Dosn't the concept that the only reason we're alive is to praise some being in the sky depress you?

Question

Wouldn't you rather live to, oh I don't know, make the world a better place, help people, bring beauty to your surroundings, that sort of thing? Do you really think that you need to be a Christian to do those things? If so, explain Gahndi, John Lennon, and all the other non-Christian actavists, artists, and other doers of good?

Answer 1

It certainly depresses me.
Imagine having a life so devoid of meaning that you'd have to dedicate yourself to worshipping an imaginary sky-pixie.
On the other hand, it is thier choice.
They made thier bed, they can lie in it. (and lie they do!)

Answer 2

Actually according to the Catholic Church, all those things you listed "make the world a better place, bring beauty to your surrounding," etc. etc. is praising God. Praising God is not mentioning the name 20 times a day and leaving your brothers and sisters without attention and care. So, the Catholic Church has been living the way you invisioned for well over two thousand years.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 3

True, religion can be a horrible thing. People kill for it, people hate others for not sharing the beliefs they hold so dear, and people will go to any lengths to protect it. Sure lots of religions tell you how to dress, act, and basically live every part of your life. Although religion can bring about all these horrible things it can also bring sanity and clarity to a fallen soul. Sure it sounds cheesy but really think about it. A convicted murderer that spent most of his life in prison is now being released for good behavior. He was a gang member and didn't shy away from drugs. What is going to keep him from going back to that? You would think the fear of going back to jail, right? Well not really, so many people fall back into their old ways. What's keeping him out of jail is his faith. He has had lots of time to reflect and believes with all his heart if he repents and asks for forgiveness he will be allowed through heavens doors. Religion gives people hope in the darkest times. Even just praying can make a lot of people feel better after so much sorrow. Its easy to say religion causes destruction but I can name at least 20 people at has saved. It's for some people and just doesn't work for others.

Answer 4

The concept excites me! That we are allowed to praise the Almighty God, even though we are so unholy just gets to me...WOW! To make the world a better place, Christians try to bring others back into a right relationship with God. We want non-believers to have the joy that we have, the fulfillment, the love. It's not because we want to force our beliefs on others, it's because we want them to know God, and go to heaven. There have been non-Christians who have been doers of good, and they make the world a better place too, yet when God is on your side, how much more can be accomplished? I do believe that it is a Christian's responsibility to help people and change the world.

Answer 5

What depresses me is that it's twenty-oh-six and people are still believing that to praise 'God' and/or Jesus is the only reason we were born. Frustrating, too, that they would think so little of the "almighty" that they believe all he wants is constant adoration and obedience. From a religious mindset, no one ever questions what Jehovah did to become "God" in the first place, or why "he" requires praise for simply being what "he" is. Religion is fog that melts in the light of reason.

Answer 6

I think there are a lot of religious people who do good things for the right reasons and not just to achieve their passport to heaven. And good for them. There are also lots who feign a Godly kindness and tolerance while muttering through clenched teeth "I'd like to see what you have to say for yourself as your trembling at the gates of hell".... in fact that might be an actual quote from a couple christians on Yahoo Answers!

Personally, I get great satisfaction out of making my own choices, educating myself, and relying on myself for strength, without being confined by Rules or needing a higher being to help me along.

Sometimes I chuckle at how christians say "we just want to show you the joy and wonderfullness of believing what we believe"..... I know their heart is in the right place but that's pretty self-centered. I get a lot of joy and excitement out of scientific discovery, and many other non-religious things in life.

Answer 7

But those are just some of what God wants us to do. If you have read and understand Genesis, God created us to have dominion over the earth and the animals and for us to even go on to create things for ourselves. He is creative God and so we were created in His image. That is why our natural nature is to create things and experiment and learn. The purpose is not only to serve, our whole purpose cannot be fully reached because of sin that is why God will return to make things new again and rid the universe of sin and Satan.

On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11:15.)

Answer 8

No it doesn't depress me , there are many things on this earth to live for the choices we make and the intent of those choices are what makes them either good or evil. People who are true follower's of God's will are trying to do exactly those thing you mention. When Jesus walked the earth He was critized by the religious leaders of the jewish faith, when asked why do you go to the sinners and not to the religious elite Jesus told them that people who were not sick did not need a healer but those who were sick. The miricles he performed were not to pump himself up but to glorify God and they were never for his personal benifit but to help those who were truely in need, He made the blind to see and the lame to walk. There are many people who are not Christian who do good things, many of the worlds religions share many of the same ideals, to be kind to one another , help the down trodden and those in need. Many do good things because they want to be held up to the world and admired, some from the good ness and compassion of their hearts. Some even believe this will help them earn their way into heaven. But Christ told us that he is the door and the way, none of the others, Budda, Allah,etc ever claimed that they were the way. They say follow these rules and MAYBE you'll stand a chance. Jesus told his followers that in the judgement many will stand before him and say didn't we do good works and help others in your name, but because they never surrendered their lives to Him He will have to tell them to depart because He never knew them..It will be indeed a sad day.

Answer 9

I like your question. I think it can make you happy, if you believe that He is all-loving. But for me, it only made my depression worse. I used to think I really needed God to be happy until I started to hear the way Christians talked...and was really turned off. They explain everything as "God's will." You have to accept pain because God wants it. Your occupation is God's plan. God does not seem "all-loving" or understanding either. According to him, people who in isolated tribes in Africa will all go to Hell. So will Ghandi. Then what's this free will He gave us if He has a plan? I remember having coffee with some Christian girls. One girl said, "Love is not two lovebirds looking in eachother's eyes. It is two birds looking at the same direction, to God." I nodded, and didn't say anything...but it's like living for God. They volunteer for God. I mean, I know some AMAZING Christian girls, but I feel like some of them need to see things from our view. Isn't it more amazing that the universe, people, Earth etc., was created out of subatomic particles, time, division of cells? I love the Earth and nature. I volunteer because I care about children and people, not because the Bible says to, or because I work for God. I have explanations other than "It's God's plan."

Answer 10

umm..
Anyone can make the world a better place and we don't 'just' live to 'praise God'. God wants us to make the world a better place. God -is- what can make the world a better place, lol.

And does the concept that we are only here on earth to make earth better depress you? Either way it depresses me thinking of all the people out there that only seem to care for themselves and sure aren't trying very hard to make the world better.

Answer 11

It doesn't depress me at all! I love the idea of being able to leave this sin-riddled, sick-minded pale blue orb behind for streets of gold, gates of pearl and etc. We're already conscripted as Christians to do eveything in our power to make the world a better place, but all our "morality" will not eradicate sin. Only God can eradicate sin and will do so forever at Judgment Day. Until then, we're to be "up and about the Father's business" helping the needy, taking care of the sick and all the nice things you spoke of in your question. "Non-Christian activists" as you describe them, are going to have to give the same account of their lives based on the Word of God as everyone else, so if they're found lacking in faith but full of works, then only God can decide their eternal fate. Just as faith without works is dead, so is the inverse!