Athiests and Christians?

Question

In fact, people of all relgions....I have a question

Let's take something intangible that you are ultimately striving for. For instance Christians may strive for heaven, Athiests have their own personal goals but just for it's own sake I'll say something like happiness, so and so forth for each creed. Let's call this goal x

Would you work harder for x if you didn't know exactly how or when you can reach it?

Let me explain further. If you knew you would reach x by doing z and y, would life be more fullfilling knowing you will ultimately reach x? Would that make you over confident? Would that make you feel secure? Would that make you feel your purpose fullfilled and the rest of your life a bit meanignless?

Or would you strive for x not knowing how or when you will reach it? Will that make you nervous? Will that give you more motivation? Would that give your life meaning or make life worse?


Just a question.

Answer 1

Well, I think I've never striven for anything impossible, although I striven for the unlikely -- often with good results. So it's not a matter of whether I will or won't, it's a matter of whether I put the effort into it, and then it's just probability.

I suppose if I absolutely knew the outcome, I would be lazier about it. But that's a paradox, because then positive outcomes would be self-destroying prophecies.

Answer 2

No one can strive for what a "Christian" has.
1. People are unable to gain salvation for themselves.
2. Yeshua (Jesus) already gained it for people.

However, what your blessings or rewards in or out of heaven can vary.

For me, I don't so much care about blessings than I do being close to G-d and doing His will. If blessings come, that's good too.

If I can serve G-d and do His will, then I am secure and all that. Yes. But since I gave G-d my whole life, I have no "rest of my life"... or do I?

Hmm... you just made me realize something. I wanted to do more missionary work than what I've done, but sometimes have been unable to do cirtain things for Him that I desperately wanted to do, but just because I haven't (yet) doesn't mean I failed Him in any way... it just means I have to trust G-d... to be patient and see if I can do it later in life. Thanks.... :0)

Answer 3

Interesting question.

I think, like MOST people, I would work harder if I knew exactly what it takes to reach X. Clearly defined goals and clearly defined efforts are easier to aim for and achieve.

having said that, not everyone operates that way. Some people like an air of mystery and mysticism. I think they (and they are in the minority) operate under a cloud of mystery more effectively.

Answer 4

x = Heaven. However it is not something you and me can work for. You see that is the big "head scratcher" for me - if you really understood the gift (by definition - free to the recipient) of GOD.....Knowing that there is a GOD who loved you and me (even though I do bad things and are deserving of Hell - me) so much that he would voluntarily lay down His life just so He can say - I Love you (not just with Words), and that He has a gift of eternal life that comes by asking/believing that He (Jesus) did it all for me. So the equation is really: x = Heaven then x and y = Jesus - That is - Love - hope this helps.

Answer 5

I would strive for x, atleast i know for sure that it exists.

Life is an adventure all in its own, a road we must all follow, winding and full of potholes, we all take this road, but if we never take the first step, we'll never get to were we're going.

Blessed be!!!!

Answer 6

X is what we live for. We do not know exactly what X is, nor how exactly to attain it. We live our lives the best that we may, hoping we find X, and hoping we are happy and loved with others to love. X is happiness to me, Love, and knowing that what I teach people may help protect them, or the ones they love. I am a Karate Teacher, clarification. X is our purpose, and we do not know it, nor when we will acheive it. That is the beauty of X. May the Stars light your path...

Answer 7

I like to go with the flow :)

I take life as it comes to me.
I think that i already have my X in life, so now I'm just waiting for another X to come along :) and when it does i will do anything to make sure that i get my X.

Right now i am working on getting my GED so i can go to college! My X (GED) is in sight!

Answer 8

Would y and z be sucking up to some silly imaginary god being? If so then no, committing intellectual suicide by believing some imaginary god real, is not gonna make it easier to reach said goal.

Answer 9

based on that..
id choose knowing how to get there..

but christians know what they wanna aim for..
while atheists have different goals.

and im guessing all of us atheists probably have our own ways of getting to X, while the christians are going to get to X all by doing Z and Y. soo..
we both reach X either way..

Answer 10

You can not 'strive' or earn your way into heaven...The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ,our Lord.IF you could earn your way into heaven,there was no reason for Jesus to die.And IF you could earn it,it would not be a gift.