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jerseyjim

(129 posts)

60. Religious selfishness

Wed Apr 5, 2023, 03:33 PM

Apr 2023

Many religious motivations are actually very selfish. Not just Christianity. For many, it's about what you ARE GOING TO GET!
Your REWARD, PARADISE, eternal happiness. It has often puzzled me as to what motivates, say, shaming of women going into a health clinic. After all, why should they care what someone else DOES. An answer I keep coming up with is that they have been taught to reject what they think of as "evil" people because doing so will open the gates to heaven or paradise.

Why not do things without the damned expectation of getting rewarded? Do good, because you care about others, not because you are going to go to paradise. It is such an evil side of religious beliefs.

Besides there really is no "up" except in reference to the surface of the Earth.

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I was raised Fundamentalist Christian. I know you all know stories, but here's mine: [View all] Coventina Apr 2023 OP

Oh Coventina, I am so sorry that you had to listen to that shit from a so called friend. debm55 Apr 2023 #1

That heartless person is insane. OhNo-Really Apr 2023 #81

VERY sorry to hear it. elleng Apr 2023 #2

Ugh! Just Ugh! MineralMan Apr 2023 #3

Listen, I've left Christianity behind, myself. 70sEraVet Apr 2023 #4

This Hekate Apr 2023 #54

"there are good Christians, and there are .... people like your 'friend'." LiberalLovinLug Apr 2023 #134

What a disgusting thing to say! sakabatou Apr 2023 #5

Holy &%!# - that is one of the most despicable... 3catwoman3 Apr 2023 #6

plus one BlueWaveNeverEnd Apr 2023 #8

Agreed! 634-5789 Apr 2023 #57

Personally, I would have shouted into the phone "GO F**K YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!" AZ8theist Apr 2023 #123

I couldn't even write something as vile as this in a work of fiction, let alone... 3catwoman3 Apr 2023 #125

Sorry. I could. AZ8theist Apr 2023 #127

Holy &%!# - that is one of the most despicable... 3catwoman3 Apr 2023 #7

I am so very sorry you had to endure that. emulatorloo Apr 2023 #9

I worked for a republican lawyer when my daughter was killed (car accident). He was Catholic as I SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #10

I am so sorry. Coventina Apr 2023 #11

Thank you, that remark still stings and she died in '93. n/t SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #13

so sorry for your loss. barbtries Apr 2023 #19

I don't know what to say Effete Snob Apr 2023 #24

and that's what you say. barbtries Apr 2023 #42

Dear God, talk about cold and heartless, thank you for your condolence and I extend mine to you. SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #26

The term: DENVERPOPS Apr 2023 #92

I am so sorry about the loss of your daughter no matter how long ago. What a callous remark LoisB Apr 2023 #20

Thank you Lois, he was a repub so I knew he was a jerk from the git-go. Glad I left too. n/t SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #27

I'm so sorry. That is horrific. Sky Jewels Apr 2023 #32

Pretty much my reaction too. I don't go to church anymore but I do say prayers. Some old habits SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #36

Thank God not asll religious leaders are as rediculous as their minister! I'm sure he didn't know napi21 Apr 2023 #106

I am so sorry... mgardener Apr 2023 #59

Yeah, you hear of this a lot when it's a very young child who passed. Ligyron Apr 2023 #68

SheilaAnn, PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2023 #97

"I know she's going to Heaven, relayerbob Apr 2023 #12

I worked for a few years with someone who seemed to be a nice guy NewHendoLib Apr 2023 #14

jeezus! barbtries Apr 2023 #21

I told him that I feel bad for his utter distortions of reality NewHendoLib Apr 2023 #30

well done. barbtries Apr 2023 #44

You should have heard the outcry (from older Catholics no less) when Pope Frances stated there was SheilaAnn Apr 2023 #37

So much for the doctrine of papal infallibility, eh? ShazzieB Apr 2023 #58

I agree. Any one who comes up with something like that wnylib Apr 2023 #86

I had someone ask me if I was saved AZSkiffyGeek Apr 2023 #31

I had that experience, too, since I grew up surrounded by Southern Baptists. N/T Jedi Guy Apr 2023 #50

I too was raised in that fundamentalist Lutheranism Backseat Driver Apr 2023 #95

Former SBC here. I'm not surprised a bit. paleotn Apr 2023 #62

You were wise to walk away vlyons Apr 2023 #15

You're probably preaching to the unholy choir here at DU. erronis Apr 2023 #41

Yes I am a Buddhist vlyons Apr 2023 #69

Thank you for your explanation. I will enjoy following the link you provided! erronis Apr 2023 #73

You are realistic Dios Mio Apr 2023 #110

What a nasty idea of God! Maeve Apr 2023 #16

seems to me barbtries Apr 2023 #17

Yeah, I would have taken it as just the opposite - soldierant Apr 2023 #105

Well friend, you and I read the Bible very differently gratuitous Apr 2023 #18

Well, to be fair, what your "friend" said is not scriptural harumph Apr 2023 #22

Christianity began rotting right after the crucifixion RVN VET71 Apr 2023 #85

What an awful thing to say. Glad you are free of your "friend" too. LoisB Apr 2023 #23

And she was so sure and confident in herself, wasn't she? NBachers Apr 2023 #25

I've heard maga christians say that crud Apr 2023 #28

Xians absolutely ADORE tragedy. Orrex Apr 2023 #29

So much religion is utter madness like this LymphocyteLover Apr 2023 #33

That's really stunning. How judgmental can one get? calimary Apr 2023 #34

What would Jesus Do Maine Abu El Banat Apr 2023 #35

Nasty people create/worship nasty gods . . . hatrack Apr 2023 #38

Man created God in His own image ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2023 #130

Sometimes we offer condolences, but we talk too long and it comes out awkward and way different than keithbvadu2 Apr 2023 #39

+1000 n/t MarcA Apr 2023 #84

i had a horrible incident fron a baptist day school when i was four yo. AllaN01Bear Apr 2023 #40

Yours of course is way worse, TNNurse Apr 2023 #43

So sorry JanLip Apr 2023 #45

What if I told you that... NotVeryImportant Apr 2023 #46

Collective insanity. Martin68 Apr 2023 #47

Have to wonder how your "friend" thought she was helping? LiberalFighter Apr 2023 #48

Man created God in his own image. StarryNite Apr 2023 #49

Whew IbogaProject Apr 2023 #51

Add to that he fed a crowd of people who probably didn't "deserve" feeding... Hekate Apr 2023 #64

Takers keithbvadu2 Apr 2023 #89

I'm no theologist but I think she doesn't understand her religion. Renew Deal Apr 2023 #52

The hard lines they draw are very perplexing sometimes. Jedi Guy Apr 2023 #53

YIKES! Crazy talk from people who know nothing of Jesus and His teachings. 634-5789 Apr 2023 #56

"[Editor's Note: Yes, I know.]" dchill Apr 2023 #78

That's awful Jilly_in_VA Apr 2023 #55

Religious selfishness jerseyjim Apr 2023 #60

"Why not do things without the damned expectation of getting rewarded?" Jedi Guy Apr 2023 #90

The horrible god of horrible people. paleotn Apr 2023 #61

The real "tell" Effete Snob Apr 2023 #63

Have you ever noticed that those who want to share their religion with you do not want to share your keithbvadu2 Apr 2023 #91

When I was in HS in the 70s... Whatthe_Firetruck Apr 2023 #108

I'm glad you're free too! I grew up in a fundy church. woodsprite Apr 2023 #65

Why does anyone worship a cruel, capricious, and ultimately small and petty god? hunter Apr 2023 #66

That's quite a good family story - probably similar to many people. Thanks for posting! erronis Apr 2023 #79

I stopped going to church when I went away to college. Mickju Apr 2023 #67

I was raised Southern Baptist as well. Haggard Celine Apr 2023 #117

I am sorry that you had to deal with someone like that SouthernLiberal Apr 2023 #70

Had a relative convert to being a fundy and then try to convert me, arguing highplainsdem Apr 2023 #71

Converts are the worst. debm55 Apr 2023 #87

the zeal of newly acquired ignorance Celerity Apr 2023 #132

I have problems making conversation about religion. My views are skewed. twodogsbarking Apr 2023 #72

Just another judgmental asshole world wide wally Apr 2023 #74

So, OK, while your old church friend is certainly a mental midget Goodheart Apr 2023 #75

Don't you just love how THEY get to decide who is... dchill Apr 2023 #76

I'm sure you've tought of dozens of good comebacks since then Warpy Apr 2023 #77

I am sorry.. mountain grammy Apr 2023 #80

I've known a LOT of evangelicals 7 other VERY Christian people. oldsoftie Apr 2023 #82

Next time your hateful friend pulls something hateful out of their ass Scalded Nun Apr 2023 #83

The cruelty of these "Christians" is beyond salvation if you ask me. LakeArenal Apr 2023 #88

How despicable! That woman was no "friend" to you FakeNoose Apr 2023 #93

In my experience, and I've debated and talked to tons of Evangelicals Marius25 Apr 2023 #94

Our family is Liberal Catholic which is mystical Catholicism Richluu Apr 2023 #96

I'm so sorry that happened to you. What a mean person. yardwork Apr 2023 #98

I felt the same way claudette Apr 2023 #99

I was told... The Jungle 1 Apr 2023 #100

I'm so very sorry that happened to you, Coventina. Silver Gaia Apr 2023 #101

Hugs to you!!! Coventina Apr 2023 #112

Hugs back to you! Silver Gaia Apr 2023 #116

By that logic... Whatthe_Firetruck Apr 2023 #102

see post 53 Celerity Apr 2023 #133

That view of the universe is so naively stupid that it is truly sad jimlup Apr 2023 #103

Conservative Christianity is just another way of saying, "I don't need a therapist, I have you" NullTuples Apr 2023 #104

So sorry you had to experience that crap. WestMichRad Apr 2023 #107

Good graciousness, what a Hideous thing your (former!) Friend said to you as your suffered through.. electric_blue68 Apr 2023 #109

Breathtaking stupidity. lpbk2713 Apr 2023 #111

Shit like that would land me in prison vercetti2021 Apr 2023 #113

Yes you'll know they are Christians by their love Kennah Apr 2023 #114

I swore off religion at 6. meadowlander Apr 2023 #115

"What kind of horrible God have you been believing in all this time?!?!?" mwb970 Apr 2023 #118

Terrible thing to go through, but she did think, wrongly, that... TreasonousBastard Apr 2023 #119

Yer all goin' ta heaven. There is no room available in hell. twodogsbarking Apr 2023 #120

Well, in all fairness, she was right about ONE thing. Ferrets are Cool Apr 2023 #121

So sorry to hear, BlueMTexpat Apr 2023 #122

Yes, many times I marvel at how wrong the Fundies have gotten it. PatrickforB Apr 2023 #124

Your Mom was IN HELL, then death took away her pain. Martin Eden Apr 2023 #126

This is why religion is in my rearview mirror Haru Apr 2023 #128

Self righteous monsters malaise Apr 2023 #129

My story Playingmantis Apr 2023 #131

Wow that is awful...I'm sorry Bettie Apr 2023 #135