FOR many, God dictates the nature of their lives. Regardless of whatever religion you may subscribe to, one fundamental axiom remains: you do good because your God commands you to. If this purpose is not fulfilled, some punishment, whether it may stem in the current or after life will be inflicted upon you.
Throughout my life, I’ve noticed, through all the religions that I have studied, the same narrative emerge. People fear God and therefore do good deeds in the fear of being punished by an almighty deity. Many call this “holy fear.” In my eyes, I see it simply as a threat.
Atheism, many times, has been misconstrued. Just because one is an atheist does not mean that he or she willfully persecutes those of faith. Just like the fact that not every Christian torches a member of the LGBTQ community, not every atheist condemns the values of religion.
I am not here to criticize the root of religion, because frankly, that would do no one good. Instead, I would like to explore the true definition of being “good.” As I mentioned before, many people do good deeds because they fear God. They fear being condemned to a fiery pit for eternity. If viewed objectively, one can see that doing good deeds in this context becomes shallow.
If you only donated to the poor because you fear of rotting in a terrible afterlife; if you only go to church or holy service to gain the favor of God and to not actually learn to become a good person; if you only help others seeking some benefit for yourself, in the form of spiritual compensation in the future; if you live every breath in the fear of judgement; how is this being a person of true virtue? Of true humanity and “goodness?”
A truly “good person” is a person who does good deeds without the expectation of any type of retribution. A person who helps others for the sake of helping others. A person who wants to help the world in genuine spirit and not in hope of gaining any sort of spiritual favor. A good person is one who does good acts without being indirectly forced to do so.
Now, I am not saying that it is impossible for a religious person to be “truly” good. One can still be religious and do good deeds, because of the fact that they are “good.” Religion does a good job in categorizing most immoral deeds from the moral ones. It offers a clear, believable distinction on what is right and wrong. Use that as a basis to be a better person. Make that the focus of your life, not the fact that you are adding all your good deeds in God’s bank account so that you may have a better afterlife.
In a world filled with so much sorrow, hatred, and depression, never before has the need for “good” people to emerge.
To reiterate, the atheist does not wish for the destruction of moral principles. The atheist believes in the intrinsic capability of humans to do both good and bad. Therefore, the atheist that practices “good” virtues, without spiritual or opportunistic premeditation, is a “truly good” person.
Going forward into our broken world, it is imperative to understand these fundamental distinctions in motivation. Perhaps once we understand the true values of people, we can understand how to form a more empathic, transparent, and compassionate society better.
Perhaps one day we can unite, in genuine faith for humanity, to make the world a better place.