If reincarnation is not real, then what the heck are we even DOING here? Why is anything worth the effort?

Question

I believe in the continuous evolution of the soul on many levels of existance. If one does not believe there is anything after one dies then isn't it all just a waste of time and effort? If you are Paris Hilton life is one big party but most of the world does
not fall into that catagory. We have an inherent desire to exceed our former achievements because we have a destiny to fullfill and no one can do exactly what it is we are assigned
to accomplish.

Answer 1

I agree with you, allamirage. Reincarnation is real; it is the origin of our sexual nature and the reason the body is programmed to re-create our species - for our own continuation as well as our children's. Those who understand reincarnation know that it makes sense of life and makes sense of ourselves - nothing else can - not religion, not science - reincarnation is the meaning of life.

Answer 2

No, life is not a waste of time and effort, unless YOU make it so. You have many opportunities in life; you can take advantage of them and do useful, meaningful things, or you can let them slip by as you sit around hoping that your next life will be better. There is no proof of any kind of life after death, no evidence for souls; there is only blind belief and wishful thinking, and these will not make your life any better.

All this talk of a "destiny" to fulfill is hogwash. It's like saying there is some big cosmic boss up in the sky, handing out assignments to each person as they are born. There is no more evidence for this than for reicarnation, souls, heaven, hell, or an afterlife. What kind of destiny do starving children fulfill? Does God enjoy watching them slowly die? Both bad and good happen to all of us, some are born rich and some poor, and it may not seem fair, but how does that equate with reincarnation being necessary for life to be useful? It may be pleasant to think that someday, all the poor, hungry people will be reborn as rich people and be recompensated for their misery, but you have no proof that this will happen or has ever happened. Wishful thinking does not equal proof. Life isn't fair most of the time. Living in a fantasy world will not change that.

Answer 3

This doesn't sound like a question... but here goes. Flip the question around: if you had ONLY ONE SHOT AT IT, what would you do to make sure your life "counted". I think you will find that it makes you a much more spiritually deep person to think about it that way.

If you are holding back on living a moral life because you feel that your reward is in heaven (or somewhere else), then every act is out of selfishness and greed.

When your life is over, you should be ready to let go simply because you know it was well lived.

Answer 4

i dont go in for reincarnation but i do agree that we evolve and live on after death.. however who is to say that Paris Hilton's reason for being on this planet isn't to experience life as a rich party girl .. maybe her spiritual lessons lie there ?
we cant say what the plan is for each of us and as humans may not understand that the plan may be much more simple than we thought
i mean if Paris Hilton ( lets use her ) was to take all her lessons from that life of hers and apply it in a spiritual sense .. I'm sure she can learn so much from it
sometimes i feel that we make things far too complicated and who is to say god wants it complicated

Answer 5

I would like to believe in the preservation of the soul after a death, but I am not able to believe such a thing. Life is part joy, part pain.

I think we have to live in a way to bring joy to others and ease their pain. for ourselves, we have to hope the same from others.

But in the end, I believe there is nothing.