Connecting Singles^® Forums100% Free Online Dating

Christians and other religious-believers say that their main purpose is to serve God, and that they do things principally to please Him (or Her). That is, they are not acting with the idea of obtaining any reward.

Let's put that to the test: What if regardless of your actions to please God (or gods), you knew you would spend the rest of eternity in Hell (or a hellish place). Would you still then have any desire to please God?

In another thread I asked whether we would prefer to love knowing we would never be loved, or to be loved knowing we would never love in return?

The idea in both cases is whether we act fundamentally selfishly, or for the benefit of others.

Jeff

Well i'm in a coldishly hellish hole but still please the lord.......*time to time*

Hi Ambrose not religious so can't answer just thought i'd say hellooooo

Well, at least you look good in snow, Luscious.

Any chance for a serious answer from your clever and devious little mind?

Hi, Morgan! Thanks for the friendly greeting...I have a feeling it may come in handy as this thread goes on (assuming it does).

Youre question is neither logical or sensible.People act on emotion and blind faith,not questions.

i think you have a point there ! just in case you need it !

My logical depth has been depleted..

as for God, I try to live my life to please him as to be given the gift of eternity in heaven. If you take away heaven and replace it will hell, no matter how I live my life...If I am still the person I am today, I would continue being the person I am and doing what I do. Cuz, I really enjoy being a nice, decent, and normally a good person...and since I generally do things to pls God as well as myself I would keep going as I'm going today, it makes me feel better about myself.

About the whole Love thing...I covered it the best I could in the other thread...LOL.. I still would choose to give...convince me why receiving is better...hehe...

I'm not especially religious, but if I act in a Christian manner, such as helping others, I never expect a reward.

I don't do things to please God, but I try to act in a Christian manner.

I guess I do that because it makes me feel good and hence I'm being selfish because I benefit too.

Hell has nothing to do with it since I believe there is no such place


Does that make any sense?

I'm not especially religious, but if I act in a Christian manner, such as helping others, I never expect a reward.

I don't do things to please God, but I try to act in a Christian manner.

I guess I do that because it makes me feel good and hence I'm being selfish because I benefit too.

Hell has nothing to do with it since I believe there is no such place


Does that make any sense?

Isn't hell for catholics only? After all they have to have something to feel guilty about?

Humans are fundamentally selfish. We "learn" NOT to be.

I'm not sure that all of us believe in either a Heaven or Hell. We are not all of the same beliefs nor cultures. Therefore, the question can be interpreted in many ways. As for "pleasing God"....we please him when we please ourselves. (Ok, guys, Not sexually, get your mind outta the gutter!)

I mean as in pleasing ourselves in our accomplishments and our endeavors, and how we treat others. If we are not "pleased" with our own lives, it's difficult to believe that anyone/anything else would be. It's not a question of pleasing a God...it's a question of being true to what we know/believe in our own hearts to be good. At least for myself it is.

Besides, "Hell" is what you make it. Some have lived it here on Earth.

No one I know has been there and come back to describe it!

In that case no. I would not even come close to pleasing God. I think it’s because I don’t believe in a punishing God.

I also don’t believe that my purpose in life is to please him. If he is perfect as many say he is, he does not need me or anyone else for that matter to remind him of how perfect he is.

And if God turns out to be some one who punishes because he was not worshipped they way He sees fit, then I would probably see Him as a selfish God that I would not want to worship.

Not the first posting, no, Arabella - but the second time around I finally got your point.

I am what people would call spiritual not religious. I was raised by the "Golden Rule". Whether it is to please God or not, I believe that you do unto others as you want them to do unto you. Being a good to people and helping them make me feel good about myself. I raised my boys to help people, with no expectation of reward. I believe that God is there. I also believe before we go, everyone, even atheists become believers. god will accept everyone who goes or calls to him in the end, because he is a gracious forgiving being. We are living in hell now. The only hell would be to be made to stay here for all eternity.

Sorry didn't mean to sound preachy.

One time my sister was walking down the street and gave her loose change to a homeless guy, she was kinda broke and thought to herself * if i help this guy, God may return the favor*.
After a second or two, she then realised that she had done something really selfish. She shouldn't have given to get rather give because she wanted to help.

I believe in the same thing, it's all about making choices, if they are positive or make someone's life a little more comfortable, then you have already rewarded yourself.

I'd serve Leona Helmsley...if I thought it would keep me out of Hell......assuming there is such a place..of course!!

Answering the second part first , Yes it is possible to love knowing you might never have it for keeps or never live with that person .... and to love without getting love in return ..is possible too as thats what it ought to be if the feeling is sincere and deep ..

About pleasing God .. i cant seem to do that. I can have faith , follow and learn , admire the goodness and try to incorporate it but cant please for a favor. Besides , the religion i follow.... god is supposed to be the " enlightened one" who doesnt need to be pleased or otherwise as the one lives abode in a realm where the worldly feelings have no bearing .. so you reap the fruits of what you sow .. thats the only rule to behold ..

Thus , hell or not .. i would continue t o be and believe like now ..

I live here and now...

according to my morals

and receive hell on earth whatever I do

and experience heaven however I act...

Life is now.