Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 27 2023 11:18pm)

Based on my bias, I wonder about the death anxiety or a deeper meaning to life in people who express this duality of thought: On the other side of "life" is eternal bliss, but there's something about this being alive where despite this knowledge (or, realistically, faith) I don't find myself wanting to rush there. I just wonder why that's the case, as it could mean a few different potentials, including things that I'm not even contemplating.

Is nebulous 'eternal bliss' less desirable than X, for instance, such that you'd rather delay the eternal bliss if given the option? "X" will certainly vary from person to person, although some answers will surely be the same given if enough people are asked.

Quote (majorblood @ Nov 27 2023 11:27pm)

you personally? I never took you as religious

Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 27 2023 11:10pm)

Is 1 then a lack of sufficient faith?

2 seems compelling, to me.



Any iteration where what is described includes sentiments similar to "eternal bliss". Devoid of suffering, perhaps--although, that gets into the weeds of consciousness, subjective experience, etc.

Quote (majorblood @ Nov 27 2023 11:46pm)

the reason I asked is to try to approximate specific religions because if you want to take Christianity as an example you could make the argument of purpose in life. One of the most important things for a Christian is to expand the kingdom of God and therefore a long and purposeful life is something desirable.

I think desiring to die early (even of natural causes) with the goal to visit heaven sooner is selfish given that context

if you want to take some detached view of an afterlife and heaven, logically everyone should want to go to heaven as soon as possible for purely selfish reasons

Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 27 2023 11:51pm)

I love that you brought this up, this idea of having a purpose in life, and that perhaps (even just a hypothetical one of many), the idea of spreading the knowledge of God is one such purpose.

Once all of humanity has been made resonate with the existence of God, why would we want to continue the species (ie. bring in new consciousness)? We seem to want to extend our time here even if all of humanity is reached by God's word.

Quote

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 27 2023 08:50pm)

Philosophy is very relevant to political and religious matters, so I figured I'd see if people are interested in a thread that is focused on philosophical considerations. Here's a thought I had:

If there is a belief in an afterlife, and this belief is one of an eternally peaceful afterlife, why do we desire extending our lifespan so much? This is different than a question of suicide, as suicide relates to the desire to kill ourselves immediately (or shortly). I think of it as the difference between choosing death v. adjusting your acceleration towards death. Why the adjustment? Why the desire to delay meeting paradise, God, The One, etc.?

Quote (NIV)

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Quote (Handcuffs @ 28 Nov 2023 08:02)

I would love to learn more about any of the major philosophers, as my knowledge is quite shallow, so I welcome this appreciatingly.

Quote (majorblood @ Nov 28 2023 12:04am)

I don't think it's true that all of humanity is reached by God's word in the Christian sense

if we take this part from matthew 28 it's a command from Jesus to spread it to everyone -- which clearly hasn't happened yet.


and to answer your question on why have kids that is also addressed in the bible

the moral question of 'why do anything?' is ultimately answered in the word of Christ if we are taking the christian perspective

I am not religious and have never studied it in detail so I don't know the specifics

Quote (Handcuffs @ Nov 28 2023 11:54am)

Right, I agree that it has not happened yet. I'm just following the edict of "Spread the word of Christ" to a hypothetical conclusion of success. What happens once the word of God is spread to all who can hear it?