hello everybody, without being agressive or anything, can you please answer these questions of mine. I keep thinking about them: Why should i live my life in fear of something that is supposedly going to happen to me in the afterlife? Instead of being afraid of going to hell, should i not enjoy the short short life that i already have right now? Aren't heaven and hell invented by people? Aren't both hell and heaven already here on earth? I cannot think of anything scarier than living in this world, and i am already doing it!
In fact, i think that i really really do not care about anything that s going to happen after i m done my time here, and besides, no one even knows for sure! Why living your whole life trying to avoid something that you do not even know is real, or, in the same way, trying to get somewhere you don't even know for sure exists?
2006-12-09 10:40:58 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
thank you or all the interesting answers. So far though, it seems to me that there are 2 sorts of answers to my question: either people who KNOW for sure that heaven and hell exist ( don't ask me how) or people who just try to live righteously just in case hell end heaven exist.
i am not bashing religion, i am just trying to understand and i refuse easy answers.
2006-12-09 11:00:37 · update #1
Suppose Christians are wrong about the after life and there is no Heaven or Hell,and you could live your life over again.
What would you change? What would you do differently?
maybe not love your neighbor as yourself
maybe not treat others as you would like to be treated
maybe be full of fear,hate,prejudice
or maybe participate in various life destroying activities.
suppose we have lived "trying to avoid something that we don,t know "for sure exists"--it is a matter of faith to be sure----- but- what would we have lost?
2006-12-09 11:02:35 · answer #1 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible talks about Heaven and Hell so they do exist. On the contrary why would I want to have a little fun breaking the rules for 50yrs only to spend neverending eternity in a place where I will be in pain and sorrow. Think of it a little like college. You can party hard for four years not thinking of the future and end of failing and not getting anywhere or you can do your best, graduate and have a great career that you love. Of course Hell is a million times worse than a fast food restaurant, but you get the point. People make i seem like Christianity is so horrible. I follow the rules the best I can and when I do make a mistake I ask God to forgive me and help me in the future. God doesn't expect perfection and once you are saved you can't get kicked out for making mistakes. You think that this world is worse than Hell, but do you want to risk it. Hell is fire and torment. Is stealing, lying, promiscuity, murder, ect. worth that. Even if we're wrong, the worst that could happen is we're dead and buried and that's it. If your wrong than you will be in agony for eternity. I'm sure you've done something that you didn't know the outcome of, but did it anyway, because someone asked or told you too. I pray that you find what your looking for and I pray you find the peace you deserve. I hope that someone on this sight will help you with the questions you asked. Good luck.
2006-12-09 11:06:36 · answer #2 · answered by Phoebe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are very right about hell being here and now. Why? because as we all know the devil rules there. If the scriptures state that he was thrown down to us and is now with great anger and he also offered Christ the kingdoms of Earth, during the temptation in the wilderness, then that means he rules now. That would make this hell and why not? look around us.
I always used to say life is short, but then realized it's actually quite long for the way things are and my position. The only ones that life is too short for are the wealthy. Life is obviosuly dreary and way too long for the poor. I also would say that if life is that short, then do what is right in that short time.
It depends on what you desire. hell is on earth but heaven is a long ways off. When the palace descends on Jeruslaem, then heaven will be here. Thats in scripture also. If you feel this is a waste of life and you desire so much more, in terms of spirituality and love, then you have to be righteous and saved. Everything through Christ!
There is no reason to live in fear of the coming kingdom b/c there will be nothing to fear. Unless you fear happiness. Thats a good point about already living in it. True! For me, the only thing scarier than living in this world would be facing GOD for judgement or otherwise.
But there would be no fear if you do right b/c no matter what happens all around you, you will be in exhaulted hands.
Make no mistake about it. We are living in HELL right now. The Devil rules, then his time will come to end. The lake of fire is for him and the wicked. the 144,000 are not the only ones to move on. There will be countless others to inhabit the new kingdom on Earth while the 144,000 go to heaven. 12,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel. If you have the want and will to do right, the scripture says you can tell the devil to go away! To me that is power! not fear.
Like said, the palace will descend onto Jerusalem, the one place man has killed visciously for. GOD plans to dwell in there, right here on Earth and the light from that place will never go out.
2006-12-09 10:53:31 · answer #3 · answered by ConstElation 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one ever said to not enjoy this life. However there is such thing as "eternity" but what happens to us after death carries many different beliefs but no one knows for sure, anything other than whatever is after death is forever. Im a Christian and I believe there is a Heaven and Hell but I dont live my life in fear, I think many people assume Christians do. If at the end of all this, there is no God and I just cease to exist, I wont regret anything. I wont lay there in my nonexistance and say "gee I wish I hadnt believed I should try to be a better person" will I? But suppose there IS a Heaven and Hell... at the end of all this, all the non believers will be seriously regretting laughing at the idea of God...forever.
Nothing we believe will ever change what is.
2006-12-09 10:51:24 · answer #4 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian faith is not all about the hereafter, it is about the here and now. Living with Jesus in your heart helps you right now, to live life in a happy and satisfying way. You should care about the next life because you will be there someday. You will be aware of everything just as keenly as you are now. That's, like a 10 yr. old saying I going to live it up now because I don't believe I'll get older. I'll always be 10, well look what happened you turned 20- 30- something. What you think is fun in this life is What? Sex, drinking, whatever, is no comparison to having a joy from God.
2006-12-09 10:54:59 · answer #5 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do have a point. Eternal life is a gift from God. If you don't want it, you won't have it. You will die, you will be raised on judgment day, then you will be cast into the symbolic lake of fire, which is the death of the soul.
And you are right, this life is short, especially when compared to eternity. And if that's all you want, then you should be happy, because that's all you'll get.
But I suggest that you choose life, because not only is it for all eternity, it is so much better than the best day you ever had here on Earth. So think about it.
2006-12-09 10:48:27 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's huge question.
but it's not only the question of afterlife... you making a big mistake. Consider this:
(1) Was Hitler right or wrong in killing millions? (guess answer)
(2) Why human life is even valuable? Isn't it a result by blind chance? Why human better then bacteria?
(3) How to live our life now? What is right or wrong? What worth living for? (maybe stealing is good) What if everybody will live like animals? Why not?
--see there are questions we have to answer honestly from our perception of reality. And truly only theistic explanation can satisfy all qustions- about the origin, the purpose, and destiny of the humans. Who else can explain enormous complexity of the physical human body, or explain what is right or wrong and WHY?
Plus, God accept all seeking people. Whoever want to come is welcomed!!!
Just check out those links I provided (they will help):
;-)
2006-12-09 10:58:59 · answer #7 · answered by kostas the ancient priest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because If you're right, then we (christians) will simply cease to exist and there will be no harm done because we wont know we're dead and we will have left the world a better place. but if you're wrong, you are going to spend eternity apart from God and christians are going to spend eternity with God. that's why its something that you should, at the very least, put some effort into finding out what you really believe based on what the bible actually says rather than what little of its you've read or what people have told you about it.
if you read it and decide you dont believe what it says, i would not expect someone who does not have a love for God to want to spend etenity with him. how can you compare 100 or so years to eternity?
if nothing else, read "mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis
you can probably find it real cheap on half.com
2006-12-09 10:51:10 · answer #8 · answered by whosajiggawhat? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Friend, Ther is a after life, rather you want to believe it or not, I can pove both that there is a heaven & a hell, wihout even leaving this planet. You may think living on this earth is already heaven or hell, but you are wrong, This is only a very short taste of the hereafter. Now do you want to carry on with you ideals.
2006-12-09 10:48:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you that this earth is as close to heaven as some people will ever get, and as close to hell as others will ever get.
I believe hell is a real place, but I do not fear it. Jesus paid for us to have a free ticket to heaven, if we trust in him. I trust Jesus, so the existence of hell doesn't bother me.
I also agree with you that you should enjoy this short life of ours as much as you can. Go for it!
2006-12-09 10:49:42 · answer #10 · answered by Gee Wye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋