Topic 15 Selfishness

Question 1

What does Christianity teach about selfishness?

Answer 1

• it is wrong -> should have active concern for others
• eg ‘golden rule’ ‘do for others what you want them to do for you’
• Jesus ‘love your neighbour as yourself’

Question 2

What does Luke 10 suggest about Christian attitudes towards selfishness?

Answer 2

• parable of Good Samaritan illustrates Christian attitudes

- Jesus told parable in response to man asking him what he should do to get to heaven

Question 3

What other teaching can be used to suggest that selfishness is contrary to Christian message?

Answer 3

• parable of sheep + goats
• Matt 25
• grading system depending on whether you have been kind to others or not

Question 4

What is one reason why non Christians would oppose selfishness?

Answer 4

• oppose selfishness when self interest leads directly to suffering of others

Question 5

What would Richard Dawkins believe about human selfishness? 1

Answer 5

• natural

- no reason to be anything other than selfish

Question 6

What did Thomas Hobbes (political philosopher) non religious believe?

Answer 6

• inherently selfish -> basic law of nature is ensuring own survival
• entitled to use others to achieve this
• ultimately humans realise that it is in self interest to enter ‘contract’ with others so we wouldn’t just do whatever we’d like to others

Question 7

What about the theory of evolution?

Answer 7

• survival of fittest
• naturally predisposed towards being selfish
• those that compete most effectively for available resources pass on their genes

Question 8

What are 2 examples of selfishness?

Answer 8

• buying something new instead of donating to charity

- speaking badly about others to help yourself

Question 9

What has Matt 25 got to do with selfishness as the root cause of human wrongdoing

Answer 9

• parable of sheep and goats
• emphasises that it is necessary to overcome human selfishness if you want to enter heaven
• goats condemned as don’t help poor, hungry etc.`

Question 10

What has Luke 16 got to do with selfishness as root cause of human wrongdoing?

Answer 10

• rich man and Lazarus
• condemned to hell as ignored poverty of Lazarus
• lived luxurious life focussing on himself and own needs rather than beggar lazarus

Question 11

What has Matt 16:24 got to do with selfishness as root cause of human wrongdoing?

Answer 11

• jesus teaches ‘whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves + take up their cross and follow me’
• cross = wrong doings of humanity
• suggests that to be disciple one has to let go of selfish desires
• selfishness can stop person from being true Christian / living how god intends us to
• therefore root of wrongdoing for Christian

Question 12

What has Augustine got to do with selfishness as root cause of human wrongdoing?

Answer 12

• Original sin = root cause of everything

- sin causes selfishness in humans -> leads to wrongdoing

Question 13

What do non religious views uphold about selfishness as root cause of human wrong doing?

Answer 13

Yes true- shown throughout history eg apartheid

• selfishness causes injustice

Question 14

What did Dawkins believe about selfishness as root cause of human wrongdoing?

Answer 14

• selfishness = positive as it enables us to survive in evolutionary terms
• what drives people to look after themselves (survival of fittest)

Question 15

Western consumerism

Answer 15

• gain more stuff at expense of others
• eg child cotton worker in terrible conditions producing material for a pittance
• illustrates how selfishness -> injustice
• eg apartheid turning a blind eye to anything that doesnt inconvenience them
• selfishness = ignoring needs of others if they themselves are fine