Do people do good to avoid going to hell?

Nope. People do god for many reasons, but not out of fear of some vague punishment in the future.

I’m at the age where I feel my fate is sealed. IF I haven’t reserved my spot in Heaven by now, NO amount of good is going to get me there!!! Therefore, I choose to do good because I see it as the right thing to do!!! I’ve NEVER been an evil person & have found my life to be much more livable when I make the right choices. Choosing good leaves me with a warm & fuzzy feeling where choosing bad leaves me feeling empty. I choose good for very selfish reasons…at the end of the day, warm & fuzzy is much more pleasant than empty!!!

I would prefer they do good because it’s the right thing to do.

@Caravanfan said it best. “If the only reason you are a good person is because of fear of punishment, you are not a good person.”

You asked these two questions already.

Perhaps. It’s probably one of so very many reasons the category of “good” gets so stuffed with “evils”.

No. To do good you must act unselfishly whereas dodging hell is a selfish act.

Agreed.

The main reason people “do good” is because they know what it feels like when someone else helps them, forgives them, or spreads goodwill or generosity. And / or they want the world to be made a better place.

The second reason, is similar to the above, but they want other people to like them.

The closest “spiritual’ reason I encounter, is that a lot of people believe that the good and the bad that you do will come back to you, such as Karma, or a way of things balancing out. I personally do not hold this view. You can be ‘good’ even sincerely and maybe all you get is people taking advantage of you. That doesn’t mean you stop being helpful or generous, however; If you are, you’re stuck with being a ‘good’ person regardless of rewards or lack thereof.

As far as Christianity is concerned, people want to please God, but probably do not fear Hell. Most people who believe in the Christian God believe they are saved by Grace. They do good in order to please God. More out of gratitude.

I don’t. I don’t believe in any God(s), or any religion, or heaven or hell. I try to do good things to be useful and helpful, and because it beats the alternative.

I mean, that would be a natural, instinctive approach to have but “doing good” should really be about self fulfilment.