A Laughing Matter?

A view which is common today is that one's eternal destiny is not a subject worthy of serious consideration. A consequence of this view is that those who have specific ideas of an eternal destiny and how it relates to one's present condition are often regarded as being unreasonably narrow-minded and not to be taken seriously. In the following paragraphs I shall demonstrate that such a view is completely inappropriate.

Why would people have the perspective described above? Do they have any rational reason to act as if this issue is unimportant and unworthy of serious discussion and reflection? If people simply want to assume this is the case, that's their prerogative, I suppose. Simply assuming something, however, doesn't make it true or even reasonable.

Some consider various world views or traditions which are in circulation and recognize that they contradict each other when it comes to providing answers to life's biggest questions. The proverbial path of least resistance, emphasizing ethical values common to multiple world views, appears to be very attractive insofar as it allows people to avoid taking a position on the big questions. After all, if one says that the only thing that is important is being nice to other people, who would argue with that? I think its safe to say that most folks would generally appreciate human actions which make the world a better place in which to live.

Perhaps the real reason for avoiding questions regarding one's eternal destiny is that we all understand that discussions of such issues can become heated and get out of hand, and what should be a quest for truth turns into a contest to see who can score the most points. This can easily happen in situations where communication is not well planned and not orderly. Why do these discussions press so many hot buttons?

If one has concluded that the truth regarding our eternal destiny is ultimately unknowable, then someone comes along and says the opposite, does it make sense to simply dismiss what the other person says out of hand without seriously attempting to interact with it and any supporting evidence which is provided? Wouldn't dogmatically rejecting the person's view without first hearing their case be akin to claiming that one is all-knowing or infallible? Conversely, just because someone else may claim to have knowledge of such matters, it doesn't mean the person is claiming to be infallible or all-knowing. It simply means they are claiming we can have some kind of understanding of the hereafter and how it relates to this life. Granted, they may be incorrect in their view, perhaps based on faulty reasoning, but nothing is irrational about the idea of having such a view in and of itself. Furthermore, just because some people necessarily have an incorrect view (according to the Principle of Contradiction and assuming that we live in a rational universe, that is), it doesn't follow that the correct view is therefore unknowable.

When All is Said and Done

That everything we are able to directly observe will end is apparent to all. Whether it be our lives, life on earth as a whole, or the solar system, the overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is the conclusion that these will all end. The question becomes, what, if anything, will these things have meant after they end? Will our lives have meant anything at all?

You may be asking, "Why should I put any effort into thinking about such things? What do I possibly have to gain from it? After all, I have so many things to be concerned about, and it hardly seems like I have time to get to many of them." Perhaps you are also frustrated because you cannot directly perceive anything beyond the material world.

We all have responsibilities, and it may require an extra effort on our part to set aside time to comtemplate such things. Surely we can find a few minutes of any given day when we do not have to be occupied with something else.

If nothing ultimately matters, then of course we need not be concerned. We could simply put all of our effort into satisfying our passions, until we breathe our last. If, however, each moment of our lives and each thought we think has eternal significance, then to ignore this would no doubt be the height of foolishness. Would it not therefore be wise to seek the truth regarding the nature of our existence, and the significance of each moment of our lives and each thought we think?

Of course, in order for our lives to have continued meaning for us after all these things pass away, we would have to continue to exist as conscious, personal entities. If so, how could we know this is the case? I cannot stress enough how important it is that you refuse to be satisfied until you have the answer to this question.

Excerpt from a Letter I Recently Wrote

Of all the things I have to write about, perhaps the easiest are those for which I am thankful. Since they are so numerous, I would like to write about one in particular at this time, namely, that I am involved in a community in which I have regular, meaningful interactions with people who realize that some things are greater than themselves; who consider the needs of others as well as their own; who do not easily take offense; who are willing to freely forgive; who gratefully accept correction; who do not hold grudges; who learn from their mistakes and evidence growth in their character; who are eager to use their money for noble causes instead of hoarding it; who are capable of discussing more than just superficial nonsense; who are interested in what others have to say; who are not dismissive towards those who have different views; who are able to see things from others' perspectives; who seek to attribute the best possible motives in others; who can handle truth claims without getting all bent out of shape; who are able to disagree on important issues without going ballistic; and who understand the importance of keeping their word.

In this community I'm accountable to many people who not only are concerned about my well-being, but who also want the best for me. For example, many times I've needed transportation, especially when going on vacation, and help was only a phone call away. I know that whatever need I may have, if its within their power to help me, many people will gladly come to my aid.

In this community I have opportunities to serve others, and to be co-laborers with them in endeavors which have lasting significance. The community itself has significance, and so do its individual members. Each member plays a valuable role in some way.

In this community we can share each other's joys and sorrows. We're able to encourage each other in beneficial ways, and to bear one another's burdens as we journey through life's peaks and valleys together. We have a mutual support system available to us that can really help make life more livable.

In short, I'm thankful that, through this community, I have people in my life who know what their priorities need to be, and who don't take them lightly. If anyone thinks I'm snobbish by preferring to associate with those who have certain character qualities, I'd like to know why. Would it be any different in principle than wanting to be in the company of law-abiding citizens instead of hardened criminals?

I cannot really comprehend what it would be like to have no connection with the kind of community described above. I imagine life would be tremendously empty, with little if any growth in one's character, and with much more limited human resources from which to draw strength. Riches would be worthless when one died, and all one's hopes would be forgotten then. One's end would be most tragic.