In this post, we have the privilege of diving into the experiences and perspectives of a young man named Joey. We seek to learn more about spiritual beliefs and to understand the journey that shaped his view. By examining Joey’s perspective through a Christian lens, we aim to appreciate the universal values that connect us, while also offering insights from our own beliefs in Christianity. Join us as we explore Joey’s story.
Our first question for Joey was a question we have already asked in most of our interviews, which was “What was a pivotal moment in your life which has shaped who you are today?” Joey took a moment to think but knew of a specific story that he is still reminded of often. When he was very young, one of his first memories even, that he was kindly asking another kid to move over, but the other kid blew it way out of context and told Joey’s parents that Joey had told him to get out of his way. Since then Joey has been striving to be as polite and well-mannered as he can be, which I am sure anyone who knows Joey can attest to that being reflected in his current self.
Quickly moving into a deeper question, we asked him if had lost anyone specific in his life that had a big impact on him. He instantly had an answer, which was his Uncle, but then took some time to collect himself to tell us more about his uncle’s impact. His uncle was very near and dear to Joey as they spent tons of time together. Joey even said, “He loved no one in the world like he loved me and my little brother.” He went on to tell us how his uncle’s alcohol addiction slowly started taking that away from him until one day it was the cause of his passing. It was clear to us that Joey had a deep connection with his uncle and was very disheartened following his passing. Joey was very confused and concerned as a kid, not because he did not know about his uncle’s addiction, but because he didn’t know why it was happening to him. He had always looked up to his uncle, and it didn’t make sense to him why his uncle was having these problems. Since then, Joey has sworn to himself to never give in to alcoholism because he never wants to cause the pain to others that his uncle did.
To follow up, we asked Joey what he believed happens after death. He was quick to say that he believes in reincarnation based on actions. “if you are a good person you will have a better rebirth. If you are not so good of a person, you will have a less favorable rebirth.” He believes that whenever something bad happens in his life, it is the consequence of his bad karma from his past life. He said it helps him process bad events, knowing he is just paying off his past life. To follow this, we asked how he came to this conclusion of what happens when you die. he informed us that his mother is not religious but his dad is very spiritual. He even has some Buddha statues around his house but never understood why until he began diving into his beliefs a few years ago. Through his research of many religions, he noticed he doesn’t identify with any one single religion, but instead pulls bits and pieces from every religion that makes sense to him. Later in our interview, we asked more about his beliefs in reincarnation. We asked if he thought that people carry their thoughts or ideas over to their new lives. Joey replied that while the soul is what is reincarnated, he does not think our memories are carried over. While your karma is carried over from life to life, it’s like a clean slate mentally wise. Even saying it could be an explanation for Deja Vu.
Growing up, his household wasn’t totally surrounded by religion. Stating again his mom was not religious, but his father did share wisdom and stories concerning philosophy. Usually, his dad only talked about simple lessons and much less about afterlife.
After learning about Joey’s spiritual views, we asked if he ever prays or meditates. He said yes, and that he meditates every night before bed. Usually for around 10 minutes every night, he will sit and focus on his body, such as his breathing, and being mindful of everything he is doing while meditating. He described it as “really living in the moment.” and even applied the same thoughts in other places of his life by trying to be mindful during every aspect of life.
We then asked about his views on life’s purpose. He said that he does believe that people have set purposes in life, but they are determined by individuals themselves throughout their life experiences and are not predetermined. He thinks some might be destined to make money, but for him, his goal is to spread as much kindness and appreciation to everyone and everything in his life. He also said this is reflected in his future career choice of wanting to be a teacher or football coach, which is very true. He said people ask him why he would want that because he will not be making much money, but he still wants to because he believes that is his purpose.
Moving on to the topic of morality and connecting it with his ideas of good manners and positive attitudes. We asked if he thought morality was subjective or objective. Joey instantly replied with it being subjective. He provided an example of how lying could be not morally correct, but if he was in a situation where he needed to lie to save somebody, then obviously that is the right choice. Joey said the bigger thing is being compassionate. It’s more about the intentions of the actions and what is the compassionate choice to make.
The topic of motivation came up, so we asked what he thought motivates him every day to wake up and live life. Joey responded with “appreciating the little things.” He said life is beautiful and it’s important to remember to be grateful and appreciative of everything life has to offer, and his method of accomplishing that is to journal every night about what he appreciates. Joey said it’s so easy for him to get out of bed because he just loves life and every day is a new opportunity that he is grateful for.
Circling back to after death, we discussed the thoughts of never being able to see the people we love in our lives ever again. Joey said that while yes it is sad to think he will never see his loved ones again, it is important to appreciate what he has while he has it. He makes it a goal to tell his friends how much he appreciates them and how grateful he is to have them in his life. He said this mindset helps ease the idea of death, knowing that he truly enjoyed it while he had it and spent his time wisely. He stated that even with the possibility of no afterlife, or no reincarnation, it is important to live life and enjoy every moment of it. Knowing nothing is permanent makes him try to be even more grateful for everything so that when it’s gone, he can look back and be grateful that he ever had it.
For the rest of this post, I will be dissecting Joey’s perspective through a Christian lens. I am not here to call Joey a fool for believing what he does, but just to dissect his views to gain an understanding as to why someone may believe this and then provide a biblical explanation for his ideas.
Beginning with the concept of rebirth or reincarnation, it’s important to explore what Christianity says about the afterlife. According to the Bible, each individual is granted only one life on Earth (Hebrews 9:27) and Psalm 78:39 emphasizes the fleeting, mortal nature of human life, contrasting it with God’s eternal perspective. Christianity teaches that after this life, there is judgment, followed by an eternal existence in either heaven or hell. This view underscores the significance of each person’s choices and actions within their singular earthly life.
Some might perceive the Christian perspective as stringent, given that it allows for only one earthly life to determine one’s eternal destiny. However, this viewpoint also highlights the profound grace available through faith in Jesus Christ, which offers redemption and eternal life with God, irrespective of one’s past. This contrasts with the concept of reincarnation, where the soul is believed to undergo multiple lifetimes on Earth, each influenced by the karma accumulated in previous lives. While reincarnation suggests a cycle of rebirths as a mechanism for spiritual evolution or purification, Christianity presents a different path to reconciliation with God and ultimate peace.
It’s crucial to approach this discussion with sensitivity and respect for differing beliefs. Joey’s belief in reincarnation reflects a deep engagement with questions of existence, morality, and the afterlife, which are central to many spiritual and religious traditions. From a Christian perspective, the focus is on the unique, unrepeatable nature of each life and the opportunity it presents for experiencing God’s love and grace
Joey discussed his ideas of life purposes and goals of spreading happiness and appreciation throughout his life. I thought this was cool to look at from a Christian perspective as the Bible tells us numerous times to spread kindness throughout our lives. If we look at Ephesians 4:32, it tells us to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Joey’s pursuit of spreading kindness and appreciation reflects the Christian principle of love which is the fundamental value in Christianity. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus says the first and the greatest commandment is to love God wholeheartedly, with all your soul and mind, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. This love is the bedrock of the Christian idea of life’s purpose, which is to praise God in all and to serve others in love.
In terms of Joey’s belief in subjective morality, compassion is important, Christianity considers the complexity of moral decisions but provides a Scriptural framework that helps understand them. Joey doesn’t believe that there is a law of morality but Christianity considers morality as a law given by God, which is reflected in the Ten Commandments and teachings of Christ. But the Bible also stresses the role of love and sympathy in moral decisions. In John 8:7; when Jesus is confronted with the woman caught in adultery, the real essence of compassion is exhibited and He challenges those without sin to cast the first stone, enlightening the need for mercy.
Joey’s recognition of the need to learn to appreciate even the little things, as well as life itself, touches on the Christian practice of gratitude. The Bible encourages believers to be thankful in all circumstances, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Moreover, our challenges should be seen as an opportunity to develop perseverance and to acknowledge that all blessings come from God (James 1:17).
Finally, Joey’s approach to the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing relationships echoes the biblical wisdom found in Psalms 39:5 which advises us that we are like a mist that shows up for a short while and vanishes then. Christians are to strive to live with an eternal vision, always thankful for the life they have been given and investing it into relationships that honor God.
In conclusion, while Joey’s beliefs diverge from Christian doctrine in areas such as the afterlife and the source of morality, his values of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and the appreciation of life’s fleeting nature have parallels in Christian teaching. As Christians, we believe that these values are not only commendable but are a reflection of the character of God, who is love (1 John 4:8), and who calls us to live lives that reflect His love to the world.
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