The hope in an afterlife, the hope that there is something waiting in the light at the end of the tunnel, isn't that depressing?
2007-03-13 12:58:25 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
It can be "negative;" it doesn't have to be, though.
Most people who know me wouldn't call me religious in a conventional sense, but I am most certainly spiritual. I do have beliefs and they do affect my life in a very significant way.
That said, I'm not all mentally twisted up about sensual pleasures; worrying about whether this or that is a sin.
I treat other people with respect and benevolence; until they prove unworthy of it.
The mind of Man is such that at some point, he begins to ask questions about his existence, and what may come after. He tries to mentally reach outside himself. This is where spirituality comes in.
So, without going any deeper, I'll just repeat what I said.
Religion doesn't HAVE to be "negative." People just make it that way. And surprisingly, some people feel "totally free" within a lot of restrictions.
I believe in "playing by the rules" in life; but some folks just seem to require them.
2007-03-13 13:36:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the term "religious life" is pretty broad. There are thousands of different religions out there, all with different ways of living. Very few of them actually view their way as a "negative way". When someone starts to think that way about their religion, they usually move on to something else.
If we deal with the hope of an afterlife, I'd say that this is NOT a negative way of living, in and of itself. If you have hope in your heart for something, that can give you strength in your daily life, which is a positive thing.
If you obsess on the afterlife, that could be a negative thing, but it's the obsessing that is harmful, not the religion itself. Granted, there are, unfortunately, some religions, and religious leaders, that seem to want to their followers to obsess over a great many things, the afterlife often chief among them. In this case, I'd say that living THAT particular religious life is a negative way of living. However, I like to imagine (and hope, and pray) that this is the exception to the rule.
2007-03-13 20:07:52 · answer #2 · answered by Brian Sparta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider the things that are depressing now about our society. Most people don't have hope, because they lose faith. Do you really believe that when your life is over, that's it? Then what is the purpose of law in this case? Or emotions? Why would you even care?Basically your going to steamroll over everybody to get what you need. See, It's easier to walk away from the very things the make us what we are. Humans. We would rather live like devils and even attempt to be human. And to me, that is a shame. I'm not saying ALL of us, but every day it gets tougher to comprehend God and Word. Religion keeps the basis of truth in your Axe. And with truth, you will see the things that are corrupt. Trust me. Hell, I WANTED to stay corrupt. It's easy. But for some strange reason something just doesn't feel right anymore. It feels almost like we have given up on the good things to install the bad things.
2007-03-13 20:14:22 · answer #3 · answered by Da Mick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, why should it be depressing? When someone lives a religious life it is not a negative way of living. I have friends who are religious and they are the nicest people. I do not have any better friends than the ones who go to church and turn their lives over to God.
2007-03-13 20:07:22 · answer #4 · answered by Nancy M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well it depends why one is doing it.. if they do it because they WANT to and they love it then it's not negative.. but if the person is only doing it because they want a better afterlife, something that will last an eternity then its negative, because they are oppressing what they truly want to do, and it's like making a mockery of other people that are doing it for teh right reasons..
2007-03-13 20:26:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the self the Will is positive and the Judgment is negative. Are we not wonderfully different. Is the there and then worse than the here and now, when we know as much of one as the other.
2007-03-13 20:50:53 · answer #6 · answered by Psyengine 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. It's actually less depressing to believe that life isn't utterly pointless.
2007-03-13 21:09:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be for some I suppose, but for me it gives me hope. I'd rather live with hope and be wrong than live with nothing and be wrong...
2007-03-13 20:11:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anashuya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's depressing not believing there is something after death. Do you want to die and never see your family or friends again?
2007-03-13 20:02:01 · answer #9 · answered by wifey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Looks that way to me.
Love and blessings Don
2007-03-13 20:57:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋