No More Anti-Theists

[Mudhammam]

I think a lot of folks here see it the wrong way. Being "religiously motivated" to do good deeds is not necessarily about doing them for the sole purpose of being "rewarded" in Heaven or whatever. That would be simplistic and kind of counter productive anyway, since it's nothing but self serving and the whole point is selflessness and love. 

Growing up Catholic, I learned about the virtues of charity, generosity, forgiveness, honesty, etc etc, and I learned about having respect for and seeing the dignity in all people. Because all people (and all creation, really) are made by God and thus have inherent dignity and worth, no matter how small or insignificant they may appear. Those are the values that I was taught in my faith based upbringing, just like everyone (religious or not) grows up being taught certain values. 

I don't think I'd appreciate it all too much if one of my friends accused me of doing good things only because I'm trying to go to Heaven.

Well, I wouldn't discount the hope of reward and the fear of punishment - in the hereafter - as motivating factors for many religious people. To the extent that a person acts according to their moral compass as informed by a reasoned analysis of their circumstances in the world (i.e., that sentient creatures can suffer, for example), it can no longer be considered a religious ideal. For example, take the four cardinal virtues that Catholics consider "natural": Prudence, justice, courage, and temperance. These were recognized by philosophers long before Jesus or Aquinas. And the theological virtues - faith, hope, and love - what grants these the status of being "theological"? They're completely non-religious in nature (and why faith should be considered a virtue at all is beyond me). I think it's good that Catholics educate their children in the virtues - but not because of anything having to do with Catholicism. I think the superstition required for its particular dogmas do harm to the cause of virtuous living if only because they destroy the value of seeking knowledge from a place of being humbly self-aware of one's own ignorance that any search for truth - which must intrude on the speculations of the theological and the ethical at times - demands.