A Look at Hope in a Corrupt World
Recently, my experiences have rekindled reflection on the hope for an afterlife. This hope, which offers the promise of the fulfillment of human longings and a godly justice in the face of the mystery of iniquity that has corrupted the world since time immemorial, continues to be a topic of interest and reflection.
The Pari: A Practical Consideration
The apologist Arnobi African, followed by other authors such as Ramon Sibiuda and Blaise Pascal, exposed the so-called pari. This notion posits that every human being is forced to make a choice about the existence of God and an afterlife. In practice, the positive option is considered the most convenient, since, if there is a God and an afterlife, behaving in accordance with this prediction promises immeasurable benefit, while, if there is no such thing, no nothing is lost for having led an honest and quiet life.
Rationality versus Corruption
The human being observes the corruption and evil that has marked the world throughout time, generating injustices and iniquities. However, we also perceive a fundamental order in the universe, suggesting a logic and rationality that governs everything. From this follows the need for compensation for injustices and suffering, which, not being found in this life, is trusted to be found in another, eternal life.
The Mystical Longings of the Human Being
The heart of the human being harbors longings that, in this world, never reach their fullness. This leads to the belief in an afterlife where these longings can be satisfied. This belief in a Gift that will completely fill the human being, in an eternal life that gives meaning to existence and promises complete peace, is a conviction that endures through the ages.
