5 ms·

In this case, wouldn't doing everything you could be stay at home and not help spread the virus? I mean, what would make God happier, no one dies and no one goe

by yibg 7y ago

In this case, wouldn't doing everything you could be stay at home and not help spread the virus? I mean, what would make God happier, no one dies and no one goes to church for a while, or everyone goes to church and some people die because of it?

gjsman-1000 7y ago
Actually, surprise, that some people went to church and possibly died (even though we do quite extreme measures to prevent death - going to a grocery store, in our situation, is far riskier than offering mass with everyone confined to their vehicles). You have to understand two things: The first is that the Mass is the greatest prayer that humans can offer to God, and that your potential death offering it is valuable as long as you were not tempting God in the process (which is why we aren't careless in the face of a virus). It is important to emphasize that we do NOT _seek out_ death, but rather, if we should die, that is rewarded. The second thing is, what is there to fear about death? To quote the Eastertide Proclamation: "Where, Oh Death, is your sting?" If you believe in God and have served him with your life, what do you have to fear? This life is described as a "valley of tears," while "eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has in store for those who love him."
- yibg 7y ago
  The second point seems very selectively applied. If we take this stance, that death is but the beginning of something greater, then why do anything to prevent death at all? I mean, why wear seatbelts, why exercise etc. Isn't living a long and fulfilling life important in religious circles too?
- gjsman-1000 7y ago
  @yibg Absolutely, life is a gift. We don't _fear_ death, but we don't go seeking it out either, and we certainly do everything we can to reasonably avoid it. This is because God put us here for a purpose, to know, love, and serve him (as defined in a whole different argument), and our job is to serve our current purpose and task in life as much as possible until God decides that your time has ended.
  - yibg 7y ago
    So circling back to the current situation. Isn't the best way to "do everything we can to reasonably avoid it" to stay home and not be around other people?
downshun 7y ago
> what would make god happier It's supposedly not a vending machine, from my understanding. It is a realization that you are limited either way in the grand scheme and a belief in a promise and meaning.

by yibg 7y ago

gjsman-1000 7y ago

Actually, surprise, that some people went to church and possibly died (even though we do quite extreme measures to prevent death - going to a grocery store, in our situation, is far riskier than offering mass with everyone confined to their vehicles). You have to understand two things: The first is that the Mass is the greatest prayer that humans can offer to God, and that your potential death offering it is valuable as long as you were not tempting God in the process (which is why we aren't careless in the face of a virus). It is important to emphasize that we do NOT _seek out_ death, but rather, if we should die, that is rewarded. The second thing is, what is there to fear about death? To quote the Eastertide Proclamation: "Where, Oh Death, is your sting?" If you believe in God and have served him with your life, what do you have to fear? This life is described as a "valley of tears," while "eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has in store for those who love him."

yibg 7y ago
The second point seems very selectively applied. If we take this stance, that death is but the beginning of something greater, then why do anything to prevent death at all? I mean, why wear seatbelts, why exercise etc. Isn't living a long and fulfilling life important in religious circles too?
gjsman-1000 7y ago
@yibg Absolutely, life is a gift. We don't _fear_ death, but we don't go seeking it out either, and we certainly do everything we can to reasonably avoid it. This is because God put us here for a purpose, to know, love, and serve him (as defined in a whole different argument), and our job is to serve our current purpose and task in life as much as possible until God decides that your time has ended.
- yibg 7y ago
  So circling back to the current situation. Isn't the best way to "do everything we can to reasonably avoid it" to stay home and not be around other people?

downshun 7y ago

> what would make god happier It's supposedly not a vending machine, from my understanding. It is a realization that you are limited either way in the grand scheme and a belief in a promise and meaning.