Can we do any good without God?

[Matthewmatt]

Reading the Bible, “But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.” Hebrews 11:16 and Imitation of Christ a very great Book ive come to the conclusion that without God we are nothing and that we can’t do any good by ourselves but only by the Grace of God. We must first have Faith then we can do Works. I believe in Faith and Works but protestants exspecially say that one must have Faith then Works come so by that logic if you have no Faith you cant have works either right? So do us Christians, Catholic and Protestant alike say that atheist cant do any good works since they have no Faith or a lesser Faith? If we do believe this how i can i defend this point when atheists will probably say they do Charity or are good to people etc.
?

Thank You
God Bless

 

[Swiss_Guy]

They can please humans, and technically God if in, say, politics, they are pro-life, for some reason want the government to work for the good of the Church, etc., but in the end what they do means nothing because they won’t have eternal salvation.

 

[bearer]

All goodness comes from God Himself, even if some don’t believe in or accept Him.

Yes, an atheist can do good works, but that goodness does not come from him- or herself.

 

[meltzerboy]

They can please humans, and technically God if in, say, politics, they are pro-life, for some reason want the government to work for the good of the Church, etc., but in the end what they do means nothing because they won’t have eternal salvation.

What atheists do for others must mean something to those whom they help. And in this way their behavior is probably pleasing to G-d as well. In addition, their actions surely mean something to them, perhaps affording them a sense of achievement and pride in what they’ve done.

To the OP: of course atheists can do good even not believing in G-d. Our good works are a product of G-d’s faith in us even if we might not always–or ever–have faith in Him.

 

[GAHere]

…To the OP: of course atheists can do good even not believing in G-d. Our good works are a product of G-d’s faith in us even if we might not always–or ever–have faith in Him.

Consider the likelihood that an athiest being moved to do good works is being prepped by the Spirit for a conversion experience. Of course non-believers in God can do good works, especially if they believe in humanity, in mankind, in working to keep the species alive. In their minds their motivation for these works is not tied to God but we believers know better.

 

[fred_conty]

“For the performance of a morally good action Sanctifying Grace is not required.”
“The Grace of Faith is not necessary for the performance of a morally good action.”
“Actual Grace is not necessary for the performance of a morally good action.”

“For every salutary act internal supernatural grace of God is absolutely necessary.”

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Ludwig Ott