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Would you be religious without a reward on offer?
- Thread starter Halcyon
- Start date
Buttercup
Veteran Member
Yes. We ascribe to beliefs because we gather some form of pleasure or reward from it. Could be peace of mind, knowledge, eternal life, calmness, etc. Why would a person believe in something with zero benefit?
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Some people are masochistic... and enjoy believing things that are bad for them. Nihlism doesn't offer anything positive.... Neither does being emo
shadow_fire
Member
Some people such as myself enjoy learning about religions and as such like to choose a religion that makes the most sense to them.
Buttercup
Veteran Member
Just because an outcome is negative doesn't mean it's not meaningful to the person holding that view. Some people are quite comfortable with the nihilistic viewpoint...it makes sense to them therefore bringing peace of mind so to speak. As far as being emo....even depression/whining has it's rewards. It's like a relaxing of our normal defenses and allowing all the crap to come out. For some, it's very cathartic after a bit and they have a change of heart because of the release.Some people are masochistic... and enjoy believing things that are bad for them. Nihlism doesn't offer anything positive.... Neither does being emo
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Just because an outcome is negative doesn't mean it's not meaningful to the person holding that view. Some people are quite comfortable with the nihilistic viewpoint...it makes sense to them therefore bringing peace of mind so to speak. As far as being emo....even depression/whining has it's rewards. It's like a relaxing of our normal defenses and allowing all the crap to come out. For some, it's very cathartic after a bit and they have a change of heart because of the release.
That makes more sense. I guess people do what makes them content... or able to "cope" with this lovely world of ours. I viewed Halc's question as more of a physical/material reward moreso than a reward of peace or tranquility. All can be classified as such, naturally, but I still equate being rewarded with getting a prize. Must be the comptetitive environment I was brought up in
Smoke
Done here.
Or anything that is perceived as positive. (Not to speak for B-cup.)
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Well even suffering can be viewed as positive by some. Like I said, I have a different view of "reward"....
... love your boots
(I have a pair like that)
Buttercup
Veteran Member
What's your definition of "reward"? Is it truly being awarded with a "prize"? And is that prize always material?
Isn't love a form of "reward"? If so, why wouldn't peace of mind be in the same category?
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
I read Halcyon's question that way, yes
I felt he was asking more about material rewards... and if not that, then exchanges for loyalty. That is the frame of mind in which I answered his question. Anything can be considered a "reward"... But I don't see peace of mind as a reward so much as a state of being. *shrug*
Buttercup
Veteran Member
Yeah, I figured that you answered based on the prize in heaven aspect but I was more interested in your personal definition of reward because of what you said about growing up around competition.I read Halcyon's question that way, yes
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Oh right.... you work hard - get a prize. (Twirling competitions, academic awards, fitness awards...) Rewards only come from "working hard" you don't get a "reward" unless you DO something to earn it. This is the environment of my early development... meaning school.
The only time you get "rewarded" for not doing anything is when your mom takes you out for ice cream just because she loves ya ... I'll have to come back to this later, Pumpkins call me *WOOOOO*
"Would you continue to live if life offered no reward?"
I feel that religion and life itself is about growth but growth is it's own "reward". There are many who would instantly answer yes to your question without realizing that simply following their religion is a reward in and of itself. Regardless of what is believed to come after. One follows a religion(or lack there of) because(ideally) it feels right or they believe it to be true. How do they know it "feels right" or come to the conclusion that it's "true". Well it is most likely that they get something akin to a warm fuzzy feeling inside of them by following their chosen path. Well that "warm fuzzy feeling(or whatever you may call it) falls under the definition of "reward". It's posotive reinforcment that keeps on the path your on. If you started getting a "cold itchy feeling" from the path your on in life odds are you would or at least would WANT to change your path because this feeling your getting makes you feel like what your doing is wrong. I'm not saying everyone follows their particular religion or lack there of FOR the reward... but without the reward of the good feeling most would feel no reason to continue. It's not selfish, it's natural. From the simplest to the most complex organisms whenever someone or something does something they get something out of it. If you get something good you are more likely to repeat the action than you are if you get something bad. That's not to say you do it FOR the reward but without the reward you are less likely to repeat yourself.......What reason would you have to.