Ultimate Questions
By Fiendizzle
@Fiendizzle (16)
Australia
October 6, 2010 10:35am CST
Yeah so in my Study of Religion class, we have been discussing ultimate questions and something came up that I found really interesting and challenging.
The majority of people in the world have some sort of religious belief, Islam, Christian, etc. Most of these religions promise an afterlife/rebirth cycle or something to look forward to when you die and affecting the way you live your life.
Christianity, for example, says that if you live well you will be in heaven when you die. Buddhism has a rebirth cycle that you can break out of and reach enlightenment by living well again. Etc, etc.
In recent times however, more and more people are coming out and saying they do not believe in "God" or religion. So here is what we were asked:
"If you have no religion and no promise of anything after life, does it mean that life is meaningless? Can you do whatever you want, free from laws, ethics and morals because you know there is nothing afterwards anyway?"
I'm interested in people's opinions on this.
3 people like this
8 responses
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
7 Oct 10
For me yes because you don't know how to correct your opinion and you are close minded one about the thing to Jehovah God then your self is nothing in terms to serve him.
@Fiendizzle (16)
• Australia
8 Oct 10
I'm sorry but I do not quite understand what you are trying to say.
@pankajgarg (797)
• India
6 Oct 10
basically i don't admire one particular religion and i adapt different things and thoughts from different religions as felt right from my conscience. life according to me is to live like an altruist i.e. to live for others, to help others and to inspire others and live by own manipulations and with effective thinking
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
6 Oct 10
Hi Fiendizzle,
Welcome to mylot! You are right. This is a very interesting question! I have to tell you that I do not belong to any organized religion so honestly religion or any promise of an after life is not what motivates me to be a good person. I do find my life meaningful regardless of whether or not there is something waiting for me after I die.My girls, my family, friends all add to the richness of my life. I have so much love in my life. I wouldn't have that if I did not have any morals or ethics. Life would be bitter and ugly without all the people I love. The meaning of our lives is seen in the way we have made people feel and inspired while we were alive.
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
6 Oct 10
I believe in God and only in God !!
I don't understand what happens after life..
But , yes, there should be something happening after life, because there is a judgement waiting for the things u have done..
But there are some sayings, the deeds and things u do in your younger age would be reflected in your elder age..
The more wrong things u do in the younger stage , the more pain we get in elder stage..
Examples like the diseases of Sugar, Diabetes , Cancer and many more..
I still don't understand the concept as i have tried many books on after life..
Different guys have different ideas..
@Fiendizzle (16)
• Australia
6 Oct 10
But IF there was no God (I am not saying this), would you still choose to be ethical? Would you still do the right thing even though you would not be getting into heaven, or going to hell if you did the wrong thing?
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
6 Oct 10
Fiendizzle, I tells you, I don't wait for no afterlife.
By living an ethical live today, I can enjoy rewards today. I can remain free if I don't stab someone, even if I feel like it. Sure, Jail is great, a roof over your head, cable TV, 3 meals a day, no bills to worry about...but and 8x8 cell, with a 6 foot 6 267lb man who hasn't seen a woman in who knows how many years, just isn't worth the lack of worldly stress.
If laws were abolished because of a lack of a reward system, the human race would have nearly wiped itself out centuries ago...look at how bad it is when we are striving for something as grand as an eternity in the presence of our heavenly father.
You do good, you get good. That is a reward you can collect TODAY!
@urbandekay (18278)
•
6 Oct 10
Yes, for without God what can ethics or meaning be grounded in?
all the best urban
@nerein (283)
• United States
6 Oct 10
Okay regardless of whether you believe in a god or not. Or whether you believe in an afterlife or rebirth, ethics are something that every person should have and follow. I mean so what if you don't go to heaven or get reborn or what ever. When you have ethics and follow them your reward will be not ending up in jail or prison. Maybe a better job or maybe some really good friends. As well regardless of whether or not I believe in a god or heaven and hell or rebirth or whatever, ethics should not be associated with religion or any of that stuff, and as well ethics is something that everyone should have and follow.
