Would you give up your place in heaven...

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The need where? The need that arises in them that those acts be done. Seeing as there is no one beyond them (they suppose) the need can be only sourced in themselves. And so the righteous act that follows is attributable only to that something arising in themselves. Attributed to themselves thus, making the act a self-righteous one.

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I believe your supposition is way off here. The other people around them would be where the need is sourced from. They may suppose that there is no higher power but not that there is no one else other than themselves that may need assistance. The act would then be not one of self righteousness but of selflessness. Since they are acting for the benefit of others for the others good alone.

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I can't see much to applaud to be honest (if looking at things through unbelieving lens). What formed them: society, upbringing, genetics? What credit does a person take for such things?

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These are the exact same circumstances that formed your thoughts and emotions. You may attribute them to god but your actions to any given situation is the same pre-programmed response as anyone else. You are a product of your enviroment. If you were raised with high morals than you will most likely continue to express those morals in your actions. If you were raised in a, lets say less than moral enviroment, than you will display these same attributes. Until some external trigger comes along to make you rethink your own ethics.I do not believe that any christian who has the full "knowledge" of what hell is and all that it includes, would make the choice to knowingly seperate themselves from god. In doing so they are rejecting god and by god's standards must be condemend to hell. The only way one could say yes to that question is that, by doing so they are secretly hoping for a reward for demonstrating their own selflessness. However this act would not be a pure selfless act but merely chest beating ("look how good I am god.That I care for others like jesus did")so it would account for not and they would be sent to hell.

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I was talking about myself. I know what stealing is and I know it's wrong. And I wouldn't be able to reinterpret Gods word on the matter to suit my own book - even when I steal.

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He won't let me.

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But you could use it for the purpose of killing? Many have used their religion to justify any action they want. These are just examples from the OT, I won't even get started on Islam. There is no moral high ground due to religion. Because anyone can use their interpretation against yours. Look at what occured in Ireland for years.

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Exodus 32:27
Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' "

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From the mouth of Moses. Religion justifying murder

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Esther 9:5
The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them

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Are you saying the jews were not justified for killing in the name of their god?

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Acts 7:24
He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian

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About Moses again, man this guy loved to kill people.
Sorry but I just don't believe that your individual belief justifies your actions or makes you any more moral than anyone else.

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giving up ones spot is a symbolic gesture like standing on the bus or light rail so that others may sit.

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From a christian perspective it would also be symbolic of actively rejecting god for the betterment of man. Which would earn you ticket on the express bus to hell. IMO I would like to believe that god is more intelligent and less petty than this and could see the significance of such an act. I think that whatever created the universe has in their ability to reckognize all of creation and not just those who believe they are better than others.

Iano I am really enjoying our discussion however I fear we have strayed off topic. maybe we ought to start a new thread on the authority of righteousness? Any reply to the second part of my message in regards to hoping that God would not be uncallous and could see a self sacrifice as a means to liberate other condemed souls and your own?

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2.) I want to be where Jesus is.

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If Jesus is there in hell I would prefer to be there with Him rather than in heaven without Him.

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What would drive my decision is "Where would my Lord Jesus be?"

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Wouldn't this be tantamount to placing others before God? In this example you actively reject God in order to follow Jesus. Which correct me if I am wrong but is a violation of the ten commandments. I know that many believe in the trinity which would than lead to the argument that since Jesus is one part of God than you can not follow Jesus and reject God. However, I myself do not believe in the trinity. I believe that the trinity is an add on in order to establish Jesus' divinity, I believe in one God. So actively rejecting God in favor of Jesus is a clear indication that you place more emphasis on the messenger than on the message.