What is the purpose of an afterlife? An existence with ever constant praise of God, or eternal punishment for malicious actions on earth?
I don't want to believe that there is a heaven. Catholicism preaches that in order to attain heaven, a person has to be free of mortal sin. In order to commit a mortal sin, a person has to commit an act that is "grave" with full and deliberate consent, and to acknowledge that it in fact was a grave action. If a person commits mortal sin, they can be absolved if they go to confession.
But in solely avoiding mortal sin, I don't believe that a person lives a moral life. If a person lives solely to attain salvation by avoiding mortal sin, life is meaningless. I think that apathy is a sin, yet according to this definition, if I knew that a holocaust was occurring, yet I didn't pursue actions to combat it, I would still go to heaven. There would be no personal consequences for my actions, although people would continue to suffer and die.
I think that this definition takes away from the need to aid humanity. Life shouldn't be about avoiding sin, it should be about guiding all choices by morality. I think that the purpose of life is to aid future generations. It is to love others, even when it is difficult. It is to embrace every bitter-sweet emotion on this world, to suffer and triumph over struggle. It is to listen when somebody needs an ear, and embrace when somebody needs support. It is to speak when nobody else is willing, and to learn, so that ignorance will not cause poor decisions to be made.
And for me, belief in an afterlife inspires apathy. It inspires me to look out for the `purity' of my soul, without acknowledging the other dilemmas that are facing the world.
If I were to do that, I believe that my life would have less meaning.
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