--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning <no_reply@> > wrote: > <snip> > > On a parallel front, Sam makes a point that doing "the right thing" > > (my words) -- what many would consider campassionate and ethical > > action -- CAN and often does manifest with NO religion. Indeed > > compassionate appearing action due to threat of punishment, perhaps > > "eternal punishment", seems not to be real compassionate-based > > action but fear based action. An interesting premise to explore > > would be how much religion produces such fear-based (or reward- > > based a la "eternal life") "good works", vs. non-relgious factors > > that produce more pure compassionated based actions. > > FWIW, most Christians I know try to do the right > thing because they've been inspired by Jesus' deeds,
Yes, my experience is that many are "inspired" -- perhaps a majority. Its a mix perhaps, with overlays. Perhaps, as an ilustration, something like, 20% pure inspired, 30% inspired with a twinge of reward punishment in the background, 30% driven by fear and punishment but have a back layer of inspiration, etc. > not out of fear of eternal punishment or even hope > of eternal life. > Sullivan sounds to me much more like one of these > Christians than the kind that Harris apparently > envisions. True. And, (not contradicting you), in addition of course, inspiration to do "good works" can come from a number of "non religious" sources, not just Jesus and Buddha. etc. Despite their flaws and shortcomings, as we all have, recent efforts by some high profilers like Bill Gates and Angeline Jole are "non-religious" in appearance, yet, IMO, are helping shape a general ethos of increased compssionate and charity in the west if not world.
