In theory, Christians can go one up on non-believers in the self-sacrificing stakes, which is to act in such a way as to condemn themselves to Hell, a fate which I would consider worse than non-existence. If they do it for the greater benefit of mankind this might be seen as a supreme act of virtue.
I’m surprised I didn’t point this out years ago, but theologians tend to agree that any act condemning oneself to Hell is bad (amongst those who believe God does not simply have the only say in such matters).
A common explanation is something like, “If you are capable of that kind of goodness and self-sacrifice, then you are depriving goodness of a great ally by being condemned to hell”.
I’m surprised I didn’t point this out years ago, but theologians tend to agree that any act condemning oneself to Hell is bad (amongst those who believe God does not simply have the only say in such matters).
A common explanation is something like, “If you are capable of that kind of goodness and self-sacrifice, then you are depriving goodness of a great ally by being condemned to hell”.