Many are overwhelmed with irritation and even regret, to a degree, when they perform a good deed that goes unnoticed. Was the act done solely for others ' benefit, or for the self-righteousness and rewards that come as a consequence? Psychologists are hotly debated over this topic. Puritans during the early 16th century believed that humans ' hard work, morals, and faith in heaven would grant them an afterlife in heaven. Contrastingly, Humanists during the 17th century believed that all efforts were on man, not God; they wanted to achieve happiness in their current life through logic and hard work. A desire to reap the benefits and escape the consequences of doing otherwise fuel human motivation for doing good; in many other instances,
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William Bradford, in Of Plymouth Plantation, records when he and his fellow Puritans were confronted by an American Indian, they provided him with "friendly entertainment and some gifts" then "made a peace with him" (Bradford 72). Europeans and Indians didn 't get along, so logically Puritans showed benevolence towards Indians to reduce violence between the two groups. Puritans had little interest in genuine relationships with foreign peoples; they kept peace between them and therefore remained dominant. Johnathan Edwards, in his 1741 sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, argues God is holding unsaved people "over the pit of hell" and he is not "in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment" (Edwards 46). An overwhelming majority of those who heard this sermon took the necessary actions to be saved and dedicate their lives to God. These people performed these actions because they were religiously prompted to, not out of the goodness of their hearts. People use good deeds as a medium to escape dreadful situations, such as Indian conflict and …show more content…
In 2007, Wesley Autrey jumped on a man having an epileptic seizure to save him from an oncoming subway train. When later interviewed about the event, Autrey revealed that he felt it was the humane thing to do. This act surely resulted in popularity, however it is highly unlikely someone would risk their life just for a small portion of fame. In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin describes his plan to better his life through thirteen virtues. Franklin was a founding father and therefore an expert on the dynamics of government and how to reach its full potential. These virtues, which included doing civil duty and being respectful, started with Franklin and would branch from person to person until everyone had an ideal character. In turn, educated and well rounded people could make better decisions regarding their political choices. Examples set in modern as well as colonial times show purity in the good deeds people
William Bradford, in Of Plymouth Plantation, records when he and his fellow Puritans were confronted by an American Indian, they provided him with "friendly entertainment and some gifts" then "made a peace with him" (Bradford 72). Europeans and Indians didn 't get along, so logically Puritans showed benevolence towards Indians to reduce violence between the two groups. Puritans had little interest in genuine relationships with foreign peoples; they kept peace between them and therefore remained dominant. Johnathan Edwards, in his 1741 sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, argues God is holding unsaved people "over the pit of hell" and he is not "in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment" (Edwards 46). An overwhelming majority of those who heard this sermon took the necessary actions to be saved and dedicate their lives to God. These people performed these actions because they were religiously prompted to, not out of the goodness of their hearts. People use good deeds as a medium to escape dreadful situations, such as Indian conflict and …show more content…
In 2007, Wesley Autrey jumped on a man having an epileptic seizure to save him from an oncoming subway train. When later interviewed about the event, Autrey revealed that he felt it was the humane thing to do. This act surely resulted in popularity, however it is highly unlikely someone would risk their life just for a small portion of fame. In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin describes his plan to better his life through thirteen virtues. Franklin was a founding father and therefore an expert on the dynamics of government and how to reach its full potential. These virtues, which included doing civil duty and being respectful, started with Franklin and would branch from person to person until everyone had an ideal character. In turn, educated and well rounded people could make better decisions regarding their political choices. Examples set in modern as well as colonial times show purity in the good deeds people