Zone1 Is Eternal Life a Necessary Ingredient?

[Cassandro]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life. Is avoiding the wrath of judgement our primary purpose?

 

[shockedcanadian]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthl religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life

It's the big mystery and it's a difficult one for me to wrap my mind around.

Nobody knows of course but I like to think, whatever the reward after this life, whatever the duration, whatever decision is made, it must be worth it.

Eternity sure seems untenable though. It's all a mystery but also from time to time it is a frightening prospect.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life. Is avoiding the wrath of judgement our primary purpose?

If you believe, then yes. That is the basis of Christian religion.

But.......giving all the hypocrisy the bible holds..........is it possible to BE a good Christian when one chapter tells you to do one thing and the next chapter tells you the complete opposite?

Sounds like to me, it's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

 

[ding]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life. Is avoiding the wrath of judgement our primary purpose?

What kind of “religious rules” are you referring to?

 

[Cassandro]

What if we appreciate the life we have and then just pass away?

 

[ding]

What if we appreciate the life we have and then just pass away?

Nothing wrong with that. What did Jesus say?

“It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.”

 

[Dr.Destructo]

You don't need to be religious to live a good life.

You know whats right and whats wrong. You know good from bad.
You question when necessary.

If you live your life to the best of your abilities to be a good human being..........then I say HOORAH for you!!!
You're miles ahead of all these other morons.

 

[ding]

What if we appreciate the life we have and then just pass away?

The best way to show someone you appreciate the gift they gave you is to use it. That is worship at its simplest and finest.

 

[toobfreak]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules.

Truth be told, you already have eternal life. Every living thing does because the spirit is by definition eternal. All that is being bartered here is the /state/ that life exists in and how often if ever it changes states of being.

You have a choice: eternal life going endlessly through the cycles of bodily birth and death, or an eternal life as just pure spirit.

 

[ding]

You don't need to be religious to live a good life.

You know whats right and whats wrong. You know good from bad.
You question when necessary.

If you live your life to the best of your abilities to be a good human being..........then I say HOORAH for you!!!
You're miles ahead of all these other morons.

You should have stopped after the second to last sentence.

It’s easy to have peace and joy in good times. It’s not so easy in bad times. That’s where one’s faith comes in to play.

 

[onefour1]

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we make a distinction between the terms, "immortality" and "eternal life". We believe that immortality is being able to live forever and ever. However, the term Eternal Life is the kind of life that God has. Here is the definition of Eternal Life:

Overview

Eternal Life​

Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. The Lord declared, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”1 Immortality is to live forever as a resurrected being. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone will receive this gift. Eternal life, or exaltation, is to live in God’s presence and to continue as families.2 Like immortality, this gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. However, to inherit eternal life requires our “obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”3

When we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we enter the path that leads to eternal life. The prophet Nephi taught:

“The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

“And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.”4

Nephi emphasized that after we have entered this “strait and narrow path,” we must endure to the end in faith:

“After ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”5

After we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, much of our progress toward eternal life depends on our receiving other ordinances of salvation: for men, ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood; for men and women, the temple endowment and marriage sealing. When we receive these ordinances and keep the covenants that accompany them, we prepare ourselves to inherit eternal life.

Related Topics​

• Becoming Like God
• God the Father
• Plan of Salvation
• Postmortality

Related Content​

• Scriptures
• Messages from Church leaders
• Gospel Study Guide
• Hymns and children’s songs
• Videos

Basically, Eternal Life is a Godlike Life.

 

[MarathonMike]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life. Is avoiding the wrath of judgement our primary purpose?

Buddhists have an interesting concept about Afterlife. You continue in a death-rebirth cycle until you gain enlightenment or Nirvana. Once you achieve that, you are "released" from the cycle of death and rebirth and exist as pure consciousness.

 

[Cassandro]

It’s easy to have peace and joy in good times. It’s not so easy in bad times. That’s where one’s faith comes in to play.

I agree, but is it faith that things will get better in this life or the next?

 

[shockedcanadian]

I can't lie, I sometimes pray for Christians. Now more than ever there are so many who are Christians In Name Only that it is quite startling.

When I read twitter or even media pundits on Fox and other networks who express little empathy, view so many as being irredeemable, I can't help but think "where are the actions based on the bible"?

It is one issue I am often swayed by the left per se, "this person calls themself a person of faith but they do or say ___________".

It is absolutely accurate and G-d does not like being mocked and betrayed.

 

[ding]

I agree, but is it faith that things will get better in this life or the next?

This life. But it’s not necessarily get better as much as it is peace through the storm.

 

[Mashmont]

I have long been uncomfortable with the promise of eternal life in return for obeying earthly religious rules. This seems to be more of a carrot-and-stick control concept than a philosophical consideration of how you should live your life. Is avoiding the wrath of judgement our primary purpose?

I look at it a difrerent way. Not as a fear of consequences, but wanting to be your best and do your best.

Analogy: The LA Lakers under Coach Phil Jackson had rules and punishments for being late, missing practices, and loafing during practices. Kobe Bryant was so intent in being the greatest player on the planet, he was already practicing harder and longer than anyone else. Coming earlier, staying later. These punishments were of no motivation whatsoever to him, because he was in a much higher plane, that he wouldn't have come close to violating those rules.

God wants us to be like Kobe. "Be perfect like your Heavenly Father is perfect".

 

[MarathonMike]

I can't lie, I sometimes pray for Christians. Now more than ever there are so many who are Christians In Name only that it is quite startling.

When I read twitter or even media pundits on Fox and other networks who have no empathy at all, view so many are irredeemable, I can't help but think "where are the actions based on the bible"?

It is one issue I am often swayed by the left per se, "this person calls themself a person of faith but they do or say ___________".

It is absolutely accurate and G-d does not like being mocked and betrayed.

What media pundit on Fox do you view as having no empathy at all?

 

[shockedcanadian]

What media pundit on Fox do you view as having no empathy at all?

Well I changed my posting as that is too strong a statement. All pundits show some empathy from time to time but there are too many expressions of horrible sentiments. I am thinking of Brian Kilmeade for the comment he wisely apologized for (saying homeless with mental issues should be euthanized) but that is just one comment. I've heard it from numerous at different times (though not THAT insensitive a comment thankfully). I dont know, it is peculiar and somewhat astonishing. They actually make CNN hosts seem more reasonable, at least as ones disposition goes.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

Buddhists have an interesting concept about Afterlife. You continue in a death-rebirth cycle until you gain enlightenment or Nirvana. Once you achieve that, you are "released" from the cycle of death and rebirth and exist as pure consciousness.

That would be nice if it were true.

 

[ding]

That would be nice if it were true.

Which part?