I think all of humanity would be FAR better off knowing that there is NO magical candy-land after we die. Because that childish notion, more than any other idea, has held humanity back from achieving peace and happiness in this world. There can be no doubt about this.
People sit on thier behinds and do nothing, bemoaning thier lot in life, but instead of working to make thier lives better, they wait for death. Because of course, the "afterlife" will be better than the lives they are leading. Forgetting of course that they are the sole cause of thier own misery.
So let's agree to act (even if you do believe in an afterlife) that there is NO afterlife. No magic candy-land, not Narnia in the wardrobe. Ok?
If you act like this is the ONLY shot you have then maybe, just maybe we can imporve this little planet we all share and make it better for not only ourselves, but our neighbors and children too.
What do you think?
2006-08-11 04:41:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
carpe diem
2006-08-11 04:45:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
"I think all of humanity would be FAR better off knowing that there is NO magical candy-land after we die."
Knowing???? That's a pretty bold statement. I know no such thing. I know the opposite and that there most certainly is an afterlife and a before life as well.
You can know whatever you want to know, but you can't impose your so-called "knowledge", your beliefs on me.
Maybe if we could all agree to stop imposing our individual beliefs on everyone else we could go a long way towards achieving a peaceful existence in this life.
2006-08-11 11:46:24 · answer #2 · answered by LindaLou 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that THIS life IS the "only shot" we have. However, why is it necessarily "wrong" to believe in heaven as well? I seriously doubt that if humanity was brainwashed to not believe in heaven, that the world would a better place.
Of the hundreds of thousands of people who are in prison today, I wonder which ones committed their crimes in the name of God? Or which ones had second thoughts because they thought it might jeopardize their chance of getting into heaven?
I also don't think that the disbelief in heaven would make people get off their butts to do anything about the planet either. Let's face it, most human beings inherently only care about themselves. I'm afraid it's the sad truth, but unless a person is personally affected, they'll still get up in the morning, buy their Starbucks, drive to work (by themselves (as opposed to public transportation)), listen to a generic radio station, rent a movie at Blockbuster and eat enough food for dinner to feed two families in Afghanistan.
It's true some heinous atrocities have done in the name of religion and by religious people, but I also think that it's more of a shame to dismiss your faith in God based solely on that and the state of humankind. Sure, this world is one jacked up place, but if you take away God you take away hope.
Cheers!
2006-08-11 12:19:34 · answer #3 · answered by Big Blue 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some people think that that is why the rise in Christianity corrolates with the decline in the Roman Empire ---- all of the sudden people didn't want to give a crap about their lives here because they were brainwashed into thinking someone happened when you die.
2006-08-11 11:57:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Over the years, I've met many leading scientists and other intellectuals who not only believed in God, but told me they had concluded it was far more logical to believe in God than to disbelieve in Him.
Why did they come to this conclusion? One reason, I discovered, was because they had an open mind, and were willing to examine the evidence for God and weigh it carefully and honestly. Can you say that about yourself—or is your mind closed, because you aren't willing to change it? Only you can answer this, of course—but I challenge you to be honest with yourself, and be open to the possibility that God does exist.
But many of those men and women came to believe in God for another reason: They examined the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and came to put their faith and trust in Him. You see, Jesus made the most startling claim imaginable: He claimed to be God in human flesh. He boldly declared, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Was His claim true? Yes—and the reason is because Jesus did something no one else had ever done, or ever will do: He died and three days later came back to life. Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus Christ—and when you do, you won't only discover that God exists, but that He loves you and wants you to be part of His family forever.
2006-08-11 14:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think this is no different than them telling us there's a heaven with streets of gold. Mainly, it's opinion that doesn't have any firm evidence to support or to go against it. So, believe what you wish... I'll try to figure that one out when I'm dead.
2006-08-11 13:45:23 · answer #6 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okalie-dokalie.
2006-08-11 11:43:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
God reforms and regenerates from the inside and outside at the same time. When the outside passes away, the reformation and regeneration stops. That is how Swedenborg describes scientifically why your life here determines your next life.
2006-08-11 11:45:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
i mainly agree but i also think there is much more to us than we think.i don't believe in heaven or hell.i think it goes far beyond that.i hope we can improve our planet.so count me in
2006-08-11 11:57:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is an afterlife, but you are right, it isn't candy land.
2006-08-11 11:45:39 · answer #10 · answered by RB 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋