(Untitled)

[priam]

If we're made for union with God, if our "hearts our restless until they rest in thee" as St. Augustine puts it, if we are made live in Heaven and not on Earth, is it any wonder we're not happy, content, and fulfilled much of the time

Comments

High Society

[lovingsociology]

I think some of the issues you bring up are a result of society teaching us certain things. Children are taught that Christmas is about gifts and that their parents owe them since they both work full-time. Children who grow up without a middle-class background don't ask "is that it?" they say "Thank you, this is great." to things other children might not even appreciate. Adults are told that another person will "complete" them so they don't look within themselves for happiness and fulfillment. They only look outside themselves and are therefore disappointed when they find that no person outside can fill them inside. Shocking. I am currently one of those people spending tens of thousands of dollars for that advanced degree to unlock my dream career. And I doubt I will ask "is this all there is to life?" when I get there. I am already satisfied with my life. I look for my own happiness rather than waiting for a gift or a "soulmate" or a career to provide it. Yes, I enjoy all of those things, but they don't define my happiness

Re: High Society

[priam]

Can't...post...more. Spent an hour writing my response below, but it addresses your point. Neeeeeed....sleep. ;)

Re: High Society

[lovingsociology]

Love it. You are so right on! :)

Re: High Society

[lovingsociology]

To clarify...I mean I love what lovingsociology said.

[artorius]

I agree that some people are unfulfilled in life, but I think it's a leap to say that the universal purpose of all of us is to find union with God. I think if that were the case you'd find more consensus on that point. A Buddhist would tell you that the unfulfillment is a symptom of unchecked desire and that only by quelling that desire will you achieve fulfillment. There are people who are fulfilled in life without seeking union with God.

The game of life has open-ended victory conditions but we have a limited amount of time to play it. If you spend too much of your time listening to what other people tell you that you should want, you may end up with no time left to pursue your own needs. There is no abstract purpose common to all of our lives, but each of us is free to choose a purpose for himself.

If we were all seeking God above all else there would be more people in church on Sunday rather than sitting at home watching football games. Some people are fulfilled by football.

[priam]

The game of life has open-ended victory conditions but we have a limited amount of time to play it.But, if that were truly so, if this life was all we had and when we died we were simply planted the ground, then why do we work so hard to better ourselves? What's the point if my existence ceases upon my death

[priam]

(continued...)

If we were all seeking God above all else there would be more people in church on Sunday rather than sitting at home watching football games. Some people are fulfilled by football.That, my friend, is the greatest tragedy of all. Who whispers in our ear that we don't need God? Who suggests to us that we can choose Good from Evil for ourselves and therefore take hold of our own destiny? Who teaches us that the creature no longer needs his creator? He is a liar and murderer from the beginning, Jesus tells us, and if he can cause a third of the angels (who have a vastly superior intelligence than we) to abandon their divine lives, he can surely lead a great many of us mere mortals astray as well

[artorius]

If you are implying that all the other sundry goals and needs of mankind besides a supposed union with God are from a diabolical source, I think the burden of proof would have to be on you for that one