2007-10-11 03:53:09 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
whoever told u that .. the wages of sin are death ..
2007-10-11 03:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the Old Testament the Jews start out believing that we are rewarded and punished in this life. that is one of the main themes of Leviticus and of Proverbs. But in Job and Ecclesiastes this viewpoint is presented and then rejected - time and chance happeneth to them all. So it is by a process we have come upon this belief.
I believe the final step in that process is to stop thinking of it as rewarding and punishing. More like we aren't going any different places and there is no judgment. But that we can choose to lay down our own fears and egos and love other people now or we can hold onto those things, only loving when we are first loved, and proceed as a ball of nervous fear. Think of this very same thing going on into the afterlife, but then of something like the image of purgatory. That is, that when the reality of spiritual existence becomes something we can access directly we can begin to release some of that fear and pain.
All of which are inadequate metaphors, I realize. Which is the case with images of judgment and Heaven and Hell. Jesus and those who wrote the New testament was talking to 1st century Jews, images of Gehenna and Hades were far more accessible than an abstraction like this would have been, I highly doubt even Jesus Himself could have accessed it given his human limitations at the time.
But the use of metaphors is not lying or making up convenient truths. It's the byproduct of being a finite human describing an infinite, ineffible experience.
2007-10-11 11:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by ledbetter 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same thing with Karma. It is a punishment/reward system that no one gets to observe. For instance, if someone does something mean to you for no reason, you say "Bad karma with catch up to him." So you lose the luxury of enjoying revenge by believing that this mystical force of karma will punish the person. Perhaps you imagine what the punishment might be, but really you have no idea what will happen (if anything). It is vengeance without the satisfaction. Which leads me to ask, which is more important about revenge: evening the score or satisfying the desire to punish?
Life is not fair, and there is no universal system of justice. There is no magical balancing force that rights all wrongs and rewards all kind deeds. Wouldn't that require some kind of god or higher power to sit around managing the system of balance to assure it is properly maintained? Wouldn't that mean this god creature is noticing everything that happens and cares enough or is responsible enough to do something about it? Seems to me like karma is just another form of belief in a god without coming out and admitting it.
The afterlife bit is just another cop-out of the same flavor. There is no universal punishment/reward system in this life or any other. It's nothing more than wishful thinking and pipe dreams. It helps the weak face themselves without having to cope with the reality that they are weak and can (and will) be taken advantage of. The strong will always rule over the weak in some form or fashion. That's reality.
2007-10-11 11:14:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not punish and reward in the next life alone.
He punishes and rewards in this life, but not to the full extent that He will in the hereafter.
Also, I dont understand why it would be convinient if you dont get punished until youre dead.
Were all gonna die, and theres really no escape from it. A temporary convinience? :)
2007-10-11 11:18:38 · answer #4 · answered by Antares 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are allowed to be here another day, by the grace of God, not by something that YOU did or did not do.
You may not believe, but you are still loved and allowed more time to come to God before it is to late.
Somehow, that seems such a great reward, you will not get your punishment unless you reject all chances while still here on earth and breathing.
2007-10-11 10:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
IF.... someone " Steals... FROM YOU ".... do you... Not Want.... JUSTICE!
Which... GOD... are you speaking About...!
YOU... punishes/rewards people in this life!
DO YOU..... NOT...?
(Ecc 12:13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.
(Ecc 12:14) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether evil.
Thanks, RR
2007-10-11 10:58:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who are you trying to kid? Haven't you noticed how Karma is coming around 10 times faster today than before. Like you don't need to wait for the next Life! If you do somebody wrong, something wrong will happen to you, quick. It's the Holy Spirit's way of trying to clean the slate. Or give us less to answer for when Christ returns.
2007-10-11 10:58:35 · answer #7 · answered by THE NEXT LEVEL 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Convenient? No.
2007-10-11 10:59:10 · answer #8 · answered by Admeta 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Convenient indeed.
2007-10-11 10:56:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. It reminds me of "God always answers prayers, but sometimes he says no." Same kind of self-perpetuating dearth of logic.
2007-10-11 11:01:48 · answer #10 · answered by Emerald Blue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had honestly never thought of it quite like that before.
Yes, it is quite convenient, isn't it?
2007-10-11 10:55:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋