Answer: One can be
loving, kind, philanthropic or work for universal peace whether one
believes in God or not. For the theist, praiseworthy action is grounded
in spiritual values, presumably forming part of a belief system that
originates with God or an ultimate Being, communicated through divine
revelation or the acquisition of wisdom by other means. The
non-believer believes that he or she is independent of such a Being and
looks to the origin of goodness within and exclusively through the
human being.
But the question is not whether one can be good with or without God,
but rather, what is the ultimate source of goodness, and how is it
communicated? Some would argue that it doesn’t matter; it is strictly
the deed that counts. Not so, for every deed is motivated by the
conscious knowledge of the Good and is actuated by an intention or a
spirit that determines the full value of the action.
For Bahá’ís, good deeds cannot be separated from the knowledge and love
of God. These dynamic, driving forces are the generating purpose moving
all creation. They should not be abstracted from anyone’s existence.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains: “…that which is the cause of everlasting life,
eternal honor, universal enlightenment, real salvation and prosperity
is, first of all, the knowledge of God. It is known that the knowledge
of God is beyond all knowledge, and it is the greatest glory of the
human world.” (Some Answered Questions, p. 300).
He explains further: “Second, comes the love of God, the light of which
shines in the lamp of the hearts of those who know God; its brilliant
rays illuminate the horizon…In truth, the fruit of human existence is
the love of God, for this love is the spirit of life, and the eternal
bounty” (SAQ, p. 300). He maintains that when the knowledge and the
love of God combine to motivate a deed, the deed itself acknowledges
the source of all goodness and is complete and perfect. If not,
although it is praiseworthy, it is like a beautiful lamp that has no
light, or a body of loveliness without spirit. -
Jack
McLean
