Unconventional Religion

[genkaus]

Something is 'freely given' when it is not demanded.

Wrong. 'Freely given' means lack of coercion - not lack of demand. For example. I demand that you leave all your money to me and then allow me to murder you by not running away when I point a gun at you. At this point, I'm not forcing you into anything - so no coercion. You are free to accept or reject my demand and if you believe self-sacrifice is good and you want to be good - you should accept it.

Not necessary. The rich stand up for the poor. Straight men and women fight for gay rights. Adults fight for the rights of children. Why would one support another demographic when he or she could simply fight for his own?

Because:

" First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me."


Right now, if I'm rich, straight and an adult, my rights are not at risk - so there is no need to fight for them. Supporting others' rights right now ensures mine won't be in danger in the future.

This is the bottom of the well. This answer can apply to any other instance I present.
Therefore, I do not actually care about my fellow members of society, I only help them to ease my own guilty conscience and in the hope that they help me later.

No, it can't. In my example, the "gain" from giving to charity is limited - so the when and how much you should give is limited as well. The moment that the amount of donation makes you flinch, you should stop.

As for your example, I do care about my fellow members of society - but not enough to go around throwing away my hard-earned money. I don't have a guilty conscience simply because I have more than others and the expectation of future help is not very reasonable.

How does the word selfish NOT apply to this view of morality?

It does. So what?