Good Questions: Eternal Life, Christians

Is Eternal Life Real?

Dear Dr. Tom: At 89 years old, I feel physically old and mentally young. I’d like to live forever. Yet like Maurice Chevalier in Gigi, “Forevermore is shorter than before.” Everything passes to dust, even the mountains and stars. So, as a fellow aging human, do you believe in eternal life? The alternative scares the bejesus out of me.—Invested Questioner, Salt Lake City, Utah

DEAR I.Q.: Okay, at 76, that one got my attention. You asked me if I believe in eternal life. Depending on how you parse the word believe, my answer is a squeaky, “Maybe.”

Theology can’t offer absolute certainty. Belief is always a step in the dark while praying for a solid ground ahead. I hope eternity awaits us because I have so much more to learn, experience, and create. Love cannot end with death.

If consciousness exists in the cosmos—look within to see it does—the life process itself flows forward and creates living, loving beings. Creation and growth are already done. Let’s wait eagerly to see what comes next. Trust God; step out boldly. We’ll discuss it later.

Why Are Some of Jesus’ Followers So Negative?

Dear Dr. Tom: If Christians are supposed to follow Jesus, why have they spent so much energy on hating unbelievers? Didn’t Jesus meet with sinners, tax collectors, and even Roman pagans? How can anybody follow Jesus when his followers have been so negative?—H.L., Seattle, Washington

DEAR H.L.: There’s a Buddhist saying: “Don’t confuse the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself.” Not every follower of Jesus actually follows Jesus. You are right. Too often extreme voices in a religious community can drown out the sublime teachings of enlightened teachers like Jesus of Nazareth. But it’s unfair to judge the moon by the fingers pointed its way.

Jesus and the early Christian community were amazingly enlightened for their times. Take the issue of slavery, for example. In biblical days, up to 20 percent of the Roman Empire consisted of slaves, mostly foreigners taken as prisoners of war. In hard times, some Roman citizens sold their children to raise money and prevent starvation.

Arguably, the apostle Paul went further when he proclaimed there was neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free because all were one in Jesus the Christ. We take freedom for granted today, so the power of that revolutionary, universalist point of view is lost on our 21st-century thinking. So I say unto you, look to the moon, not the finger. The Christ dwells within every sentient being, even if some Christians fail to see the light.

How Do I Forgive Myself?

Dear Dr. Tom: How do I forgive myself? Don’t tell me I shouldn’t feel like I need forgiveness. I’ve lived long enough to make serious mistakes that I regret to this day. Why doesn’t Unity have something like a rite of penance and absolution? The burden of guilt for the genuinely hurtful things I’ve done isn’t easily cast aside by affirmations and denials.—G.S., Dayton, Ohio

DEAR G.S.: You’ve borne the weight of past events long enough. Poor choices cannot be unmade, but it sounds like you wouldn’t repeat them today. That’s progress, growth, and grace in action. Now we need to work on your self-esteem as a child of God.

The Divine Presence will never abandon you just because you have temporarily lost your way. May I suggest you give affirmative prayer another chance to right the balance in your mind, body, and affairs? Try this old Unity formula, which has helped me throughout the years:

“I am the perfect child of God, filled with wisdom, peace, and light.”

Those words became my mantra, although I didn’t believe a word of it at first. Perfect? Not me. Nevertheless, I kept repeating the affirmation. One day, I realized it was both an eternal truth and a lifelong goal. This constant refrain eventually transformed my thinking and brought healing relief—until the next time. Claim your forgiveness. Try it and let me know.

This article appeared in Unity Magazine®.