that the old testament rituals weren't enough for salvation. James speaks more generally to all new testament Christians and explains that once you have living faith, the works will emerge naturally.