Reply To: A question about being self- centered

HaLeivi, thank you for that wonderful post. I admit that I was focusing on a part of Olam Habah that isn’t the essence of it. The essence of it is being in a place close to G-d. Through that closeness, we get eternal pleasure and enjoyment, but that isn’t the driving force. The driving force is our longing to get close to G-d. So I guess my problem is really about how some people view, and teach about, Olam Habah. Of course, we use metaphors to describe the pleasure one gets from Olam Habah and being close to G-d, but we can’t let these metaphors control how we interpret that pleasure. Really, I’m talking to myself and what I wrote in my original post. It was lacking the real essence of Olam Habah.

Concerning the problem you wrote about at the end, I assume I didn’t write with enough clarity, which is why you drew your conclusion, and I am sorry for that. I do think that acting properly for the sake of the world IS acting for the sake of G-d. G-d wants us to be a light for the nations, be a light for ourselves, and be a source of pride for Himself. I think acting morally and being giving for the world is something G-d would want, so that IS acting for His sake.

Yitayningwut, excellent post! I really see what you are saying about the idea of morality by non-believers, and it is similar to what others here have said. Thank you!