Law of Retribution

It has become a common mores that in order to achieve something, you have to do certain things in advance. But let me change the story a little bit. In order to be succeed, you have to work hard. At the first glance, nothing is wrong. But when you think that working hard is equal to suffering, then we have an issue. Do we need to suffer in order to achieve something good? What is wrong with that?

This way of thinking has colored almost all part of our lives, primarily in fraternity or sorority club. The same analogy works in the money world, in order to get something, you have to invest. In education world, you work hard in school, then you graduate and get a decent job. In love, you do anything that is possible to win the heart of your beloved one, then in the end happines is in your hand. Suffering, suffering, suffering... No wonder there is no joy in this world.

Is that true that you must suffer to achieve something? This way of thinking is affected much by the christian teology, mostly by the doctrine of hope. The doctrine of hope make people hang on, despite of the cruelty they suffer. In the early years of christianity, in the era of martyrdom, this was generally true. This doctrine made them fearless to any kind of tortures, because they believe that they would receive their retribution in heaven.

This is a good way to motivate people, but-borrowing from Freudian analysis-it is a childish way. A child does good things when you offer them candy. If you are a grown up and you still do good only when someone offer you candy, you are childish. Don't we do that? Yes, that someone is GOD, and the candy is retribution in heaven. A paradigm like this will only create a childish civilization. Waiting for rewards, or afraid of punishment. Not much good can be spring from this kind of civilization, OUR civilization.

to be continued...