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Originally Posted by QueenBee
I think it might just be in our nature to be selfish. I do think, and *know* that some of those who believe in god have great love for him and not just the aftermath, but the question is where that love stems from (is that even a correct sentance? Anyways...).
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Undoubtedly there are people like that as well. But as a general rule I'd say people don't "do" religion for their great love of God but rather a great love for themselves and their well-being. A great thinker once said: temples are not being built for people worshiping God. Temples are being built for people worshiping themselves.
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Originally Posted by QueenBee
All in all, man often does something only if it brings him something aswell, a prize in the form of comfort maybe (the thought of going to heaven after life gives you security) or simply material things. But then again, if you look at it that way, then all we do is selfish. Even if we help somebody cross the street and don't get anything back, we often feel good about ourselves for doing a good deed (=pride).
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That's an interesting point. I think of it like this: bad people, who'd have no moral fiber or selflessnes in them would be completely unfamiliar with the whole concept of "feeling good after doing a good deed".
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Originally Posted by Khartoun2004
Thank you for the summary Freddie. I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately. Zen teaches people to get enlightment and then save all beings from suffering. When a person becomes enlightened, they can't enter Niravana until all sentient beings (yes even the insects and most vile of human beings) attain enlightment.
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Eventhough I have other ideological issues with Buddhism, I consider the fact it fights for selfless enlightment of everything it's greatest virtue.