Religious “Motivation For” Is Not Contingent Upon “Motivation Against”

Motivation is the drive, rationale, or reason for thinking or acting in a certain way. At the fundamental level, motivation is the quality and energy that shapes and defines being. The definition of being requires purpose — the impetus or justification that fuels and drives motivation.

Motivations generally have both a positive and negative side. Motivations to do, think, or be something positive are usually counterbalanced by equally powerful motivations to avoid doing, thinking, or being something negative. Put another way, motivations for something are also motivations against something.

With that in mind, it is worth considering that religious/spiritual motivations are only truly positive when the motivation for is far greater than any motivation against.

Taken further, positive religious/spiritual motivations for are never contingent upon motivation against.

This does not mean the against motivations do not exist — simply that the validity, cogency, justification, and effectiveness of for motivations of the spirit do not depend upon and are not subject to against motivations.