Comments on: God is Selfish (and that’s ok) http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/god-is-selfish-and-thats-ok/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:53:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jew http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/god-is-selfish-and-thats-ok/#comment-465 Jew Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:18:36 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/god-is-selfish-and-thats-ok/#comment-465 Sometimes the term self-interest conveys the meaning better than selfishness. The negative connotations of selfishness are hard to overcome. One thing you didn't define was sacrifice. If we define it as Objectivism does--giving up a greater value for a lesser one--then sure, Jesus didn't sacrifice anything. But if we define sacrifice as giving up something lesser in order to secure a long-term gain, then we can see Jesus's actions as a sacrifice. He gave up his life (the lesser) in order to align himself with God's will and secure the salvation of men (the greater gain). Sometimes the term self-interest conveys the meaning better than selfishness. The negative connotations of selfishness are hard to overcome.

One thing you didn’t define was sacrifice. If we define it as Objectivism does–giving up a greater value for a lesser one–then sure, Jesus didn’t sacrifice anything. But if we define sacrifice as giving up something lesser in order to secure a long-term gain, then we can see Jesus’s actions as a sacrifice. He gave up his life (the lesser) in order to align himself with God’s will and secure the salvation of men (the greater gain).

]]> By: Colin Elliott http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/god-is-selfish-and-thats-ok/#comment-467 Colin Elliott Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:00:25 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/07/god-is-selfish-and-thats-ok/#comment-467 Yes, I had a whole couple paragraphs on sacrifice but I took it out. I made the exact point you did - that Jesus' sacrifice was not giving up something of higher value than what he achieved. I felt it was redundant - thanks for adding it. Yes, I had a whole couple paragraphs on sacrifice but I took it out. I made the exact point you did - that Jesus’ sacrifice was not giving up something of higher value than what he achieved. I felt it was redundant - thanks for adding it.

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