Spokane7
32°
September 4, 2010 in Features
Living life of worth depends not on faith
I think that most reasonably reflective people begin, at least by the age that they can conclude there are fewer years ahead than behind, to think about when they want to die.
I’ve certainly seen someone with an apparent foot in the grave and thought, “Geez, if I ever look like that, put me out of my misery.”
And certainly how to buy that old farm.
Nasty car crash? “Nah, way too traumatic. Quick, though.”
What about a heart attack? “Not bad, but you don’t get to say goodbye.”
A fast cancer? “Hmmm … no reason to go through chemo, no hope at all, with plenty of morphine? Give me time to think things over, order my affairs, say my goodbyes? I’ll take that one, please, with a side of fries and chocolate cream pie.”
Part of the fear of dying is the not knowing. That the proverbial bus could hit you tomorrow. Or today. Or the weak blood vessel in your brain that’s going to blow out on you way before “your time.”
But there’s a catch to knowing, too, isn’t there? There are plenty of old sci-fi scenarios that offer a person the chance to choose to know time, place, and manner of death. Or, to keep that lid cussing-well closed. (They always take a peek.)
Typically, it’s a farce, with the person doing everything under the sun precisely to avoid just that place (and fate) and then, shazzam! It just gets ’em anyway.
It all seems so fickle, so pointless, so mean, doesn’t it? I mean, why put us here, dealing with all the suffering that goes on day after day after day, just to see it all end in nothingness?
That can’t be right; surely there’s something more, an afterlife. Jesus tells me so. There, that feels better.
But let’s turn this around, flip it over, stretch it into a new shape. If the shape of our lives is that they will continue after we die, that we get the goods then, well, just what are we here for now?
Maybe, just possibly, I should see about living a life of worth, of meaning, of caring, of kindness and good works simply because the satisfaction derived in the here and now is sufficient.
I have no idea whatsoever why some folks inform me that a “Godless” life is one without morals. And that, if you throw God out, you might as well start raping and looting.
Does anyone really think that, all things being equal, if one day you’re a staunch believer and the next, you give up on religion altogether, you’re going to stop being a good parent, throw your kids on the street to beg and start beating your spouse?
Good works follow from recognizing the value of a moral life now. Never mind what comes after.
Nothing? “Well, I won’t be around to know about it, now will I?”
Something? “Well, I can’t quite begin to guess what that might be, so I’ll just leave it alone, thank you.”
I haven’t a clue why, for many, the answer to the ending of life is that the suffering of others is appropriate, even desirable. That for me to be right, you have to be wrong. That for me to go to heaven, you have to go to hell.
Unless, of course, you convert and get the right God. Mine, that is. “Oh, but you’re a Unitarian?” Sorry, wrong flavor, you lose.
As Stephen Roberts said of these folks, “I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do.”
Donald Clegg, a longtime Spokane resident, is an author and professional watercolor artist. Contact him via e-mail at info@donaldclegg.com.
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Romans13 on September 04 at 8:03 a.m.
I don’t know who told you that if you don’t have God you might as well start “raping and looting”. I am confident it wasn’t a Christian. Your argument is the equivalent of saying if we punch someone, we might as well kill them. If you are going to use ridiculously extreme positions to prove your point, then you can use my example, too. And if I steal a pen from work, I might as well embezzle $5 million since I’m a thief anyway. What’s the point of arguing extreme examples that are ridiculous from the outset? As for morals, where do they start from? I’m not talking about your parents, or their parents…I’m talking about the very beginning. We evolved from ectoplasma goop into beings that could have their synapsis electrically fire in the appropriate succession to create a universal “right and wrong” on basic issues such as murder, rape, stealing, etc? No. God’s word is written on your heart so there will be no excuse during the day of judgement. God’s word. Is it easier for you to believe we evolved from swampy goop to being the creatures we are now, or that an intelligent being made us wonderfully and fearfully! If we evolved from goop, who made the goop? Who made the laws that allowed the goop to cling together? Who made the atom to follow specific and consistent physical laws? My brother, if you sought God as much as you seek to defend your position, you would be pleasantly surprised. Let your conscience be your guide. Shalom.
The_Recovering_Christian on September 04 at 9:51 a.m.
Excellent article, Donald! Appreciate your candor, and bringing up something that I think everyone needs to seriously contemplate…Can we be good without a belief in the supernatural? It’s amazing how few of my Christian friends actually will allow themselves to admit that the answer to that question is a resounding “YES!”. Keep up the great work!
TRC
the.recovering.christian@gmail.com
http://therecoveringchristian.wordpress.com
The_Recovering_Christian on September 04 at 11:04 p.m.
For anyone who would like to read:
I’ve blogged about Romans 13’s comment above on my own blog at…
http://therecoveringchristian.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/entry-33-a-faithless-versus-faithful-life/
Thanks,
TRC