Does Selfless Giving Exist?

[englishredrose]

But,
Does altruism really exist because those people who simply give and expect nothing in return at all do expect to be able to give… whether their gift is actually really wanted. I think they would feel kind of hurt if someone handed them back their gift saying “no thank you” and left it at that without any further explanation. Some people enjoy giving and that is their need, that they enjoy. They like to see the joy on anothers’ face as they receive that isn’t altruistic, there is still a need somewhere along the line in giving. They need to feel good. They have the means and can make someone else feel good in short makes them feel good. No they don’t have to give, I agree. But there isn’t any real such thing as 100% alturistic giving because most of the people who give do expect a ‘thank you’ in some shape or form and also they give because they can feel good in giving. If they feel guilty in not giving - then there nothing altruistic in that as they need to feel something in the giving. I really believe there is no such concept as true altruism because they get some kind of joy in being able to etc and have that need to feel that joy in being able to give. The pleasure in being able to give is a need in itself which is fulfilled by the receiver being gracious in receiving the gift and hence to me not altruistic because there is still a need because the giver wouldn’t give or at least give up giving if they weren’t satisfied in the joy of the receiver…

It not just the materialistic return of thank you. One has to take into account the persons’ need, in wanting to give. That instantly counteracts any altruisitc act…

And would we continue to just be with God without demanding anything if we didn’t believe that God is there? We are still expecting God to be there when we are just being with him so that defeats altruism too because we are wanting his presence. Most of us would give up without any sense of believe He is there

 

[fred_conty]

I saw a story about three jews who were freed from a German concentration camp during the II world war. After their release, they were wondering down the road not knowing where to go.
After a while they came upon some American tanks who had men sitting on them. The three Jews asked where they should go because they were confused and didn’t know what to do. One of the men sitting on top told them to continue on down the road a short distance and they would come across a town. He told them they would find help there. Then he asked the other Americans if they had any food to spare. And a number of them thew him some of their rations. He personally handed the food to them, and then gave each of them a hug. They didn’t know that human kindness still existed and they were all impressed.

One of the Jews later came to America and became a citizen. He was so impressed with this American’s kindness to them that he later became a counsoler and moderator to poor boys in a rough neighborhood.

I believe the dear Lord put it in all of us for that is what is most noble in man.

Just a thought.

 

[englishredrose]

sorry,
but the man giving the food… did so because a) he had it to give b)will have eaten and knew where the next meal was comnig from and c) would have felt bad at some point if they had driven on - so in my mind not very altruistic because he saw their need and gave. He had nothing to loose in giving. Everything to gain by giving. He/they gained peace of mind by seeing them not go hungry…
Most of us would willing give another some food if we have already eaten or knew where our next meal is likely to be. But how many of us would give some food if we were hungry and knew that was our last portion for the unseeable future. Would we have give then? True alturism, then yes we would. But how many of us really would go that far to help another especially without any doubt, without any question of their need greater or lesser than ours without any bitterness if we hadn’t been already bitten by willingly giving… Just simply give and not expect a thank you or any indifference to our own peace of mind be it negative questioning or praise for our action to oourselves…