2007-01-16 05:36:56 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
At a funeral, I heard the preacher say " If you want to see him again, you better get saved!!"
Is God holding my dead relative hostage or something???
2007-01-16 05:41:56 · update #1
or fear?
2007-01-16 05:40:00 · answer #1 · answered by Lorenz 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The afterlife is not motivated by selfishness. In fact its motivated by a deep yearning to return to the Creator and be in communion with Him as Father and son are in communion with each other. To think that the pursuit of the afterlife is a selfish quest giving you the ability to look back on those who are sentenced to hell and laugh is to misunderstand a basic doctrine. The point is to ensure that you get to heaven along with as many others as you can, not by converting them but by living a dignified and holy life. If you are counted worthy of the good afterlife then you will be able to ask God to forgive those who were not so fortunate. Just remember: Acquire the spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved.
2007-01-16 06:05:09 · answer #2 · answered by john 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As Buddhism defines "selfishness" yes... BEFORE YOU THUMB DOWN read on please... Buddhist definition of "selfish" is a clinging to a concept of an inherent "self"/"me" or "I", which Buddhism eschews via philosophical and analytical approach.
Okay, to answer the rest of your question about "motivation": All anyone in this life (ALL sentient beings, to include animals) wants is to be "HAPPY". One of the strivings to be happy is to be comforted by a concept of something that keeps them that way. Death isn't a warm fuzzy concept to many and the promise of some kind of happy afterlife is greatly wished for, so people pursue it in their own way, according to their own abilities (causes and conditions). It's pure arrogance to declare someone "less than" just because they have a concept that doesn't agree with mind, therefore it's not correct "speech" to label something as "selfish" in the COMMON definition (i.e. WESTERN definition) of it which has all those ugly connotations too. So it's best to avoid such discussions in a larger crowd.
_()_
2007-01-16 05:47:21 · answer #3 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how you are currently living your life.
If you keep putting things off in your current life in the hope that you have a better afterlife , then you are pursueing this purely out of fear or dread at this point.
Live your current life and beleive that there is an afterlife with another dimension to it.
2007-01-16 05:43:11 · answer #4 · answered by optimist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends. I do not pursue an afterlife. It would be nice, but I do obey God because it is the right thing to do. If makes my life simpler and happier. If I have eternal life when I die, that would be great. But, if not, I will never know the difference. I do not believe in the firey hell doctrine. When you die, you know nothing, can do nothing and have no memory anymore. Ecc 9:5, 6 10,11. So why would you fear death?
2007-01-16 05:43:15 · answer #5 · answered by Pinkribbon 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, not for me. I enable God to stay in my heart and that supplies me compassion it is Selfless. once I see somebody wanting help and that i will help I do. help can be an encouraging be conscious or solid suggestion whilst your hands are tied and you will do not something greater. a humorous tale that shares a grin on the face of somebody who's feeling down. help is available in distinctive types. Our righteous deeds are as filthy rags, genuine, with the aid of selfishness, besides the undeniable fact that it is greater because of the fact we are sinful in nature and made out of flesh. till the Holy Spirit is living in us, all is conceitedness. I enjoyed your question and your ideas in the back of it.
2016-10-31 06:43:57 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is the pursuit of riches and success for yourself or for the community do people like them selves so much that they actually think the rest of us cares about what they look like or anything to that sort that my friend is the very definition of selfishness!!!!! so as to your question no it is not everyone will have a place in the afterlife were you choose to spend it is totally up to you we don't pursue it someday soon or later we will all be there CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU SERVE!!!!!
2007-01-16 05:48:35 · answer #7 · answered by THE WAR WRENCH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is prusing an education, or a career, motivated by selfishness? What about having a family, buying a new car, buying a house, or deciding where to eat or what clothes to buy?
2007-01-16 05:51:17 · answer #8 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selfisness? Not exactly. It seems to me to be more of an ego thing. People are terrified of the notion that their unique cosciousness will no longer exist, that they will no longer have their sense of self. It's a narrow distinction, though, between ego and selfishness.
2007-01-16 05:47:58 · answer #9 · answered by Murazor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally think going to church is selfish. All anyone thinks of when they go to church is themselves. They are afraid if they don't go, they will go to hell. So in order to avoid hell, they go to church, thinking only of themselves. Why not volunteer at a homeless shelter for an hour, where you could actually help someone? What good comes from church?? I suppose people who will disagree with this will say people pray for others in church, which is fine, but you can do that at home.
2007-01-16 05:44:03 · answer #10 · answered by Militant Agnostic 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is selfishness if you don't pursue God. I don't agree with what the minister had to say. One should never use fear as a motive To pursue God you must make certain sacrafices to know a higher truth. So, No, you would have to be selfless to persue Him
2007-01-16 05:44:22 · answer #11 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋