In the past, I would say that the “good life” was having a close relationship with one’s god and following faith. It involved trying to be good to others while working towards gaining entrance into heaven once the person died. In my personal opinion, this is how the “good life” should be now. However, nowadays, society has become so focused in the secular world that many people have put this notion of trying to work towards heaven to the wayside. Many people in society today pursue pleasures of this world without thinking of how those pleasures may affect them once they die. Of course, this could come with atheism, as most atheists do not believe in a life after death (And that is in no way implying that all atheists just pursue the pleasures of this world, as we know that just because one is an atheist does not automatically make one a bad person).
Being Catholic, I personally have been affected by this notion of pursuing pleasures of this world instead of focusing on heaven. Some of my friends are not incredibly religious and sometimes ostracize me because of my strict faith. They will, on occasion, poke fun at me for attending Mass every Sunday or not being able to eat meat on Fridays during Lent. This is very detrimental to my faith life, as the here and now thought of “Oh, I really want to impress my friends,” can be very persuasive. It has even caused me to stray a bit from my faith at times. It is somewhat difficult in this world of secularism to be openly religious, especially with some of the stereotypes that society has put on different religions. I find that it is important to have a good balance of both religious and secular in my life. However, I try to let my faith guide every action I make, keeping my mind focused on heaven.
Being Catholic, I personally have been affected by this notion of pursuing pleasures of this world instead of focusing on heaven. Some of my friends are not incredibly religious and sometimes ostracize me because of my strict faith. They will, on occasion, poke fun at me for attending Mass every Sunday or not being able to eat meat on Fridays during Lent. This is very detrimental to my faith life, as the here and now thought of “Oh, I really want to impress my friends,” can be very persuasive. It has even caused me to stray a bit from my faith at times. It is somewhat difficult in this world of secularism to be openly religious, especially with some of the stereotypes that society has put on different religions. I find that it is important to have a good balance of both religious and secular in my life. However, I try to let my faith guide every action I make, keeping my mind focused on heaven.