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We expect a certain degree of accomplishment, of success, and of joy in life, and work for the same--but to what end? For there are some among us who do not believe in eternal consequences, or eternity of the individual at all. I read recently that "without the belief of immortality, virtue cannot exist." Presumably because, if there are no eternal consequences to an individual's actions, that individual might do as he/she pleases in the moment, and give no regard to the needs or desires of his/her fellow man. Virtue is contingent upon self-denial--it is not selective kindness, that is, doing good as long as it is convenient, but giving up oneself for the express goal of enriching another person. Without belief in immortality--that is, immortality of the soul--it would not matter if another person were enriched or not, since all must die in the end, and the virtuous person will receive no reward for his/her actions. That is the skeleton of the idea, anyway. I am not saying that it is accurate, for there are a great many kind people who do not believe in immortality. But it is worth consideration, and that is the whole purpose of this blog: to consider ideas, to weigh them against one another, in pursuit of absolute truth.

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