I was just curious and thinking about how many religious groups go around telling people about the next life, whether it be Heaven, New System or something else. People who worship the Earth and live for today are sometimes told that they are not appreciative. I was thinking that, isn't it unappreciative and ungrateful to think more about getting into another life than to just appreciate the one life of which we are certain?
I hope I have worded that correctly.
2006-06-07 01:19:45 · 23 answers · asked by Evil J.Twin 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
gin, those are some of the things I have thought about, I mean, if these people really cared about others, wouldn't the world be a better place? ie. if they helped people in this world with real things rather than a promise which doesn't do much good in this world and may not be fulfilled.
2006-06-07 01:30:12 · update #1
ridiculous1, I never said anything about what I believe or about this being the only thing. My life is far from perfect, I have many problems as I am sure most people do. But there are people who put up with their problems in the hope that there will be something waiting for them when they could do better trying to live a better life now. Ofcourse, I know some can't do that.
2006-06-07 07:12:50 · update #2
Probably in old times when the priests/ religious leaders had no answers to all the suffering and diseases they came up with this theory. If ur suffering now it is because of ur past sins and if u sin right now u'll suffer in ur next birth or u won't get a place in heaven. Who knows and who wants to go to heaven, no body has come back saying dude its a cool place !! So, be a human live good and help others not because u want to go to heaven but because being a human u can !!
2006-06-07 01:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by AG 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Hmmmm, I often think about that. I believe I am here now, living this life here on Earth, I believe in being nice to people and helping others as much as I can, is that so wrong? Am I an evil person just because I don't attend a church/synagogue/kingdom hall etc? I wonder if you've ever heard that song with the lyrics 'we must live for now', that about sums it up. Why wait in hopes of a new life, why not just be happy and make the most of this one? I mean I kind of understand why people want the new world etc, after all I used to be of a particular religion that believed in that type of thing.
2006-06-07 17:49:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well put.
As for being unappreciative, well, which one of us can appreciate everything? There's so much to take in...
If one believes in the next life, I guess 'appreciation' would mean a similar thing, savouring the world around, but they do it because they think of it as a gift from an all powerful god. I suppose the implication they make is that, to enjoy the world around fully, you have to believe in the creator, so you can also say 'thank you'. Every little bit of beauty would also be a reminder that God was there watching. Just savouring it in a spontaneous fashion wouldn't seem 100% good to them perhaps?
Right now, that next chocolate biscuit is looking pretty beautiful to me!
Have a nice day... mind how you go.
2006-06-07 08:39:08 · answer #3 · answered by Buzzard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The apostle Paul said "...if only in this life do we have hope, we are of all men most miserable".
There is a place better than where we are now and to deny that fact doesnt change reality. Some say believing in the afterlife is a way of escapism, well maybe you are happy with your life, maybe you dont have any problems, you might be very successful and not have a care in the world - But its not all about you! What about people who are born into and die in poverty through no fault of their own. Children born with aids, kids raped by the own faimilies, babies starving to death, children who were born into war and have never experienced a peaceful day in their lives. So are you teling me that that is all there is for them? No hope of a better place for them? Then that wouldnt be fair, and I can tell you God is a fair God. Im comfortable but that is not all there is to it, people elsewhere are not! I look forward to a time where there will be no more war, no lies, no deciet, and behold the time cometh...
2006-06-07 12:53:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've stated it better than most people. First off, what I don't appreciate about religious fanatics is their behavior. They are often hypocritical. Secondly, no matter what branch of religion they are in, none of the others are good enough. And my biggest problem is that even if there is an afterlife, why can't they just concern themselves with their own business instead of trying to change the world. And how would they even know what afterlife is like? I'm sure it is unlike anything we have experienced. Note to the Architect: I think you should read the whole question slowly a couple of times.
2006-06-07 08:21:48 · answer #5 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, well put. I live very much for the here and now. That doesn't mean I am unappreciative. I am grateful for everything that I have. If people stopped concerning themselves with the things that others do (or don't do) and lived their lives as their own this would be a far more harmonious place to be.
2006-06-07 09:35:21 · answer #6 · answered by intelligentbutdizzy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religions like buddhism actually focus on this life (I mean the one that you are currently living). When you meditate you need to observe the present and you have to teach yourself to live in the present time. Even non-religious people have problems with living in the present time, it's too hard. Perhaps it's much easier to believe that it will be better in the future because that is so far from now and it is uncertain (just think of those who play the lottery and believe that sometime in the future they will actually win it). Good question, though!
2006-06-07 08:37:31 · answer #7 · answered by Luvfactory 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Going to Heaven to be Jesus is our blessed hope. That is why we are to live a good life here that will glorify Him and that means treating others good and taking care of what He has given us here. Some people look at earth and others as stepping stones to the other side and that is not the way true Christians are to live. I do appreciate the life I have here. God has given me the chance to have three beautiful children and I try to take time to really enjoy them every day. I try to spend quality time with my great grand mother and get to know her in a way I have never known her -- me as and adult.
Don't judge Christians on a label. Please look at everyone as individuals and give all a chance to prove themselves one way or the other. Take a little time to smell a rose today or catch a drop of rain. Spread kindness one act at a time.
2006-06-07 08:47:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are supposed to wear this life like a loose garment. Too many people only think about today, what they have and don't have. This is not a permanent place to live. There is a time to be born and a time to die. When you die you either go to heaven or hell. It's all according to how you lived your life here on earth. If you reject Jesus Christ on earth you will go to hell. If you accept Him and live your life worshipping Him, you will go to Heaven.
2006-06-07 08:26:24 · answer #9 · answered by Mocha Choco Latte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agree. I am not sure what I believe about "after death." My theory is that the energy from your body returns to the earth and eventually is used again in other life forms. Not exactly reincarnation, but something like it. I definitely appreciate my life and try to live it in a way that shows that.
2006-06-07 20:06:24 · answer #10 · answered by bunstihl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋