Hacker News Reader

That's an interesting division. But, how does elevating ourselves, even if the better part, not reduce to ego gratification too?

Ego gratification is not bad: it's good and even necessary to grow.

But we can't always (by ourselves) distinguish between gratification (read: elevating growth) and egoism (destructive growth).

So we need some 'illumination', which is, in another term: Religion.

I'm sorry you get downvoted so much for your views. They are interesting and you conduct yourself well. So, feel encouraged.