Bok's fourth chapter, entitled from Seneca's essay "On the Happy Life," touched on St. Augustine's view of happiness, which he asserts is out of reach here on earth, and true happiness is only realized in the afterlife by those who worship the Christian god. Many religions hold this similar view.
Putting all the baggage aside that comes with competing religions or arguing which one is true, my questions is this: would you be happy with the unshakable certainty that your true reward would come in the afterlife? Would this make it easier to get through this life; knowing something better awaits you? Would you want to live forever? Thoughts?
I think I'd be walking on eggshells, constantly worrying I wouldn't live long enough to live forever. Paradoxically cheapens AND overvalues life simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteI will say that there's something to that safety net, though. As much as I do want to completely dismiss this notion, I can't help but note that if I were to believe in an eternally happy afterlife, it would probably make me feel a lot better when I had a crappy day. Whereas now, I have to find my own way of staying positive despite inevitable negativities. While my own findings seem more important and unique because I'm the one creating them for myself, I sometimes wish I could just be like "Well, no matter what, God's got my back." The problem with atheism here, is that it's so cold and dark for someone with faith. You have to have your own back and find your own way through an increasingly strange and befuddling adulthood. While those of us who have become accustomed to the darkness, or have found our own torches (be it humanism, naturalism, what-have-you), it's still eerie. -Shrug- Interesting thoughts, Dean :D
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