Which is better?

[Taiji]

Which is more inherently 'good'?

To do something because you know it is the right thing to do.

- or -

To do something because you know it is the right thing to do and that god will reward you.

[webMaster412160]

The first one,because god is made up by human kind to explain the things they don't understand.
Their is something out their but it aint calling god.

[Djûn]

Hmm... The question you're getting to is whether morality is attached to motive or intention, I presume? Or are you asking whether a moral intention or a moral motive is more important?

[Playfishpaste]

Both are of equal moral weight.

I think you're confusing morals with good. The first one is more good. However, if you're intending to use this as an argument against any kind of monotheistic religions in terms of good, it doesn't make sense. No member of the major religions does good to get into heaven, that would go against most of the monotheistic religions.

[Adrian]

Another one who uses the term moral well my friend give me a clear definition of morality and what it entails ?

Beacuse its impossible to answer the question "morality" (how I hate that term) implies that your principles are superior to mine and that their is a standardized version of it widely accepted.

Well it isn't "morality" as you call it doesn't have a standardized or absolute version so I think the word is inappropriate here maybe you should have used ethical or principles.

[Taiji]

Sorry for the confusion, I've just edited the question to make it clearer.

Thanks for the response

[Junius]

Let us assume that there is a moral god.

Now, is what god professes moral because he says so? Or does he profess it because it is moral?

I know this isn't really attached to your original post, so let me offer a small caveat.

The actions of a Christian are done because god says that to be a Christian one must do so and so. Now, is a Christian one that believes in Christ, or one who accepts Christ's teachings without accepting Christ? Or do you have to do and accept both? Can you have a Secularist Christian?

[Playfishpaste]

Let us assume that there is a moral god.

Now, is what god professes moral because he says so? Or does he profess it because it is moral?

I know this isn't really attached to your original post, so let me offer a small caveat.

The actions of a Christian are done because god says that to be a Christian one must do so and so. Now, is a Christian one that believes in Christ, or one who accepts Christ's teachings without accepting Christ? Or do you have to do and accept both? Can you have a Secularist Christian?

euthyphro's problem. Aquinas's answer for it is that god is omnibenevolent, and therefore since he contains all of the good in the world, none of his commands can be immoral. Does this mean morality is something that wasn't created by god? Not necessarily, it only means that we can no all of god's commands are morally sound in the end (and the last bit is a very important part).


A christian is someone who is a follower of christ, so yes you can have a secular christian. However, when people say "christian" they usually mean a person who subscribes to a religious sect of christianity. I know some pretty christian atheists, for instance.

[Fishy]

The first... To act without reward is harder then to act with a reward, of whatever type it may be.

[Tigrul]

I totally agree with good ol' Albert Einstein on this.

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

[Fiyenyaa]

Which is more inherently 'good'?

To do something because you know it is the right thing to do.

- or -

To do something because you know it is the right thing to do and that god will reward you.

They are both the same, because the first part of the second one means that it is the same as the first one, just with added bits.

BUT, if you don't "know" something to be right, and instead are just following rules that god happened to lay out for you - and that's the reason you are performing said moral action - then that's definitely far less good.