If each of us are for a reason, the reason can't be for ourselves. That means we are here for the benefit of another, or others. So is it our quest to find that purpose, or has that purpose been predetermined? Certainly we shouldn't be in search of our own happiness for that can't be our purpose. Perhaps happiness, true happiness can only be found through others. Perhaps true happiness isn't a personal experience at all, but the fulfilling of a promise. A promise made by whatever being created us and placed us here on this earth. But would that being place us here to please himself? Why would that be? Could it be that the creator is simply lonely? I mean being the creator would mean you have no equal, no peer, no one to share anything with. You are alone in the universe, unless there is a race of creator beings. A concept similar to the Greek Gods. A concept we think of today as myths and legends. Maybe the ancient Greeks were right. Maybe each of us are placed here by a different creator, as a counter or companion to another creators creation! Is that why man competes against man. The reason for so much strife, struggle, hardship and pain. If that is the case maybe we aren't all here to benefit anyone at all except the creator that placed us here in the first place. Our reason for being not necessarily a good thing. Would that explain bad people?
All religious practices are followed for the same reason, to gain favor. That's the bottom line isn't it? To secure something for ourselves in the afterlife. In order to do that we have to please the God(s). We are instructed in order to do that we must do as this God(s) wish us to do. We have written textbooks to follow. Those are the instructions written down by men to tell other men how to act. We are taught those texts were dictated by the God(s) for our edification. The question being do those texts instruct us to please the God(s) or to please other men? That's where the biggest mystery lies.
In that old time religion it was about sacrifice and denial. That was the teachings of my youth and the generations before me. The further you go back in time the more sacrificing and self denial you see, especially in the Christian tradition. I'm thinking about the Jewish people as well, as you can't discuss Christianity without the Jews. Jesus was a Jew. There is no historical record that Jesus ever offered a sacrifice at the Temple as was the custom at the time. In fact that was the main purpose of the Temple, the offering of sacrifices. Still it can't be overlooked that he did make one sacrifice, a sacrifice to end all sacrifices! That's if you believe in that, and I do.
But the point I'm trying to make here is that it isn't about pleasing yourself, making yourself feel good, it is about appeasing the god(s) in the hope of reward. It doesn't really matter if you are happy about that or not. That is sacrifice and denial. Denial of those things that may please us personaly but displease the god(s). In more modern forms of religious practice we have removed the sacrifice and denial in an ever increasing way. The first big example of this would have to be the establishing of the Christian faith, that was followed by the Reformation, and many smaller reformations have taken place since, and continue to this day. We justify these changes in many ways. The justification not spoken aloud is just to keep people sacrificing and denying themselves as much as possible, but not too much as to cause them to leave altogether. We just call it progressive, tolerance, inclusiveness, forgiveness, non-judgmental, or that the God(s) will always and automatically overlook any infractions you commit. All you have to do is ask or have a good excuse. Sorta like a socialized God, you know, one that will provide you everything you want or need, no need to work, sacrifice, or deny yourself a good time. Hey you're entitled to an afterlife right? And it's going to be the one you want because you deserve it.
None of that offers an explanation for why we are here in the first place. The only question is, do we seek personal happiness or do we seek the afterlife. Did your God(s) place you here to make yourself happy or to benefit someone else, maybe an entire nation of someone else's. Can you be happy pleasing others? That is to say can you deny yourself while providing for others and be happy? I'd say it was possible, that's the only way to explain those that sacrifice everything to the benefit of others. Or perhaps it is as simple as convincing yourself. Is that belief?
All religious practices are followed for the same reason, to gain favor. That's the bottom line isn't it? To secure something for ourselves in the afterlife. In order to do that we have to please the God(s). We are instructed in order to do that we must do as this God(s) wish us to do. We have written textbooks to follow. Those are the instructions written down by men to tell other men how to act. We are taught those texts were dictated by the God(s) for our edification. The question being do those texts instruct us to please the God(s) or to please other men? That's where the biggest mystery lies.
In that old time religion it was about sacrifice and denial. That was the teachings of my youth and the generations before me. The further you go back in time the more sacrificing and self denial you see, especially in the Christian tradition. I'm thinking about the Jewish people as well, as you can't discuss Christianity without the Jews. Jesus was a Jew. There is no historical record that Jesus ever offered a sacrifice at the Temple as was the custom at the time. In fact that was the main purpose of the Temple, the offering of sacrifices. Still it can't be overlooked that he did make one sacrifice, a sacrifice to end all sacrifices! That's if you believe in that, and I do.
But the point I'm trying to make here is that it isn't about pleasing yourself, making yourself feel good, it is about appeasing the god(s) in the hope of reward. It doesn't really matter if you are happy about that or not. That is sacrifice and denial. Denial of those things that may please us personaly but displease the god(s). In more modern forms of religious practice we have removed the sacrifice and denial in an ever increasing way. The first big example of this would have to be the establishing of the Christian faith, that was followed by the Reformation, and many smaller reformations have taken place since, and continue to this day. We justify these changes in many ways. The justification not spoken aloud is just to keep people sacrificing and denying themselves as much as possible, but not too much as to cause them to leave altogether. We just call it progressive, tolerance, inclusiveness, forgiveness, non-judgmental, or that the God(s) will always and automatically overlook any infractions you commit. All you have to do is ask or have a good excuse. Sorta like a socialized God, you know, one that will provide you everything you want or need, no need to work, sacrifice, or deny yourself a good time. Hey you're entitled to an afterlife right? And it's going to be the one you want because you deserve it.
None of that offers an explanation for why we are here in the first place. The only question is, do we seek personal happiness or do we seek the afterlife. Did your God(s) place you here to make yourself happy or to benefit someone else, maybe an entire nation of someone else's. Can you be happy pleasing others? That is to say can you deny yourself while providing for others and be happy? I'd say it was possible, that's the only way to explain those that sacrifice everything to the benefit of others. Or perhaps it is as simple as convincing yourself. Is that belief?
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