Do You Think Believing in an Afterlife Affects the Way You Behave in This Life?

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Father Joe

Krystal Smith poses this question at STAPLER CONFESSIONS and states: “Atheists might point out the idea that some believers could allow the concept of an afterlife, heaven and hell, or reincarnation to weigh the significance of the events in their worldly life. The presumption that death isn’t the end could have an influence of people’s behavior and day to day decision making.”

This is a no brainer. If religion with threats of eternal perdition cannot restrain some from evil acts, why should we expect atheism to do any better? Atheists have neither perfect contrition (sorrow for having offended God whom we are to love) or the imperfect (fear of the fires of hell and the loss of heaven). Where is the incentive to be good when we can only expect to be forgotten and the looming prospect of becoming worm food?

The Christian perspective is more complex than simple reward and punishment. The posture of the creature to the Creator is one of obedience and adoration. We have been promised a share in Christ’s life and the reward of happiness in the presence of God forever. However, we do not deserve salvation and could not merit it on our own. Humanity fell from grace and God made a promise to redeem us— but this is entirely on the level of gift, not entitlement (no matter how good we might be). Even if God should have decided to leave us estranged from him; we would still be obliged to worship and obey him. We thank God for what he gives us, but we praise or give him glory for who he is. This is the high ground of Christian discipleship. It is true that the resurrection is the hook of Christianity, and the prospect of heavenly reward or hellish punishment is real— but we are to love God because he is God. The gifts he gives us are wonderful but there is no bargaining with God. Our love must be freely returned to God. The love of a saint is not for sale and cannot be bought. If God can love us then we must freely love God in return, even if our lot is suffering, sickness and death. Many fail to understand this. Note that some equate prayer entirely with petition— they want this, that, and the other thing. The highest prayer of praise or adoration is very different— I love you; you know I love you; I will always love you. We sing glory to God, not to pamper a deity but to pour out hearts to a God for whom we were made.

Having said all this, some will only be good because there is reward or punishment. This appreciation is at the basis of most legal systems. Do something wrong and you will face fines or imprisonment. There is something of it in the classroom as well. Get an “A” and you pass and have promotion. Get an “F” and you fail and get sent back. But truthfully, the Christian perspective looks at all of us as failures. We receive merit or know victory in the salutary work of Christ and his Cross. Jesus pays the price for us. Of course, it is a gift that must be received. Disposition is everything.

The atheist must live with his failure. No matter what his earthly achievements, the end of one is the same for all. No matter whether one is rich or poor, powerful or weak, good or evil, healthy or sick— it all comes to the same thing— absolutely nothing. We along with all our works will be reduced to dust. We might find some short satisfaction in the present, but loss, pain and death will quickly follow. You cannot win. We all live in vain. Indeed, all the works of humanity will one day be destroyed and like the various species before us, we will know extinction. This view portrays humanity as a cosmic accident. There is no deeper meaning or purpose and definitely no hope.