Smiles! I like your thoughts Thorne! Yes, I feel there are subtle differences - that of a half empty glass or a half full glass! You may do it for the fear of punishment or you do it out of the love and appreciation! I am 45, and still when I clean (and try to do it regularly!) my place, I cherish the feeling that if my mum was around, she would have felt proud of me! I learned my cooking skills and cleanliness from her. I do acknowledge her positive contributions from the time, when I was unable to express myself (just born) to the time where I reasoned unreasonably (young boy), till the time that the world's acknowledged universities and institutions acknowledged my little achievements. Many including my mum have played their role in my development. All these individuals and my mum don't need a part of my degrees or awards or the money I make, they just would like to hear from me that I do acknowledge/appreciate their positive role in my life - this will make them smile and feel satisfied if not proud.

I don't fear my mum for the fear of punishment, she is not more powerful then me, at least not now but, then yes, this is all the more reason to fear more, for I may lose her love and affection, if I disappoint her. My point is that fear also flows from losing a love of your loved one and to me it is more powerful then the fear of the punishment.

We all like to be acknowledged, I do, if I don't, based on my limited knowledge of psychology, I would not be a normal person. The boy who does it on his own and consider that to be only his own virtue denies the efforts of the parents who provided him that environment in which he learned, and of all those individuals who contributed in his personality development. The second child, give credit where it is due, even though he is also now doing on his own yet acknowledges the fact that many factor contributed - yes both the boys had options but one of them chose not only to learn and adopt the right traits for himself, but also to acknowledge from where they were coming for.

My point was that if I was to be in your shoes, I would have not tried to reject (or ridicule..."hell with...") the existence of the God (for do I really know? or is it that I do not still have the sufficient knowledge to make a judgement?) I rather would have played save saying, well I am not sure yet, nevertheless what I do good is because I feel good doing so, and if that is what the God, if exist, says so, well good for both of us – for me to know that there is God who believes like me in my goodness, and also good for the God who has someone like me!

Recently you said, "We should respect the rights of others ... because that's how we want to be treated ourselves.." well I accept and am with you on it, so why not respect for the ONE, so He, if there may have respect for us?!