Purpose in life

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

What I tend to try to live by is the adage, "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well... though there aren't many jobs worth doing".

That seems fair enough to me... though I'd add "when a job ain't worth doing well... procrastinate": I never cease to be amazed at how time resolves any list of tasks into those worth doing well and those that don't really need doing at all.

Originally Posted by Zainub

Interesting quote I came across a while back, not sure who said it, but probaly was some one reasonably well known, if anyone knows, do tell me "if there was no God, there would be no atheists"

I don't have the source of the quote but if you had followed JONATHAN MILLER'S BRIEF HISTORY OF DISBELIEFyou would have heard an interesting objection to the very notion of being called an atheist: one doesn't get called anything special for having no use for the notion that the earth is flat... so why should we accept a term like atheist that presumes we've ever seen any greater use for the idea of God?

Great series. The interviews he conducted for it were so good that he made them into a further 6 programmes!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Vrock7

Although I do have one question that is sort of tied in with this subject. When you die, assuming that you have no beliefs. Do you: Go to heavan? Re-incarnated? nothing happens? How can you do these if you don't believe?

In the Christian Religion we are told that god shows mery to all.
To answer your question with the teachings of the church.
It is said that a child who has not been baptised before death will not go to heavan, but go to a place called "Limbo", a place for innocents who had not had the sin of Adam washed away.limbo

So I suppose that a person who did not believe in god, but lived there life in a good way, would go to heavan, or a place like Limbo.
The very fact that you wish to go to heavan is in itself enough to get you there.
A none believer who had lived a good life, would he be just snuffed out?, I doubt it if the bible is to be believed, because god is all mercyfull.

As for Re-incarnation, well you could come back as yourself wondering these same questions, no such thing methinks.
"Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friend".here

A quote from the bible, which means that no matter how much you have sinned, to die saving the life of another, would be an automatic passport to heavan.
So by the same token, a none believer who did the same, would still have that automatic right.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Can you imagine how daft an atheist would feel if that was the case, arriving at the pearly gates and actually finding out there are in fact pearly gates. I bet St Peter makes them hang around a bit though, while all the god fearing ones get fast-tracked to paradise.

[Zainub]

As far as I'm aware, in our faith you have to have faith in God and the last prophet (pbuh) to have a chance of heaven - if you have belief, at some stage, you'll definitely get into heaven, after paying for your sins, by spending some time in hell. Although, there's no clear cut theory to this, God, at any stage, can decide, whom so ever to send to Heaven or Hell.

Just realised, I had still not answered the question I asked everyone else, so here goes, I think my purpose in life is to do good deeds.

[flanflinger]

Very strange that a thread on Purpose in Life has turned into "what happens when you die"

For me as Christian (not always a good one!!) I cannot say who will get into Heaven and who won't. But what I can say is that those who believe that J esus (sic) was the Son of God and came and lived as a man, struggled as a man, was finally put to death for the sins of all men (and women) and was resurrected back to life, has a sure and certain hope of salvation. It does not matter when you start to believe in him or what you have done, but God's grace is for all.

To parables I really like the Parable of the Lost Son and the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, which emphasises that God's Grace is illogical and not dependant upon us, but upon his sacrificial love for us.

I believe there will be a judgement day, but for the believing Christian that Judgement happened the day they became a Christian, and that the verdict on them is innocent, because of what J esus (sic) did for us.

Finally - I do not believe that Christianity is a list of do's and don'ts, but of two very simple commandments, that if followed would change the world - Love God with everything you are and have and Love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Through my faith I find I have a purpose, a joy in adversity and a desire to help others who are less fortunate than myself.

If you are interested in what Christianity really means - why not consider doing an Alpha course they are fun and you normally get some great food!!

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Rachael

That seems fair enough to me... though I'd add "when a job ain't worth doing well... procrastinate": I never cease to be amazed at how time resolves any list of tasks into those worth doing well and those that don't really need doing at all.

Hmm. I agree with that Rachael. I also adhere to Parkinson's Law and ENSURE that the work expands to fill the time available. That way you avoid having to juggle responsibilities. However, I am certain that management at my office are aware that I do this, and they've been playing the cod-psychology of late. Still, i would not procrastinate so much as to get others in difficulty. That would be rather unfair of me.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub

"if there was no God, there would be no atheists"

This is the owner of this phrase I believe Zainub..G K Chesterton.

[Zainub]

FF, I asked both about purpose and what people thought would happen to them after they die - read the opening post again.

Chesterton, eh. Never heard of him before. Let me find me out who he is...

UPDATE:

Originally Posted by Answers dot com

Gilbert Keith Chesterton: British writer and critic known for his Roman Catholicism and his conservative political views. His works include essays, a series of detective novels featuring Father Brown, and volumes of criticism and polemics, more here http://www.answers.com/G+K+Chesterto...6.171&method=3

[Vrock]

Zainub, to answer question "what happens when you die?" I reckon that not much happens when you die in honesty. You will live on as was shown on your affect on people/world/life itself.

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child 77322

Can you imagine how daft an atheist would feel if that was the case, arriving at the pearly gates and actually finding out there are in fact pearly gates. I bet St Peter makes them hang around a bit though, while all the god fearing ones get fast-tracked to paradise.

I'd have a few words of my own to say...
Well what does he expect? I mean if you exsist then just come out and tell us! Why all the fun and games?

and the last prophet (pbuh)

Who?

God's Grace is illogical

What?

God, at any stage, can decide, whom so ever to send to Heaven or Hell.

I'm not sure if this is the case with Islam, but I have a feeling that in Christianity and Judaism Hevan and Hell are not mentioned in the sacred texts and are derived at by implication and medeviel tradition.

Certainly both belived in the porussia (second coming of ****** and God's judgment on the world), and in "salvation" ("peace"), but I can't say I've ever seen them deal with the whole death question.