A Few Axioms, or Premises.

We would need to begin by stating a few premises, maybe even an axiom or two, something as a base upon which all other premises may be built. These premises will not deal with the intricacies of knowledge, and we won't delve deeply into the question, "how do I know that I know?" Instead, the following basic premises will be stated, axiomatically, from the Christian's perspective.

1. God exists.
2. The Bible is the word of God.
3. The Bible expresses that God rewards good and punishes evil.
4. The Bible expresses that there is life after death.
5. The Bible expresses that God's reward for good is eternal life, in His presence.
6. The Bible expresses that God's punishment is eternal sorrow away from His presence.

Given the above premises, would it be reasonable to assume that a Christian would desire pleasure and avoid pain? If so, then would it be reasonable to assume that the Christian would do what is necessary to obtain that pleasure and do what is necessary to avoid that pain?

If so, would it be reasonable to assume that doing what is needed to obtain the pleasure of the afterlife, he would need to modify his behavior according to what pleases God, and away from what displeases God?

Of course, this is spiritual pleasure or spiritual pain that the above premises allude to. There is also physical pleasure and physical pain, which a Christian endures while in this earthly life.

Would it be reasonable to assume that the Christian's "good" behavior is done for the purpose of attaining that promised pleasure, and to avoid that promised pain of the afterlife?

If God had stated the opposite, in His word, the bible, and promised to reward evil and punish good, wouldn't a Christian be more likely to pursue evil and avoid good?

If so, then wouldn't it be reasonable to state that the individual Christian is pursuing his own self interest? After all, it is his own individual pleasure of pain that he is concerned with. But how does this apply to altruism and selfishness? Isn't it selfishness, then, to do the right thing as opposed to the wrong thing? And if so, is selfishness really bad?

I posit that selfishness is either good or bad depending on what we are selfish for. If the Christian is selfish for the things pertaining to God, it should be a good thing. Contrarily, if a Christian is selfish for the things pertaining to this world, it should be a bad thing.

If so, then how is selfishness reconciled with altruism, or putting others first? If putting others first is a requirement to obtaining that which will be most pleasing in the long run, isn't this also selfish?

More to come.

Introduction.

The purpose of this first post to the blog is to introduce the subject of Christian Egoism to the reader, whether this reader be me (the originally intended reader) or any other passers-by.

The purpose of this blog is a self-analysis of the topic at hand--my own thoughts, analysis or ramblings on the subject. My current research on Egoism has found analyses that I believe fail to answer the important questions of, "what is Egoism?" To me, Egoism makes sense, at least the version of it known as Psychological Egoism.

I hope to somehow make more sense of it than what I've read about it so far. It's a daunting task, I know, especially since I am neither a student of philosophy enrolled in a college or university, nor am I a professor of any type, but I believe it's worth the effort. I am just a regular Joe who is literate and fairly intelligent, with an interest in philosophy, and the Socratic mindset that all I know is that I don't know anything.

What I've pondered so far seems to make sense, at least to me, and I hope to lay down a solid logical foundation for Egoism, and to show its compatibility with Christianity. Once again, a daunting task indeed, but wouldn't it be interesting if I actually did come up with some new perspective that no one has yet to discover?