I read this on Gretchen's Blog and was shocked.
I thought the quote was going one way, then it went another.
“Religion used to be the opium of the people. To those suffering humiliation, pain, illness, and serfdom, religion promised the reward of an afterlife. But now, we are witnessing a transformation, a true opium of the people is the belief in nothingness after death, the huge solace, the huge comfort of thinking that for our betrayals, our greed, our cowardice, our murders, we are not going to be judged.”
-Czesław Miłosz,
(1911-2004), a Polish-American poet, prose writer, translator, and diplomat.
He is regarded as one of the great poets of the 20th century.
hi sandi!! i know the kind of person i would like to be, the kind of life i would like to live and i do that every day. i am a kind person and i do not think i should be judged in any way for anything i have done. all of our actions are learning experiences. go forward, with a pure heart and sole and all will be fine!! if i am to be judged, it will be by myself!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are right!
Delete"if i am to be judged, it will be by myself!!"
DeleteI came back to comment again because this really struck me.
I wouldn't want to be judged by myself. I think I am far less merciful than God.
It would be a big mistake to believe that.
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteI have to be honest I don't quite understand that quote. Can you explain?
ReplyDeleteHe is warning people.
DeleteStrong words
ReplyDeleteYes. They startled me. I wasn't expecting it.
DeleteWell, to me this is just another false teaching.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteWe will all be judged; wow this is something.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age, we need loads of warnings.
Catherine
It seems people don't like to talk about these things anymore. I was surprised to see it.
DeleteYes, the people want to believe that there is nothing after this life...they hope there is nothing because they don't believe a "loving God could ever judge them or send people to hell". The thing is, God doesn't send them to hell...their sins and refusal to repent of sins and refusing to believe there is a God and that salvation comes through His only Son, Jesus Christ...their refusal to accept His free offer of salvation is what sends them to hell...not a loving God who is giving them every opportunity to turn around and repent before it is too late. So very very sad the delusion of the populace today.
ReplyDeleteDelusion is the right word. People don't want to think about it.
DeleteIf people believe in "nothingness after death", they chose to do it. In essence, they do it to themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange, isn't it, to believe that all of this leads to nothing. How could that be?
DeleteOh my, won't people who believe that be surprised one day!!
ReplyDeletesurprised...regretful...
DeleteThat is very sad.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteScientists tell us it all started with a Big Bang. Shall we accept that? It seems plausible. So, since that point, **everything** has been evolving. At some point, Earth was created. After that, a thing called “life” started on Earth. As the evolution continued, a creature was created, which we call a “human.” My personal belief is, the process I’ve stated so far, is not RANDOM, but is following a PURPOSE. For there to be a PURPOSE, there has to be a DESIGN. For there to be a DESIGN there has to be an INTELLIGENCE. I refer to the INTELLIGENCE as the Great Unseen Power of the Universe, many humans use the word GOD. Now, as the evolutionary process of everything is unfolding, a new element has been added to the creature we call human. The element is a “consciousness” or, as some have called it, a “free will” and a brain to implement the free will. Scientists, to this day, have not been able to explain the source of consciousness which is in the soul of every human. Think, for a moment, how Earth would look today if there were no humans. Compare that thought to how things look to you today as you see all that humans have created, using their free will. Now, reflecting back on Czeslaw Milosz’s quotation, humans who think their free will contribution to the great DESIGN will not be “judged” are simply ignorant. Every human has a purpose and life is the mission to discover it and accomplish it. How judgment will play out is just as unknown as what was before the Big Bang. My recommendation: Use your free will wisely.
ReplyDeleteWow. That was powerful, John.
Delete"Use your free will wisely."
Wise words. Sobering thought.
Thanks John
DeleteIt is the contemporary perspective on religion of those who have money.
ReplyDeleteI think our contemporary outlook is lacking. Our modern world has much ease, like you said about the money, but it has made us soft.
DeleteHi Sandi, I know there is life after death as I have been there in my near death experience. That is why I do not want to be one of the many who fall away from the faith and be one of the left behind when Jesus returns for the remnant.
ReplyDeleteThe way is narrow.
DeleteAnd those who find it, few.
DeleteThat is right Sandi.
DeleteSuch sadness. But I think his insight is accurate. People have been deluded into believing that there will be no judgement, no consequences for sin. May we be willing to share the Good News!
ReplyDeleteConsequences. Oh, Lord, I hate that word. I need the forgiveness of God.
DeleteOh my goodness, not good with a twist like that!
ReplyDeleteIt hits hard, doesn't it?
DeleteThe family and friends I know who are very devout have their faith to bring them comfort through their most difficult times, and truly believe they will see their loved ones when they themselves go to heaven. It would have been interesting to have a conversation with Czesław Miłosz. You have peaked my interest Sandi. I am going to do some research on him. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI hope you will write about him on your blog!
DeleteThe reason people behave so selfishly is because they do not believe in eternity.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Selfishness causes so many problems.
Deletesobering thoughts ...
ReplyDeleteso true
Delete
ReplyDeleteIt was Karl Marx who said that religion is a drug made by poor people.
Greetings:)
Yes, the opiate of the masses.
DeleteOr perhaps, which is certainly true of me, those who don't believe in an afterlife believe that we will (and should be) judged for our actions now.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a lot of that is going on now. We reap what we sow.
DeleteВсе люди думают по -разному о том, что будет после смерти. Если бы они боялись, что будут наказаны после смерти, они бы не совершали страшных грехов. Да, есть люди, которые и при жизни делают страшные вещи.
ReplyDeleteСпасибо, Людмила. Мы все должны быть прощены.
DeleteSo much to think about here, Sandi. I believe we "see through a glass darkly" and that "God" is beyond our ability as humans to truly visualize and understand. This yearning and searching for God is deeply embedded in us as humans and goes back to our very origins. There is intriguing research that suggests that even Neanderthals may have had rudimentary spiritual beliefs. I think different cultures and religious practices throughout humanity's history have been different paths in a quest to understand God and why we have this spiritual yearning.
ReplyDeleteYou may not be able to visualize Him, but He sees you. 😊
Delete❤️
Delete❤️
Deletei cannot imagine having those thoughts. PRAISE GOD i am in the know of where i will go. i cannot imagine not knowing or being more settled, & so on. can't believe we have started another week. so wild how time flies. getting all my Christmas preparation in order, hoping i am not forgetting anything ...guess we will, see??! lol. u take care this week. be well. ( ;
ReplyDeleteThere is such freedom in knowing God.
DeleteA lot to think about it for which I thank you.
ReplyDeleteI thought John's answer was powerful and I hope Denise does more research and publishes it on her blog.
All the best Jan
A lot to think about it for which I thank you.
ReplyDeleteI thought John's answer was powerful and I hope Denise does more research and publishes it on her blog.
All the best Jan
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