Why all religions and spirituality seek and offer some kind of eternal existence to individuals in the heaven or in the form of soul or by dissolving in the supreme ?
Are we just bothered about the selfisness of preserving our " self ' to eternity ?
2006-08-23 20:40:01 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
YES - you are absolutely correct! Great question and very topical.
There are many many books on the subject of how the monothiestic religions and belief systems are themselves products of our survival instinct.
Throughout history there has been no better way of consoling a grieving child that has lost a parent, than telling the child that the parent has gone to a 'better place' - it's a powerful idea and one that is very heavily rooted in humanity and the human animal.
Have a look at Dan Dennet's and Richard Dawkins' latest books.
2006-08-23 20:52:53 · answer #1 · answered by janemarsdel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all religions do, some teach for a better existence now. Ignorance can be a blissful thing for a short while. The longer we live the more we recognize that more knowledge allows for better lives. Religion wasn't born of men seeking to please themselves. There is a whole in our purpose, and it is filled by loving the only person who can answer that need. Many attempt to fill that whole with worship of anything else. Some worship carvings in stone or wood, others worship power and money, still others worship sex and violence, success and fame, on and on., The only thing that really fills that need is worship of the one and only who can answer back with grace and mercy.
Grace is giving you what you didn't earn, mercy is not giving you what you deserve from a standpoint of holiness.
2006-08-24 03:50:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot save or preserve yourself to eternity. You can only be saved through the precious blood of Y'shua (Jesus). You must surrender your heart and life to the LORD, and receive Him as your Saviour from sin, death, hell and the grave.
By the way, the picture you use for an "avatar" of sorts, looks like a devil. Got a nicer one?
2006-08-24 03:48:30 · answer #3 · answered by Shalom Yerushalayim 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is a difference between selfishness and self-interest. One does have have either to be eternal; being eternal is just an is.
2006-08-24 04:02:21 · answer #4 · answered by Richard15 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must be all alone to ask that. For the love of others, we are damned into hoping for the best. Some kind of reunion in the heavens. It's very sad that you don't see beauty in that.
2006-08-24 03:42:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are right in that most people are overly invested in their ego identification to the point of wanting it to continue past this life. I do believe our essence goes on to spiritual planes of existence, and reincarnations. The change however, in who we thought we were, will be so radical, it will be as if we are no more.
2006-08-24 03:50:58 · answer #6 · answered by Love of Truth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its instinct, but I think you've hit something. Modern day, stretching back since our prehuman-existance, survival is and was our purpose, some people just cant accept that it involves passing the torch, and not living forever.
2006-08-24 03:44:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, do YOU want to die and face nothingness? What a clever little way to scam people with false promises, no? Don't you just love organized religions?
2006-08-24 03:49:27 · answer #8 · answered by MaqAtak 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is the only tool to control the present living.
2006-08-24 03:43:10 · answer #9 · answered by Devaraj A 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably to keep people in line while they're here on Earth.
2006-08-24 03:43:23 · answer #10 · answered by meKrystle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋