I recognize this is a thought experiment, but please consider it.
If the promise of Christianity contained no immortality, but instead you died and your body decomposed just like a toad's, squirrel's, or dingo's, would there be enough in Christianity to keep you within the faith?
2006-12-30 02:48:08 · 25 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually, that question is rather essential to my faith. I believe that Christ died on the cross to free me from my sin, but I don't know about an afterlife. I understand the concept of the "Kingdom of Heaven," but I don't know that it means that we go to pearly gates and streets of gold after we die. The fact is, my life is so improved NOW by knowing Jesus and living as God asks me to that I couldn't fathom life without Him.
I believe that Jesus, while here on earth, emphasized that we have to focus on the present. What we're doing, how we're doing it, RIGHT NOW. It's evident in the parable of the workers in the field who all got the same wage, no matter what time of the day they started working. I don't necessarily think He was talking about eternal salvation. I think we was saying that time is irrelevant on the journey. Knowing God is the reward.
Also, many Jews don't believe in an afterlife, which leads me to believe that the idea of "heaven" came afterwards. Jesus introduced the idea to us, then, and God's Chosen before then had no concept of heaven or hell, and understood that life itself was where they lived.
I think we've all been bribed a little too often with the idea of heaven and frightened by hell, and that shouldn't be the point. There is an incredible peace and joy in knowing God now, and that's how you fall in love with Him. Not for hope of reward or fear of retribution, but because He is worth every sacrifice and is reward enough Himself.
2006-12-30 03:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by Gwenhwyvar 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason why Christianity cannot exist as a religion without life after death is that Jesus could not have been raised back to life after his crucifixion. That's just what the apostle Paul was on about when he said, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith; ...you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead..."
So I fear there would not be enough in a Christianity based upon a dead Christ to keep millions of Christians going for very long. If, tomorrow, we die (and that's the end of it all) Paul said we might just as well eat, drink and be merry, like all the atheists, and save ourselves a lot of persecution along the way. I'm pinning everything on a risen Christ, however!
2006-12-30 12:03:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian each day I live is better because of Christ, He is a God for the living not just the dead. How do you know that the toad, squirrel and dingo don't go to Heaven?
2006-12-30 11:56:32 · answer #3 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the idea of christianity is to go to heaven when we die because Jesus Christ died for our sins. so there would be no christianity if there were no life after death. every chruch service i go to preaches on believing that Jesus Christ died so that we can go to heaven. so there would be nothing to have faith in. so how can a person 'keep within the faith' of something that didn't exist? this questions is like asking someone if they would drink out of an empty cup of water. LOL!
2006-12-30 12:30:41 · answer #4 · answered by Annie Rod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. My choice to be a Christian has nothing to do with obtaining life after death. I would be happy to decompose back into the earth if that is what had to happen. I would still be a Christian throughout my lifespan regardless.
2006-12-30 10:55:20 · answer #5 · answered by aingelic1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible does teach that you die and your body decomposes like a frog. Your soul dies and the spirit of life is shared with all forms of life. Everything you are is either written in the book of life or not. If you are born again, than you are a part of the first resurrection into a spirit body, to go to heaven, just as Christ did. If not, that you take part in the second resurrection of Revelations, either to life on Earth or a declaration of judgment. If to life, you get a new body and everything you were is downloaded into it.
2006-12-30 11:10:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The entire point of Christianity is that Jesus died to give us access to Eternal life. I just wanted to clarify before answering.
If there were no eternal life then God would have no reason to send Jesus to give us eternal life. so there would Be not Christianity
assuming that there was a Christianity to be a part of, I think that I would be a part of it, even if I knew that there wasn't immortality.
2006-12-30 10:55:47 · answer #7 · answered by go2bermuda 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably not , But I didnt choose to be a Christian ,He choose me for his good pleasure and Im not ignorant enough to say No to Him , I was perfectly happy living my sin filled life at the time but now that Ive touched the hyme of his Garment I would never go back to a life that was so empty and void.
2006-12-30 10:58:14 · answer #8 · answered by Terry S 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would still be Christian. Christianity is about more than getting into heaven. It's also about making this life better for ourselves and others. The principles of christianity are good for everyone; charity, forgiveness, hope, love, etc.
2006-12-30 10:55:23 · answer #9 · answered by veggiegirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If there were no promise of life after death, there would be no Christianity at all. That's like saying "If there were no bacon, would you still eat BLT's?"
Christianity is founded on the principle of life after death, and without that foundation, Christianity can't exist.
2006-12-30 11:21:28 · answer #10 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋