Odd Question I Need Answered

[Drawmack]

Some may find this disturbing, I find this disturbing that I’d ask this, but it’s a question that I just need answered by people who know what they’re talking about. Would it be better if we simply were never born? I think instead of having to suffer a whole lifetime of sin and indignity and likely end up hell (as do the majority of people), would it not be the ultimate mercy to just not have to put up with any of that, to just not exist, not have to worry about all the problems we face in life and worry about whether or not we will fry in hell for all eternity? Answer this truthfully, why is existence worth it? Give me one good reason.

You cannot compare existence and non-existence. In order to compare two things they must have something in common. Existence and non-existence have nothing in common and therefore cannot be compared. Since you cannot compare existence with non-existence it is impossible to determine if it is more or less moral for God to simply have us not exist. (BTW: If you’d like to read some better put together pieces on this read some things against JW because those writings go into this as the JWs are anialationists.)

 

[Drawmack]

2 billion people in the world are Christians. 1 billion people in the world are Catholic. 90% of Catholics are either cafeteria Catholics, have used contraception, don’t go to mass regularly, and confess maybe once in their lives. Roughly that’s about a million out of 6 billion people who will go to heaven. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not trolling, but I really need to find some purpose in life.

If you want to find purpose in life read the Bible. Only religion offers life a purpose.

 

[patricius79]

Peter Kreeft is good at answernig questions like this in his “Making Sense Out of Suffering” or “Handbook” (Kreeft and Tacelli).

I have similar thoughts sometimes. I think about this especially with reference to sexuality. I mean here you have God giving such force to the procreative drive, knowing the extent to which it will be abused.

Yet God uses even such things because he loves life so much! I find that a very hopeful sign of God’s mercy and I trust that God’s Mercy is infinite!

As Scriptures says,

“O LORD, you love all that you have made!”

 

[Louemma]

Some may find this disturbing, I find this disturbing that I’d ask this, but it’s a question that I just need answered by people who know what they’re talking about. Would it be better if we simply were never born? I think instead of having to suffer a whole lifetime of sin and indignity and likely end up hell (as do the majority of people), would it not be the ultimate mercy to just not have to put up with any of that, to just not exist, not have to worry about all the problems we face in life and worry about whether or not we will fry in hell for all eternity? Answer this truthfully, why is existence worth it? Give me one good reason.

No one can answer your question because as like yourself we woke up one day and thus existed.So to never be born is not an option since we have no choice in the matter.But your here and what you do with your existences,your life that God gave you will make all the difference in eternity.So in this life you will have the choice on your eternal life,with the Lord or an eternity without God which is the same as being dead.This is a choice God allows each person to make.
So this life is a test,a race to run whether you like it or not because God had you already in the plan when he layed the foundation of the world.Life’s hard and to run the good race we can’t start feeling sorry for ourselves.This post sounds a little like Job who cursed the day he was born
God don’t send anyone to Hell,they send themselves to Hell.

 

[DCNBILL]

Peter Kreeft is good at answernig questions like this in his “Making Sense Out of Suffering” or “Handbook” (Kreeft and Tacelli).

I have similar thoughts sometimes. I think about this especially with reference to sexuality. I mean here you have God giving such force to the procreative drive, knowing the extent to which it will be abused.

Yet God uses even such things because he loves life so much! I find that a very hopeful sign of God’s mercy and I trust that God’s Mercy is infinite!

As Scriptures says,

“O LORD, you love all that you have made!”

C. S. Lewis “The Problem With Pain” is also a good resource.

The Peace of Christ to all,

bill

 

[Incomplete]

2 billion people in the world are Christians. 1 billion people in the world are Catholic. 90% of Catholics are either cafeteria Catholics, have used contraception, don’t go to mass regularly, and confess maybe once in their lives. Roughly that’s about a million out of 6 billion people who will go to heaven. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not trolling, but I really need to find some purpose in life.

We don’t know that only those who are not cafeteria Catholics go to heaven. The Church doesn’t presume this, and neither should you. The Church presumes a merciful God.

 

[Benadam]

Did I read you wrong? I may have. I got the impression you felt that we willed ourselves into existance, because- (that is all we can know?) Implying a pre-existance.

I am not sure if you meant what you said, or if I read it wrong.

I don’t think we are self existent. What I mean is that it’s impossible to concieve or imagine not being. We can intellectualize that what exists exists and didn’t always exist and so unactualized was non-existent. But it is my opinion that we can only desire to exist nonexistent which is a desire to exist happy.

 

[StrawberryJam]

I don’t think we are self existent. What I mean is that it’s impossible to concieve or imagine not being. We can intellectualize that what exists exists and didn’t always exist and so unactualized was non-existent. But it is my opinion that **we can only desire to exist nonexistent **which is a desire to exist happy.

Lost me.

 

[Tsuwano]

I don’t think we are self existent. What I mean is that it’s impossible to concieve or imagine not being. We can intellectualize that what exists exists and didn’t always exist and so unactualized was non-existent. But it is my opinion that we can only desire to exist nonexistent which is a desire to exist happy.

I think I understand you. First, to imagine nonexistence requires an existing being. Secondly, the value of Nonexistence can only be measured against existence which, naturally enough, requires an existing being. One can place a value on existence because one has experienced it, but nonexistence, having never been experienced (at least not in a way that one is able to reflect upon it without comparison to existence) is impossible to evaluate. Thirdly, since nonexistence can only be desired in comparison to one’s present state of existence, what is really being tallied is one’s present state of happiness. A person may look at his present state of happiness and find it wanting and think that nonexistence would be a better (happier) alternative. What one really desires is not nonexistence, but a happier state of being. To say that one wishes he did not exist is actually to say that one wishes his existence was better that at present. Since nonexistence can only be imagined in comparison to a state of existence, to say that you wish you did not exist is actually to say that you wished that you existed in a different state from where you are at present.

 

[Benadam]

Lost me.

Thank you for being so patient with me. When we imagine the state of non-existence relative to our seles, we are really imagining a state of existence since it is impossible to imagine ourselves non-existent. What we are really imagining when we imagine our non existence is a state of existnce that is mistakenly called non-existence, That state of existence mistakenly called non-existence is a state that satisfies our desire to be happy. We are really wanting to exist in a state of happiness but we think we are concieving a state in which we don’t exist.

 

[Benadam]

I think I understand you. First, to imagine nonexistence requires an existing being. Secondly, the value of Nonexistence can only be measured against existence which, naturally enough, requires an existing being. One can place a value on existence because one has experienced it, but nonexistence, having never been experienced (at least not in a way that one is able to reflect upon it without comparison to existence) is impossible to evaluate. Thirdly, since nonexistence can only be desired in comparison to one’s present state of existence, what is really being tallied is one’s present state of happiness. A person may look at his present state of happiness and find it wanting and think that nonexistence would be a better (happier) alternative. What one really desires is not nonexistence, but a happier state of being. To say that one wishes he did not exist is actually to say that one wishes his existence was better that at present. Since nonexistence can only be imagined in comparison to a state of existence, to say that you wish you did not exist is actually to say that you wished that you existed in a different state from where you are at present.

Thank you. I really couldn’t say it as well.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Thanks to both of you, I think I have a better grasp on what is being said now.

I also thank you for explaining it to a person who does not quite understand some things you may think are completely normal terms, and to me it’s something I study daily just to catch up with the basic terminology, let alone all the rest involoved. I feel like a kid again, studying for exams.

It sure has not been boring. I admit though, yesterday was pretty taxing on my patience.

Thank you for explaining these things as you believe it so I can digest what you say much better.

 

[Answersplease]

Would it be better if we simply were never born?

One need not be a slave to sin. For The Lord came to set the captives free.

Romans 6:6
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin–
Romans 6:11
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Answer this truthfully, why is existence worth it? Give me one good reason.

1 Corinthians 2:9

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”–

 

[Answersplease]

May the good Lord be with you, down every road you roam…

“Forever Young”

 

[patricius79]

Thank you for being so patient with me. When we imagine the state of non-existence relative to our seles, we are really imagining a state of existence since it is impossible to imagine ourselves non-existent. What we are really imagining when we imagine our non existence is a state of existnce that is mistakenly called non-existence, That state of existence mistakenly called non-existence is a state that satisfies our desire to be happy. We are really wanting to exist in a state of happiness but we think we are concieving a state in which we don’t exist.

Yup. It helps me to always contemplate the Cross and the Trinity. The whole mystery of God the Son–Infinite Joy-- suffering, and the Father loving him infinitely, yet allowing it for God’s glory.

Truly our faith is a mystery, and we can work with it but never grasp it fully ( 1 Cor 13:8-12). But life is worth living, and is even divinized through Jesus Christ.