Asks Quote by Richard Dawkins
“It is interesting to ask whether there's any general reason why being religious might make you do nice things or indeed nasty things. It's possible that people do nice things because they're religious. One reason might be they're hoping for a reward in Heaven, which is not a very noble reason.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins, 2006
Religious belief can motivate both altruism and harm, often driven by expectations of divine reward rather than intrinsic morality.
In simple terms: Religion can inspire good or bad deeds, sometimes for selfish reasons.
Key Takeaway
Examine motives behind actions.
Themes
morality
religion
motivation
psychology
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- Charitable work
- political activism
- interfaith dialogue
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Altruism
reward theory
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people act kindly when they expect a reward?
- Can morality exist without religious belief?
A Different Perspective
Motives may be mixed; external rewards can undermine genuine virtue.
![“More and more people are becoming unable to accept traditional [religious] beliefs. If they think that, apart from these beliefs, there is no reason for kindly behaviour, the results may be needlessly unfortunate. That is why it is important to show that no supernatural reasons are needed to make…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e97/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_more-and-more-people-are-becoming-unable_1214762.jpg)
