Originally Posted by Prodigal
Here's another way to think of that: maybe these people you are talking about are kinda like the manipulative ones except not so severe. They're basically using the people they're being nice to for this ulterior source of 'fulfillment', which usually does involve religion.
Motivation here still matters, though. These are some of the people that (imo) taint things such as religion. They do all these nice things, but it's for the sake of the religion. It does come to selfishness... they think they are magically 'redeemed' for some selfless acts, but little heart comes from it. And if heart DOES come from it, most of the time it's from their heart in the religion, not anything truly eleemosynary. If religions didn't put charitable acts on such a high pedestal, most people wouldn't do any of it.
It really depends on what kind of person you are to determine whether you care about this or not. You're one of those that don't seem to care, because at least the good act is being done. I, on the other hand, believe even more in the reasoning behind the act. From some people I wouldn't even take acts if I had an idea of their motivation. Different perspectives but both valid, at least to me. The big difference is that you'll be satisfied a lot more than me. xD