A good Christian

[Canto]

So, I was out playing Magic with friends thursday night. I was waiting for the bus at midnight, kinda wandering around at the stop since its not a great neighborhood and standing still means the junkies/prostitutes will converge on you pretty quick. I stumbled over somthing, damn near got a face full of concrete in the process. I looked to see what it was, it was a cell phone sized leather case containing an iPhone. I looked around for anyone that looked like they, A) could afford an iPhone, B)could spell iPhone, C)might want to jack me for said iPhone. Only saw people from group C in the immediate vicinity, so I stuffed it in my pocket and got on the bus when it showed up. Searched through the contacts and such trying to find an entry for home, mom, dad, sis, bro or anything that might lead me to its owner so I could return it. Finding none of those, I put in a quick canned text saying that I found it, wanted to return it, help me contact owner, you know the drill. Sent it to the last 5 people that had texted the guy (dismayed that they were all in spanish, and my spanish is swear words and how to find the bathroom).

Got in touch with him about 2 hours later, and returned it to him friday evening. He was very thankful and said that god had answered his prayers about the phone, and that I was a good christian for returning the phone. I was quick to put the reigns on him and correct him about my religious status. He was surprised that a non-believer would give the phone back. He brought me some gourmet tortilla chips and salsa from the company he works for, and gave me $25 to boot. I gave $10 of it to the homeless guys living under the expressway nearby and shared the chips and salsa with my family. Hopefully, the guy will think better about us non-believers in the future.

 

[digitalbuddha48]

Great story, it's called genuine goodwill, people should look into it.

 

[SouthPaw]

cool!


personally.. i don't know what i would have done

i see moral and ethical actions as self-serving. If i would have felt a greater joy from his thankfullness, and the fact that i had done something right i would give it back. But if that joy was outweighed by what i would gain from having an iphone, in terms of personal sadisfaction and happiness.. i would perhaps keep it

another factor is the amount of guilt that one feels

this might sound horrible.... but i think this process of choosing the moral action over the immoral action.. occurs within most of us, even if we're not aware of it.

If you give a homeless person money, you usually give a small amount, so you can still feel good about it.. most people would not give homeless person 500 dollars, for obvious reasons ( i think ).. that money can get you more sadisfaction when spent, by YOU. than it does when given away

 

[IrBubble]

sadisfaction

I can only assume that the word sadis(t)faction is a freudian slip!

 

[theatheistguy]

I can only assume that the word sadis(t)faction is a freudian slip!

Nice! +1 :ugeek:

 

[SouthPaw]

I can only assume that the word sadis(t)faction is a freudian slip!

Sorry, my english grammar is sometimes lacking. and it has nothing to do with sadism... if thats what you are implying. I am being serious though.. the only truly non-selfish act is something like throwing yourself onto a handgranade to save the life of comrades in war.. other than that. i don't know of any moral acts that are not selfserving ( at least to some degree)

 

[e2iPi]

the only truly non-selfish act is something like throwing yourself onto a handgranade to save the life of comrades in war.. other than that. i don't know of any moral acts that are not selfserving ( at least to some degree)

Of course moral acts are self-serving. We do things that feel good, it feels good to help others with no expectation of reward.
There are very good evolutionary reasons why this behavior would arise in social animals. Far from cheapening altruistic acts, it means it is a deeply ingrained aspect of what makes us human.

 

[SouthPaw]

[
Of course moral acts are self-serving. We do things that feel good, it feels good to help others with no expectation of reward.
There are very good evolutionary reasons why this behavior would arise in social animals. Far from cheapening altruistic acts, it means it is a deeply ingrained aspect of what makes us human.

I agree fully

and i'm not cheapening it. I just think consciously about that when making moral decisions, and do not try to disguise my actions as selfsacrificial when i do moral actions

 

[e2iPi]

and i'm not cheapening it.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were. That's twice today I've made an unintentional implication, I'm on a roll.

I just think consciously about that when making moral decisions, and do not try to disguise my actions as selfsacrificial when i do moral actions

"This above all: To thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man." -Polonius
More people should follow this advice and your example. The world would be a much better place.

-1

 

[SouthPaw]

The first step in defying our genes, as dawkins would put it, is to take morality beyond reciprocal altruism but still collect the rewards built in to it, just like having sex and using birth controll, lets us collect the rewards without the behaviour having it's original function

the next step is to realise, thats what we are doing =)

and for me, it becomes a conscious choice, of what benefits me the most, when it comes to personal decisions.

for lawmakers etc.. this probably wouldn't be a good model to follow.. there, you have to swap personal, for societal benefits.

these ideas kind of clash when it comes to personal freedoms perhaps.. individual rights. But maybe that is an example of where both personal and societal benefits must be blended, with personal benefits taking precedence of course

 

[Gnomesmusher]

I probably would have been a bit insulted by the assumption that a non-believer would do good. But hell, empathy sure puts a damper on my more base emotions. The sad thing though, is that the guy would probably still think that you were the exception and not typical of non-believers.