I met a church minister during the course of my work and we had a breif conversation about nothing in particular. As I was about to leave he said something which I think surely contradicts his own teachings and beliefs.
He said - 'You have to make the most of your life on this earth as you will be a long time dead'
His statement was not new to me as I have heard it a lot of times from all sorts of people and just let it pass as idle chatter but this time it made me think.
If this 'man of the cloth' says this then he must believe that this life is better than the 'afterlife' to come, this being the case he can't be looking forward to meeting his god in the paridise that is taught to us by his religion.
I have no religious beliefs but I have no objection to others having them. I also believe that we must make the most of our time whilst alive and in no way am I looking forward to death but surely someone that believes in an afterlife would think that it would be better than this life
2006-10-13 19:51:22 · 20 answers · asked by torbrexbones 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The answer to your question is unfortunately quite simple and mundane. There are many people who choose to become a church minister because it offers secure employment without having to dirty one's hands, the hours are great and the work is not back-breaking. Some of them don't even believe in God. I am not making this up, as I personally have met people like that who are not ashamed to admit it. Sorry if I sound cynical, but c'est la vie.
2006-10-13 19:57:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
As a long time Christian I have to say I think you are right. This statement does contradict our beliefs for several reasons.
Firstly, the one you mentioned, that it implies our life now is better than afterwards.
Secondly, we will not be dead for a long time. As God is eternal and is outside time, the interval between dying and being raised to life on the last day will be no time at all. (this is what we believe or at least perhaps all Christians don't as there are so many sects but a lot do.)
I'm quite shocked actually that a person of the cloth would be so careless. No doubt he was just mindlessly saying a cant phrase without really thinking about the meaning but he should be more careful, especially when talking to someone who is not a Christian himself/herself, because if a person is not a Christian then they only have what he says to go by. There are enough people out there giving Christianity a bad name already without ministers joining in.
2006-10-13 23:15:12 · answer #2 · answered by TC 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you have interpreted this question in a different way to which the minister meant. He could have meant that you should make the best of a bad thing until you can get to 'heaven.' Life is what you make it and only you can make it the best you can. How about having another chat with this minister about it. Like you, I am not religious, but I believe that we should enjoy our lives the best we can. Live from day to day. Treat people how we would wish them to treat us. Ok, its not as easy as that, but hey, try to be positive. Our glasses are half full, not half empty. If we learn to have a positive outlook on life, then all the better. Have a good life mate :o)
2006-10-13 20:11:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think your conclusion (that he thinks this life is better) follows from his statement. You could always ask him what he meant. But it doesn't really seem contradictory to me...After all, not many people are raised from the dead on earth. Most people believe that you only have this one life to make a difference in your own life, the lives of people around you, and in the world. The belief in an afterlife isn't a contradiction. But it's good when unexpected comments cause you to ponder the heavy questions, don't you think?
Hoping the best for you...
2006-10-13 20:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by Debra N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is the afterlife? There isn't enough info on it for anyone to say whether it would be better or not. Most people think of fluffly clouds, little fat angels, and having everything they want. Where does it say that? If there is a heaven and hell, there isn't enough info on them. Mostly we've inherited descriptions from before the Middle Ages, specifically 3rd and 4th century.
I am a Christian but not fundamentalist (ie I don't think the bible is meant to be taken as literal) and often I hear Christians saying the opposite: that this life isn't what it's all about, that this life is like being at a train station, waiting for a train to take us where we want to go, if someone were to build furniture or get v comfortable at a train station we would think they were weird etc. My personal view is that if people were at that station for 80 years, they should make some things to be comfortable, at least a bed.
In short Christians like to point from this life to an eternal life. But I see Christianity not as a 'be good, see heaven, be bad, go to hell' but as based on Christ. And most importantly Christ does not point to himself or eternal life but to God and a relationship with God. And the God of my heart, the God of my understanding and the one I have a relationship with is a non-reactive God. God doesn't see what's good and bad and react with "You, good, heaven, you baaaaad, hell". That's what we do. If God is God and not man-made, God does not react, but act. God is Love without motive. And God wouldn't have given us life if we weren't meant to live it, and live it fully.
2006-10-13 21:32:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's not even all of the translations that exist.... so YEAH, I completely think of the Jeopardy question is BUNK. that's not even all of the translations that exist.... so YEAH, I completely think of the Jeopardy question is BUNK. here is yet another project... accuracy or clarity? the way language is even USED right this moment is diverse. immediately translating the words wisely, can definitely carry approximately a great sort of fake impact by way of fact the extremely words have been used in yet differently back then. SO... a solid SCHOLARLY translation which interprets the words extra effective then others... OR a bible which may be understood? the two aims are in many cases cases at odds with one yet another. maximum translations attempt to strike a stability between the two. 2d project.. WHICH canon is being observed. TO ME, to be a real bible.. that's going to maintain on with the unique canon set by using the Church whilst it initially compiled the bible back in 397AD. this potential the main precise bible could use the Septuagint as its foundation and incorporate the Deutrocanonicals (AKA Apocrypha) maximum of those translations they in comparison do not adhere to that generic however the unofficial canon created out of the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s. So immediately i'm suspicious of those findings in the event that they at the instant are not even requiring the deutrocanonicals to be coated. so as that makes their findings much extra subjective in the event that they are allowed to p.c. which canon they bypass by using. In the two case.. they ignored a important one, for my area.. Douay Rheims bible. Translated in the previous due 1500s, before the KJV by using the Catholic church FROM the Latin Vulgate. i could have cherished to ascertain how THAT stacked up against the others.
2016-10-16 04:32:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing in the statement that leads me to believe that this life is better than the afterlife. He's just saying that since you don't accept the idea of afterlife, then you better make hay while the sun shines. Because if he is right and there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun, you might find yourself in hell or heaven either one regretting you didn't do better in this life.
I Cr 13;8a
10-13-6
2006-10-13 19:58:15 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It surely sounds funny to hear such seemingly "secular" words in the mouth of a priest/pastor. I would like to hope, though, he meant them in a spiritual way: that is, we have a short life to repent and live spiritually, but a long eternity to enjoy or be tormented by the results of our choices. Or he just wanted to give you some piece of advice that wouldn't sound funny to you as a non-believer.
2006-10-13 21:56:22 · answer #8 · answered by todaywiserthanyesterday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What we do in this life determines what happens when we are in Eternity, after we die. So what the minister said was valid. As far as this world is concerned, we will be dead. As far as the next is concerned, whatever happens is for ever.
2006-10-13 22:34:49 · answer #9 · answered by waycyber 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, you have really hit the nail on the head there. You might be pleasantly surprised by what the bible really teaches about why we die and what happens to us afterwards. You will find it is quite different from the ideas that most christian religions teach, the bible is very clear on the subject.
I'm sure you will find the link below very interesting.
2006-10-14 01:53:11 · answer #10 · answered by Frax 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋