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In the Christian worldview the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward.
Debate Information
I will be taking the CON position. That got cut off but would have fully said: In the Christian worldview the statement, the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment, is incorrect.
I've been working through Richard Dawkin's work. I seek to open a discussion around something I've come across. I in no way am asserting because you agree with the implications of the quote or any or all of Dawkins work. Simply, this idea. I can't go chat with Dawkin's to explore this idea, but I don't need to. There are many intelligent people who would share this view and if one of them wants to talk through it, awesome. If not, apologies for the wasted screen space, I won't repost.
The quote I'm referring to is in The God Delusion. Richard states:
"“Do you really mean to tell me the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment?".
"“Do you really mean to tell me the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment?".
I can only take this to mean he believes that to be what the Bible states. Granted, I only came to Christ 2 years ago, but I've been on a non-step quest for understanding, knowledge, the laying out and discussion of doubts and questions since then. I'm not an expert. I'm not that learned in ancient context, Hebrew or Greek, etc. My understanding of what the Bible is said to very clearly say is at odds with this assumption.
Even if you don't agree with Dawkins at all, but you find you disagree with my statement I'd be very interested to discuss this. I'm not looking for someone to defend Dawkins. The God Delusion is simply the most recent place I came across a specific mention to something i've observed in a lot of places. I wanted to discuss it with someone who might agree with Dawkin's assumption. That's all.
So, dropping any need to reference anyone, I think this would sum up the sides of the debate well:
CON: In the Christian worldview the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment.
CON: In the Christian worldview the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment.
PRO: In the Christian worldview, the reason you try to be good has nothing to do with God's approval or reward. Nor is it to avoid disapproval and punishment. The alternative claim is you "try" to be good because you now desire to be good where you desired other things before.
If someone wants to have a separate conversation about anything I've mentioned, please let me know. Please ask questions if you're interested but would prefer to better define or have me better explain something. I'm not trying to set anyone up or just look to preach at a user name. I want to have a discussion with another human who shares a different point of view than I do. That's all.
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