 |
| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Tearing down walls > Altruism | Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
AtTheWell
Registered Member
Date Joined Nov 2004
Total Posts : 133
| Posted 5/2/2005 2:58 PM (GMT -6) |   | |
Hello wonderful people!
I am seeking a better definition of altruism - I am often skeptical, even cynical, about so called "selfless acts", inside and outside of the church. I am concerned that this leads to a very close-minded view of Faith/Interfaith, and love outside of Faith, inside myself.
Any good examples?
| | Back to Top | | |
 |
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 5/3/2005 5:36 AM (GMT -6) | | Try on this definition ATW:
Altruism is a motivational state with the ultimate goal of increasing another's welfare.
Egoism, on the other hand, is a motivational state with the ultimate goal of increasing one's own welfare.
(Dan Batson)
I like the language of "motivational state" and "ultimate" goal...
To me, "motivational state" suggests a consistent way of being that reflects our beliefs...especially about love/loving behavior in this case. Think about it like this...if we really believe that love is a renewable resource and that loving actions positively affect other people, then we would be motivated to act and react out of that belief. The result would be that we'd seek to empower others with actual other regarding behavior rather than acting out of the opposing belief that we have to constantly seek more power for ourselves. It's been suggested that our automatic empathetic responses toward relieving the pain of another is where this motive is most evident. (I buy that!) Sure, WE benefit when others benefit (to some degree), but reciprocity is not the "ultimate" goal when we're talking about altruism.
Blessigns and love,
selah
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. | | Back to Top | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 1:45 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|