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So what is the motivator for people to give charity if there is no reward from God? I would have thought there were some sort of reward for charity in Christian

by tsol 4y ago

So what is the motivator for people to give charity if there is no reward from God? I would have thought there were some sort of reward for charity in Christianity.

krapp 4y ago
Human beings possess empathy and a desire to help the less fortunate entirely apart from religion or its rewards. From a purely utilitarian standpoint, one could argue that the reward of altruistic behavior within a social hierarchy is the strengthening of social bonds and likelihood of reciprocity, and this behavior has been seen in other primate species besides humans, suggesting it has an evolutionary benefit. Unfortunately, thousands of years of religious indoctrination has led many people to believe that humans are essentially amoral sociopaths without religion. But religion doesn't generate morality, ethics or virtue so much as codify them into a culturally specific framework. That said, Jesus commanded his followers to practice charity often and directly linked doing so with gaining rewards in heaven.
protonbob 4y ago
The reward is being in a state of obedience to Christ and his will which is a reward in and of itself.
dragonwriter 4y ago
> So what is the motivator for people to give charity if there is no reward from God? Love of ones fellow man. > I would have thought there were some sort of reward for charity in Christianity. To the extent that there may be, that reward is not generally viewed in most Christian doctrine as the motivator. Christianity is not, predomonantly, doctrinally, transactional in that way. (Transactional personal beliefs are, however, far more common in Christianity than formal doctrine would suggest, and political Christianity frequently invokes a transactional view that is at odds with common doctrine.)
- tsol 4y ago
  >Love of ones fellow man Hmm interesting. I wonder is love really a motivator? It's more of a reason, right? "I give charity because I love my fellow man". I feel like that's not inclusive. Like what about people who don't love their fellow man all that much? I mean is that even allowed?-- If I'm a Christian do I have to love my fellow man to the point of charity? What if I call myself Christian but I think most people are rude and selfish and have a hard time loving them.. does that make me not Christian? I'm sure there are people who are Christian and have a hard time loving humanity, seems like they would be not included. I suppose the reward aspect still applies so it makes sense for everyone. I like the idea, it's very philosophically pure. But I'm surprised it actually works in real life. It seems to me like that would encompass only a minority. Maybe that's more a reflection of the times we're in than anything else. Hope you don't mind the probing questions-- I'm not trying to poke holes in these beliefs I'm just trying to understand them completely
  - dragonwriter 4y ago
    > I wonder is love really a motivator? It's more of a reason, right? I'm not sure I understand the distinction you are drawing here. > Like what about people who don't love their fellow man all that much? I mean is that even allowed? “Allowed” as in “not sinful”? No. “Allowed” as in “forgivable”? Yes. > If I'm a Christian do I have to love my fellow man to the point of charity? For certain values of “have to”, yes, though it doesn't have to be expressed by giving money to a recognized charity. But equally Christianity means you have to accept that virtually every actual person will fall short of what they “have to” do. > What if I call myself Christian but I think most people are rude and selfish and have a hard time loving them.. does that make me not Christian? No, having a hard time doesn't make you not Christian.

by tsol 4y ago

So what is the motivator for people to give charity if there is no reward from God? I would have thought there were some sort of reward for charity in Christianity.

krapp 4y ago

Human beings possess empathy and a desire to help the less fortunate entirely apart from religion or its rewards. From a purely utilitarian standpoint, one could argue that the reward of altruistic behavior within a social hierarchy is the strengthening of social bonds and likelihood of reciprocity, and this behavior has been seen in other primate species besides humans, suggesting it has an evolutionary benefit. Unfortunately, thousands of years of religious indoctrination has led many people to believe that humans are essentially amoral sociopaths without religion. But religion doesn't generate morality, ethics or virtue so much as codify them into a culturally specific framework. That said, Jesus commanded his followers to practice charity often and directly linked doing so with gaining rewards in heaven.

protonbob 4y ago

The reward is being in a state of obedience to Christ and his will which is a reward in and of itself.

dragonwriter 4y ago

> So what is the motivator for people to give charity if there is no reward from God? Love of ones fellow man. > I would have thought there were some sort of reward for charity in Christianity. To the extent that there may be, that reward is not generally viewed in most Christian doctrine as the motivator. Christianity is not, predomonantly, doctrinally, transactional in that way. (Transactional personal beliefs are, however, far more common in Christianity than formal doctrine would suggest, and political Christianity frequently invokes a transactional view that is at odds with common doctrine.)

tsol 4y ago
>Love of ones fellow man Hmm interesting. I wonder is love really a motivator? It's more of a reason, right? "I give charity because I love my fellow man". I feel like that's not inclusive. Like what about people who don't love their fellow man all that much? I mean is that even allowed?-- If I'm a Christian do I have to love my fellow man to the point of charity? What if I call myself Christian but I think most people are rude and selfish and have a hard time loving them.. does that make me not Christian? I'm sure there are people who are Christian and have a hard time loving humanity, seems like they would be not included. I suppose the reward aspect still applies so it makes sense for everyone. I like the idea, it's very philosophically pure. But I'm surprised it actually works in real life. It seems to me like that would encompass only a minority. Maybe that's more a reflection of the times we're in than anything else. Hope you don't mind the probing questions-- I'm not trying to poke holes in these beliefs I'm just trying to understand them completely
- dragonwriter 4y ago
  > I wonder is love really a motivator? It's more of a reason, right? I'm not sure I understand the distinction you are drawing here. > Like what about people who don't love their fellow man all that much? I mean is that even allowed? “Allowed” as in “not sinful”? No. “Allowed” as in “forgivable”? Yes. > If I'm a Christian do I have to love my fellow man to the point of charity? For certain values of “have to”, yes, though it doesn't have to be expressed by giving money to a recognized charity. But equally Christianity means you have to accept that virtually every actual person will fall short of what they “have to” do. > What if I call myself Christian but I think most people are rude and selfish and have a hard time loving them.. does that make me not Christian? No, having a hard time doesn't make you not Christian.