Happiness only now?

[Terence2369]

Religion inevitably involves a war on Evil, wouldn’t you agree? Therefore, there is always a certain grimness to religion, at least when it is practiced whole-heartedly. It simply isn’t a happy hobby; it is the painful project of extricating oneself from this rapidly deteriorating world so that one may return to one’s True Home.

Isn’t it strange then, that as of today CAF has pretty much outlawed all topics that aren’t plain happiness-topics? Aren’t the final days of 2020, and the final days of CAF, a time when we should face the abomination of desolation that is upon us, instead of reminiscing about halcyon days as the moderators’ pinned post recommends?

Is it “controversial” for me to raise this question?

 

[Beryllos]

I see religion, and Catholicism in particular, as a movement toward the good, leading to joy and peace. I agree with you, it is not a “happy hobby,” and there is suffering, but I don’t see it as a grim life.

Nor am I in a great hurry to extricate myself from the world, as one might leave town shaking the dust from ones feet. God willing, I plan to use my time and energy to make the world better, beginning with my own repentance and working to bring out the best in my wife and children, then others close to me, and finally the larger community and the Church.

 

[Terence2369]

Ok. Sounds like you wouldn’t agree with me that these are end times. What if this world is a sinking ship, and not a ship that will sink some time in the (distant) future, but a ship that’s sinking now? What if your attempts to make the world better – noble though they undoubtedly are – tie you to the world? Wouldn’t it be the same as trying to improve living conditions on a ship with an unfixable hole in the hull, below the waterline? And wouldn’t it be up the Devil’s alley to give us the impression that there is no hole, and that there’s nothing to worry about? It’s kinda like the people who kept up their merrymaking aboard the Titanic for the first half hour after it had hit the iceberg. During that period the ship wasn’t noticeably tilting yet, so they could convince themselves that there was no major problem. Me, I think we’re in terrible danger of making the same mistake with regard to the world.

I’m not asking this to challenge you. I’m just wondering if you’ve considered the possibility.