Post #2072888 · Elektrine

2026-05-02 14:54 UTC

I swear, if there's an afterlife, you won't be judged based on how good or bad you were. It'll be based on your hypocrisy. **Example 1** Death: "You were a mob boss. You had many people injured, tortured, and murdered. Did you ever try to fool anyone into thinking you were not a mobster? That you were innocent?" Mobster soul: "Only law enforcement! I mean, *everyone* knew I was the head of a criminal organization. I was a proud mob boss! I acted accordingly and never misrepresented myself!" Death: "You will be reincarnated. We have many worlds in need of villains." **Example 2** Death: "You were a politician, fraudster, and serial philanderer. You took many lovers in secret. Made many promises you never kept. That you never *intended* to keep." Politician soul: "Guilty as charged! But hey, I gave millions to charity! I was super polite and never personally physically harmed a single person. I mean, *so many* people thought I was great! Obviously, that means I was!" Death: "You will serve in hell."

Replies (3)

@Kirp123@lemmy.world 2026-05-02 15:48

Afterlives are just something people invented to make themselves feel better while living in an unjust world. They hope there is some sort of cosmic justice in the afterlife that will compensate them for the injustices of their current lives. Over time the concept was coopted by the powers that be to keep the masses compliant with the promise of a reward that will realistically never come.

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@cybermass@lemmy.ca 2026-05-02 15:04

That would be nice

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@infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2026-05-02 17:55

You know, I actually don't think hypocrisy is sin, or even a moral failing. We all do it, and it's almost always symptomatic or indicative of *other* deeds we feel guilty of. It's always better to not be a hypocrite because it's a more honest assessment of what is happening and why, but in both of those examples there were very real moral injuries or sins to address before the hypocrisy that obscures them. I think we confuse the "gotcha" nature of calling out hypocrisy with the actual sin we are deobfuscating by calling it out.

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