§ 3: Proof From the Idea of Eternity

Man introduces the idea of infinity into all things that concern him; he desires to prolong his existence, and through all available means strives to achieve the desired immortality; he builds magnificent and splendid tombs and erects strong monuments for the eternal preservation of his name; he seeks glory in mighty accomplishments and erects columns to immortalize his name, denied of physical immortality by nature; all his care is founded rather on the future things after death than on the present; the earthly struggle seeks to support his eternality; he desires and seeks through his inventions and accomplishments to leave indelible traces of his influence on posterity; the idea of posthumous fame is his sweetest dream, which relieves him of the pains of labors and the sorrows of present life; Although flowing nature loudly proclaims the temporary existence of things in the world, nevertheless man pays little heed and voluntarily deafens himself to the echo of the opposing voice of transitoriness; he does not like contempt; he thinks that through his descendants he makes his existence eternal; an inward voice persuades him that after the end of earthly life he will not be annihilated, but will continue to live in some way. He regards death, although manifest, as weak resistance to his plans; therefore he proceeds with undertakings he proceeds as one who is immortal or as if he were mortal; his endeavors delight him all the more the more their preservation appears assured to him after death; What a strange phenomenon! The grave and death, like light clouds, dissolve before the torch of the ray of immortality; man works as if he is about to bind his life with eternity. Throughout our lives we are deprived of the enjoyment of the goods of it, saving them for an epoch when… And yet preferring ideality to reality and the uncertain to the certain, and greater capacity for longing for future goods, who does not see in this phenomenon the clear revelation of the immortality of the soul? How could this be a common sentiment of humanity if it were not innate? How could it be so powerful if there were no inner conviction? How could God have placed such a strong and at the same time so clear a feeling in our nature, If we deny the truth of the immortality of the soul, we must first deny the nature of man; man without the idea of the existence of immortality is an inexplicable being; in order to explain him, we must accept the immortality of his soul; otherwise it remains an unsolved problem.

Immortality and man are concepts indissolubly united and not understood in themselves; man and death and degradation are opposite and incompatible concepts, for how can the one who creates immortality himself be immortal, how can he who immortalizes the deeds and makes his name eternal himself live only a short time? How can the creator of immortality himself die? No! The mysterious voice speaking from heaven to the hearts of men assures him of the immortality of his soul. Throughout his life man seeks eternal life; for the earthly is neither life but some measure of the spiritual life of man and for the longings of his soul; the boundless limits of his spiritual life seek an analogous eternalization of his existence. Christianity conquered the nations, because it assured them of the existence of eternal life, which they had always yearned for. The preaching of the apostles spoken to the hearts of men filled their emptiness, supplied their longing, therefore it took root and sprouted and grew and became a great tree, destined to spread its branches to the ends of the earth. Therefore, man has the idea of eternity and has an immortal soul.