A few months ago I had one of the most enlightening conversations with an acquaintance. She, unlike me, grew up without any exposure to religion. I am Christian; she is Agnostic. She said "I just don't think people should have to have an incentive to be decent, kind, and non-assholes." I agree. Love, kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy, and generosity should not have be incentivized in order for people to freely give/show them to other people. Hopefully we will get there one day. Maybe our connectedness as members of the human race, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etcetera, will suffice, and we will be "decent, kind, non-assholes" to one another, no incentives needed. Until that day, let's not forget what separates "sheeps and goats."
P.S.:
The fact that over 70% of Americans identify as Christians blows my mind. I wonder what our nation would be like if over 70% of Americans believed in and practiced Matthew 22:36-40. I know I am guilty of incongruity and hypocrisy. I have to do better.
