What if...

Transforming candidates for the hereafter into lovers of the world

Ludwig Feuerbach wrote in Lectures on the Essence of Religion:

“My only wish is to transform friends of God into friends of man, believers into thinkers, devotees of prayer into devotees of work, candidates for the hereafter into students of the world, Christians who, by their own procession and admission, are half animal, half angel into persons, into whole persons.”

With Feuerbach’s words in mind, here are 17 ways to transform candidates for the hereafter into lovers of the world:

Religion says don't sweat it, there's an afterlife. But what if we lived like this is the only life we'll ever have?

Religion says there will be no tears in heaven. But what if we offered kindness, comfort, tenderness and caring to the hurting people all around us?

Religion says confess your wrongs to God. But what if we made amends with the people we have hurt?

Religion says judge people who don’t measure up. But what if we indiscriminately offered acceptance, validation, belonging and affirmation to others because every human being needs this?

Religion says God will bless you if you believe and do the right things. But what if we took responsibility and practiced the necessary skills for nurturing our own happiness and well-being, and creating the life we want to live?

Religion says look to God for help and healing. But what if we were instruments of help and healing to one another?

Religion says rescue people from eternal hell. But what if we devoted ourselves to prevent and alleviate suffering on earth?

Religion says to blame Satan. But what if we took responsibility for the condition of our world and confronted the ways we are complicit in its brokenness?

Religion says go to church. But what if we cultivated real, authentic and deeply meaningful relationships with others along the everyday paths of life?

Religion says read the Bible in a year. But what if we applied ourselves to reading, honoring and following the truth inside each of us?

Religion says there are “us” and “them.” But what if we accepted that we are all one human family who need, desire and fear the same things?

Religion says be careful who you love. But what if love and compassion was our fundamental orientation toward all living things?

Religion says we are to exercise dominion over the planet and all living things. But what if we grounded our lifestance in solidarity and relationality with all living things, and purposely worked toward collective, societal and planetary flourishing?

Religion says pray for change. But what if we were instruments of peace, healing, justice, hope and goodness in the world?

Religion says keep a checklist of do's and don'ts. But what if we addressed the root cause of our inner suffering and transformed ourselves from the inside out?

Religion says you must have correct theology. But what if the true litmus test for spirituality was compassion and love?

Religion says being human is what ruined the world. But what if our humanity is actually what saves it.