A few things: firstly, be not afraid!

Next, the end times will probably not be this weekend for a few reasons: everyone who has ever guessed has always been wrong. But most importantly, the gospels make it very clear that the hour of the second-coming will catch everyone unaware. Christ actually says that no one knows the hour and also gives several admonitions not to fall asleep or to be caught off guard while waiting for the master to return. I think Jesus is pretty clear that no one is going to expect the day or time of the second coming, which in my opinion, means that if we are expecting it (like right now) we're definitely wrong!

Lastly and most importantly, the end of time is not something to be afraid of, it is something that we Christians hope for, the completion of God's work, his full salvation. As with death, we should live our lives everyday as if it could be our last. That means avoiding sin like the plague (we really don't want to caught in a state of mortal sin at our death or the second coming), trying to live out God's message of love and charity for all people, and seeking God's glory rather than our own.

Regarding sin, if we do have sin on our souls, we must truly repent (for the Kingdom of God is at hand), be sorry for our sins, ask God's forgiveness and do our best to amend our lives, avoiding sin in the future.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to avoid all sin (especially small ones), but we should try extra hard to avoid grave sins. If you are Catholic, be sure to go to Confession. (Once or twice a month is pretty good). In Confession, we must be honest with ourselves, examine our faults, admit our errors, and confess with our words just as the people who encountered Christ did. It is very powerful (and a bit intimidating) to actually voice our sins and express our sorrow for them. It is a strong deterrent against committing those same sins in the future.

Use Confession and/or a frequent examination of conscience to be realistic about your daily sins and struggles as we seek to amend our ways. Striving this way, we can keep our consciences as clear as possible so that there is nothing to fear on the last day.

In addition to this, we must have hope- a theological virtue. Have confidence in God's ability to save you completely and do not be worried about this. If anything, worry only about your own ability to respond to God. Try to respond to him in all ways and to avoid harming him through sin. But accept that God loves you, knows you, and will help you to do your best.

Regarding living the Gospel of grace and Christ's message, this means living it out in small ways everyday. Grow in patience, show compassion for others, let others go first and seek not for your own personal glory. Seek for God's glory and to show God to others through your acts. Humility is key here. We Christians must always remember to seek the good of others (and be happy for their good) just as we do for ourselves because all of God's children are just as valuable to him as we are. Often, this means sacrifice and accepting less so that others may have what they need. (This doesn't mean let other people step on us or ignore our own needs. It means to seek for our needs and not for unnecessary wants).

"live everyday like it was your last" doesn't mean go out and party, ride roller coasters or reach great achievements. It means live everyday in a way pleasing to God. Call your family-- tell them you love them. Help you little sister patiently with homework. Read and meditate on the scriptures. Pray. Do your job (or perform your station in life) with honor and perform it as best you can. Be kind to others, show mercy and help those in need. (This help can take many forms--not just giving money, but conversation, food or physical aid).

This is how the Christian should live everyday, a life that glorifies God and seeks to live out his commandments. We can never know the time of the last hour, but a life well-lived does not fear the end or death. The Christian life looks forward to eternal life with God in heaven. This should fill us with a great hope even in the face of worldly catastrophe.

This post on Revelife here.

A huge new study done by Oxford University finds that religious belief and behavior is part of what it means to be human. CNN article on it here.

"We tend to see purpose in the world," Oxford University professor Roger Trigg said Thursday. "We see agency. We think that something is there even if you can't see it. ... All this tends to build up to a religious way of thinking."

Dr. Trigg is saying that people tend to find meaning and purpose in events. We don't just attribute everything that happens as random chance. I believe this comes from humanity's intellect, reason and free will. We see the world and our minds automatically search for meaning, a beginning, a reason. Ultimately, this leads us to belief in a moving force, a God.

The study spent 3 years researching and incorporating data from countries all around the world. They found widespread belief in both an afterlife and in the purposefulness of natural events.

Additionally, children were particularly inclined to think religiously though adults also quickly jumped at purposeful descriptions of events. My husband saw this as confirmation of the Jesus's teaching about children and the Kingdom: "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:4).

But then questions do arise: is religion merely a childish belief to be done away with? Dr. Trigg who did the study said the argument could go both ways: Famed secularist Richard "Dawkins would accept our findings and say we've got to grow out of it" Trigg said.

He also acknowledged that "people of faith could argue that the universality of religious sentiment serves God's purpose, the philosophy professor said."

"Religious people would say, 'If there is a God, then ... he would have given us inclinations to look for him,' Trigg said."

I personally don't think faith is mere childishness. St. Paul writes about how we shall know God in heaven saying, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me... Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Cor. 13:11-12).

Our ways of thinking and understanding change as we get older, and he draws a parallel to his childhood with how we know God: now, we do know him as children know things. But this knowledge is not false; rather, it is to be fulfilled. One day, we will know fully and completely about God. Therefore, faith is not something that passes away when we become adults, but something that ripens and develops in a process which will find its true completion after this life.

So the question remains unanswered; the study's authors rightfully conclude that human religious behavior neither proves nor disproves that God exists. However, the authors did outline a strong defense of religious freedom.

"If you've got something so deep-rooted in human nature, thwarting it is in some sense not enabling humans to fulfill their basic interests," Trigg said.

"There is quite a drive to think that religion is private," he said, arguing that such a belief is wrong. "It isn't just a quirky interest of a few, it's basic human nature."

"This shows that it's much more universal, prevalent, and deep-rooted. It's got to be reckoned with. You can't just pretend it isn't there," he said.

Dr. Trigg argues that religious thought, behavior and expression is a very deep part of who we are as humans. He concludes that it would be wrong to attempt to suppress this (as is so often done in the public square) because it deprives us of fulfilling a basic interest. This does not mean that any religious group can run around forcing conversions. All it means is that we should let people invoke God and their beliefs when explaining their views. Freedom of religion must include the freedom to be religious...publicly. It is very possible to make room for all.

I agree with Trigg that faith and its expression should not and cannot be suppressed (even the Communist regimes were not completely successful in ridding their nations of religion).

The religious instinct makes sense when we understand humanity's unique rationality. Our reason and freedom generate questions within us of who we are, where we come from, why things happen and where we are going. I think an honest, thorough examination of the these questions (which go far beyond the physical order of humans and the world) must conclude that there is at least a possibility of God.

"And the Oxford study, known as the Cognition, Religion and Theology Project, strongly implies that religion will not wither away, he said."

 

This has not been an effort to "prove" that God exists, but rather an effort to defend religious practice in religious people and their freedom to do so, even publicly.

 

What do you think of the study results? Do agree that it neither proves nor disproves the existence of God? Do agree with its implications for religious freedom? What should a robust understanding of religious and philosophical freedom look like in the public square?