A Christian Approach to Carpe Diem

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of the approaches to carpe diem have
evolved with time, its meaning has

Carpe diem is a concept that remained the same. Carpe diem can be
has been embodied by translated as seize the day. It is the
society for centuries. From notion of living life to the maximum
its creation in 23 B.C. carpe diem has without worrying about the future,
been explored by some of the greatest because life is short and there may not
writers of literature that have ever be a tomorrow. Carpe diem is allowing
existed. The concept of carpe diem can one’s self to be driven by the pleasures
be found in poems, short stories, of life by denying there is a God or an
philosophical writings, songs and even ultimate purpose for life.
graduation speeches. Although some
It is the notion of living life to the maximum
without worrying about the future, because life

is short and there may not be a tomorrow.

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With this article, I will prove that the concept of carpe diem goes against the principles of living set
in the Bible. I will accomplish this by analyzing how the pessimistic perception of time and religion
has remained the same but the purpose of seizing the day has changed over the course of history.

From its creation in 23 B.C. by Horace with “Ode”, to the perception described by Andrew Marvell
in 1681 with his poem “To His Coy Mistress” and ending with Charles Baudelaire’ interpretation
in his poem “Dreams” first published in 1952. I will then examine “Winter Dreams” and explore

how the attempt of a young man to seize an idealized perception of being prominent and wealthy
can go wrong, because despite reaching his desired level of richness, he realizes that what he
ambitioned so much was nothing but an illusion. At the end I will show that carpe diem goes against
the principles set forth in the bible. I will accomplish this by comparing the negation of eternity, lack
of faith, as well as the constant desire to be immersed in the sinful pleasures of life with passages
found in the books of Ecclesiastes and Revelations. I will also include important points made by
Christian philosopher Kierkegaard.

To achieve this goal, I have divided the one of the most important short stories
paper into three sections. The first in the history of carpe diem.
section will explore how the concept of The last section will contain a
carpe diem has evolved throughout rhetorical evaluation of the concept of
time. The second section will contain a carpe diem based on a theological
rhetorical analysis of “Winter Dreams,” framework.

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Carpe diem is a concept that has differences in its elucidation, the
been embraced by human kind concept of time, religion and purpose
for centuries. As time has as exposed in literary writings thru
passed, poets, philosophers, centuries will need to be explored.
literature writers, entrepreneurs and From the father of carpe diem, Horace
artists have explored this world and in the year 23 B.C. with “Ode”, to
embodied its meaning into different Andrew Marvell’s poem “to his coy
expressions of art. Although the broad mistress” first published in 1681 and
definition of carpe diem has remained Charles Baudelaire’s interpretation of
the same throughout time, there have carpe diem with the poem “dreams” in
been slight changes in the 1952. These three literary writings will
interpretation of some of its aspects. In put into perspective the subtle
order to understand the similarities differences in the approach to carpe
and

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diem during time. The Birth of Carpe Diem

Figure 1: Horace The concept of carpe diem was

Horace, whose real name was Quintus extracted from book one of “Ode”,
Horatius Flaccus, was the leading
written in 23 B.C. by Horace. One of
Roman poet of the Augustan Age. He the most prominent Roman poets who
was a member of literary circle that lived from 65 B.C to 8 B.C. In this
included Virgil and Lucius Varius writing, Horace attempts to convince
Rufus. The most frequent themes in his Leuconoe not to worry about what the
works were love, pleasures of friendship future may hold for them, because
and simple life, and the art of poetry. time may be scarce and it would be a
His most important work is “Ars waste of time to spend it talking about
when or how death may find them.
Poetica” which influenced many Instead, time should be enjoyed by
playwrights and writers including Lope drinking wine. Horace’s view of time,
de Vega, Michel de Montaigne, Henry religion and purpose in life are very
Fielding, Calderón de la Barca, Pierre clear in his writing.

Corneille, Samuel Johnson, Goethe, Horace has a pessimistic view of
Voltaire and Diderot. His works also the future. Throughout his writing he
deeply influenced later writers including expresses that there are no guarantees
Ben Jonson, Alexander Pope, W.H. to whether or not there is going to be
Auden, Robert Frost, and many others. another day to live. Because of this,
His other important works were “Odes”,
“Epodes”, “Satires”, “Epistles” and Page 5

“Carmen Saeculare” (Academy of
American)

each day should be enjoyed as if it was Thus, Horace expresses his leery

the last. Horace’s notion of time can be perception of gods when he says, “You

perceived when he says, “How much should not ask, it is wrong to know,

better it is to endure whatever will be / what end the gods will have given to

whether Jupiter has allotted more me or to you…” (1-2). With this, Horace

winters or the is saying that it is

last.” (3-4)With not important to
this Horace “How much better it is to endure whatever spend time

asserts that it is will be / whether Jupiter has allotted more thinking about

better to enjoy winters or the last.” (3-4) how or when the
the day not (Horace) end will come. At
worrying about the end the gods

the future. are the ones in

In addition to his pessimistic control and there needs to be

view of time, Horace expresses a notion conformism to their decisions.

that the gods are not trustworthy. In As a consequence to the lack of

order to understand this idea, it is time and trust in the gods, Horace

important to first remember that asserts that the purpose of life should

Romans worshiped ancient pagan be to make the most out of the day by

gods. These gods were often described drinking wine. This is indicated when

as unpredictable and treacherous. Horace concludes his poem by saying:

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“Strain your wines, and because of Carpe Diem in the 17th Century
brief life cut short long-term hopes…”
(6-7). This is Horace’s way of insisting As has been noted, the first
that life has to be enjoyed and neither interpretation of carpe diem was that
time nor energy should be spent in the future was uncertain and time
setting and working towards long term should not be wasted worrying about a
goals. At the end these goals may be future that may not come. Henceforth,
cut short because of lack of time. Enjoy the day should be seized by enjoying
the pleasures of life, have fun, drink the pleasures of drinking wine.
some wine, “seize the day” (8), he says. This pessimistic view of the future is
still present in the 17th century when
“Strain your wines, and because of brief life Andrew Marvell, an English
cut short long-term hopes…” (6-7) metaphysical poet, writes the poem
(Horace)
“To His Coy Mistress.” In this

poem, a man reveals everything he
would do to the woman he pretends, if
there was enough time in their lives.
However, because time is limited and is
raising to get them, there should be
not time wasted and they should
immerse themselves in the pleasures of
sex. Because after they die, there won’t

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be anything but empty fields of Figure 2: Andrew Marvell
eternity. Marvell’s interpretation of the
time and religion is similar to the one Marvell contributed Greek and Latin
exposed by Horace. However, the poems to a Cambridge volume on the birth
purpose of life is to be immersed in the of Princess Anne in 1637. During 1663-
joy of sex and not wine. 1665 Marvell went to Russia as secretary
for Earl of Carlisle's embassy. Only a few
In Horace’s poem there are no of Marvell's poems were published during
guarantees when it comes to the his lifetime. His collected lyrics first saw
future. For Marvell, time is sensed as
one that is coming to get us. The print in the posthumous Miscellaneous
notion of time is introduced in the first Poems of 1681. During his own day
stanza of the poem when it says, “Had Marvell was known primarily for his prose.
we but world enough and time, / This Charles Lamb in 1818 urged Marvell's
coyness, lady, were no crime.” (1-2). value as a lyric poet, and others from time
Here, the speaker states that if there to time commented upon the neglected
was all the time of the world, then excellencies of his lyrics and his Cromwell
shyness would not be a crime. poems, or admired him as a nature poet or
However, the speaker asserts that time as a staunch parliamentary defender of
is raising to get us when he states, “But liberty, but it was not until the 300th
at my back I always hear, / Time’s anniversary of his birth that his reputation
winged chariot hurrying near” (21-22). as a lyric poet began to become really
substantial. Because most of his work is in
a wide variety of eight-syllable stanza
forms, he has been recognized as the master
of the octosyllabic. (Gilliland 791)

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“But at my back I always hear, / Time’s trusted is the same as living a life with
winged chariot hurrying near” (21-22) no God.

(Marvell) As a result of these conceptions of
time and religion, the speaker asserts
With this, the speaker expresses that time should not be wasted by
that he is constantly aware of the being shy. Then, just like Horace insists
hastening pace of time and because of Leuconoe that the purpose of life
this time should not be wasted. should be to enjoy the pleasures of
wine, the speaker insists to his lover
Equally important to the idea of that the day should be seized by
time, is the comparison of the speaker relishing the desires of sex. This
to an empty field of unending time. purpose of life is appreciated when the
This image of post existence is speaker says, “And now, like amorous
presented when the poem says, “And birds of prey / Rather at once our time
yonder all before us lie / Deserts of vast devour” (42-43).
eternity.” (23-24). Similar to Horace’s
view of untrusty gods, Marvell views “And now, like amorous birds of prey /
the universe of life after death as one Rather at once our time devour” (42-43)
that is like a hollow area without God.
Living a life where the gods cannot (Marvell)

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Figure 3: Charles Baudelaire Carpe Diem in the 19th Century

Charles Baudelaire, was a great French poet The points described above show that
of the mid nineteenth century whose Marvell’s interpretation of carpe diem
powerful writing ushered in a era of is that time is coming to get us and
after we die there won’t be anything
symbolism, is one of the most important but unending deserts where there is no
poets of the nineteenth century. Not only a God. Hence, the pleasures of sex
poet of stunning imagery and extraordinary should be enjoyed before it is too late.
As time has passed Marvell’s and
musicality, he was also one of the first to Horace’s approach to carpe diem has
herald that new consciousness -- urban, remained pretty much the same. The
pushing at the edges of things, uncertain of French Poet Charles Baudelaire
itself -- which we, today, still recognize as explored this concept in the 19th

our own modern way of being. century with his poem “Dreams.”
Baudelaire life was almost as important as his
poetry. His rejection of bourgeois values, his Just like Horace and Marvell’s view of
use of drugs, his fascination with sex, his close time, Baudelaire exposes time as one
friendships with painters and other poets: all that enslaves us. The main difference
of these made him a sort of model for the poet between his view of carpe diem and
as a 'bohemian' figure. He is the archetype of that of Marvell and Horace is that
the poet as someone who lives his own life on there is no mention of religion in
the fringes of society, rebellious in life style, “Dreams.” In addition, Baudelaire’s
dedicated to moving so far beyond the middle
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ctlhaesisrCtehiaathrtephriecsrDwy oioerukmt,s'hBionuckttshistehite1ma7rttsh?o'Cdoeerenapttltyuemrthypatt

to censor it as blasphemous, evil,
pornographic. (Gutman)

purpose of life is broader because he drunk” (2-5). This is Baudelaire’s way

states that a person can seize the day of describing time as one that does not

by being submerged in whatever it is stop reminding you that the end is

they enjoy the most. near.

Similarly, Baudelaire

attempts to persuade the

“So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks reader to seize the day by

your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be enjoying the pleasures of
continually drunk” (2-5) life. However, he does not
(Baudelaire) limit these pleasures to
wine or sex. Instead he

states that the effects of

Just as pessimistic as Horace’s drunkenness can be simulated by

view of the uncertainty of the future allowing one’s self to drown in the

and Marvell’s view of time as one that effects of anything that is enjoyable

is coming to get us, is Baudelaire’s about life. “But on what?” he asks

description of time. This concept can “Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish.

be understood when he writes, “So as But be drunk” (5), he answers. With

not to feel the horrible burden of time this metaphor, Baudelaire asserts that

that breaks your back and bends you you don’t have to be drunk on alcohol.

to the earth, you have to be continually Submerging yourself into what you

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enjoy the most and no matter

will give you the what you do. Time

same effects of “But on what?” he asks “Wine, poetry or will continue

alcohol; without virtue, as you wish. But be drunk” (5) passing through
a doubt, (Baudelaire) your life and only
drunkenness is if you do what you

drunkenness at love, you will be

the end, no matter where it comes from able to thrive in life.

As observed in the analysis of the poems “Ode,” “To His Coy Mistress” and
“Dreams,” the concept of carpe diem has not dramatically changed over the
course of time. The pessimistic view of time and the absence of God can be
observed in all poems. The main difference has been the notion of how to seize
the day. From straining wine as stated by Horace, to having sex as asserted by
Marvell and being drunk on anything that is enjoyable in life. Al poets have

agreed that life has to be lived as if there was no hope for a tomorrow.

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Now that the concept of right after World War I, during a time
carpe diem and its of optimism and increasing wealth for
interpretation throughout American families. It is that American
history has been explored, it will be dream, the one that makes Dexter, a
important to do a rhetorical analysis of young boy from a small town, want to
it. This can be achieved by examining reach higher and become part of the
“Winter Dreams”. A short story that upper class. This short story is a clear
has been very important in the history example of an unsuccessful desire to
of carpe diem. It was written in 1922, by seize the day.
the American novelist and short story
writer Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. The When analyzing Winter
story develops in the United States, Dreams, one can observe Dexter is
driven by his desire to seize his

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Figure 4: F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald is internalitfieoonfaJlulydkynJownens aths attheheausothmoruocfhThe Great
Ganadtsabsy,thwehaiuchthiosrfoirfmsleyveersatal bsalhmioshrbteitdsitoaonsreiaedst,wwnaeosntoatinbelltyyh‘a‘cnAenbiltsluuorlsuyiotliniot.neAr,a’t’rty‘h‘Bcelaabsysilco,n

Revisited,’’ ‘‘Crazy Sunday,’’ ‘‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,’’ ‘‘May
Day,’’ ‘‘The Rich Boy,’’and ‘‘Winter Dreams,’’all of which have been
widely anthologized. He is also celebrated as a symbol of the Jazz Age and
an eponym of the Roaring Twenties, that grand, tragic, pathetic era in
American history that lasted from 1918 until shortly after the Crash and
the beginning of the Great Depression. Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda Sayre
Fitzgerald, also participated in that gaudy age, which featured other
attractive but dangerously irresponsible ‘‘flappers.” (Gale)

idealized perception of being end of the day she is just a regular girl,
prominent and wealthy. This and with her spark being gone, Dexter
interpretation of carpe diem can be realizes that what he had hoped for so
perceived by examining Dexter’s much is nonexistent.
perception of settings, his continued
need for admiration, as well as his The way settings are described
blind veneration for the glorified life of in Winter Dreams are a clear reflection
Judy Jones, a girl he falls blindly in love of Dexter's desire to reach an idealized
with, when he is only a child. state of richness and admiration. This
Unfortunately, even though Dexter’s desire is first observed when Dexter's
attempt to become rich is successful, at perception of winter is described. He
the end of the story he realizes that the reflects his anguish over the golf course
being closed; because, this means there
are no rich patrons to interact with.

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This impression is idealization of

passed on when “At these times the country gave him a richness is
the narrator states, feeling of profound melancholy--it perceived when
"At these times the he has dinner
country gave him a offended him that the links should lie in with Judy Jones
feeling of profound enforced fallowness” (1.2) for the first

melancholy it (Fitzgerald) time. In this

offended him that part of the story,

the links should lie he expresses

in enforced fallowness." (1.2) disappointment over Judy’s choice of

By expressing that it offends him that clothes for the evening. “She wore a

the golf course has to lie there blue silk afternoon dress, and he was

unattended, he expresses his desire to disappointed at first that she had not

have influential golf players in the golf put on something more elaborate.”

course so he can interact with. (3.3) Furthermore, Dexter’s idea of

As time passes, Dexter is able to having servants as a reflection of power

earn money and becomes part of the is thwarted when Judy herself lets the

affluent families he so much wanted to maid know is time to serve dinner. This

be part of. However, he continues to feeling of deception is transmitted

yearn for that idealized state he has when he thinks, “He had rather

not been able to reach. Dexter’s expected that a butler would announce

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dinner, that there would be a being better. Instead, it is about him

cocktail.”(3.3) Dexter associates fancy being “surrounded by an admiring

clothing and servants to the wonderful crowd.”(1.4) Dexter’s craving for

veneration is further

“He had rather expected that a butler would emphasized when he quits his
announce dinner, that there would be a cocktail.” (3.3) job and is described by Mr.
Mortimer as, “The best----caddy
(Fitzgerald) I ever saw," …"Never lost a ball!

Willing! Intelligent! Quiet!

Honest! Grateful!."(1.10) This is

life of being rich. nothing but an echo of how he wishes

In addition to being rich, Dexter people would refer to him.

fantasizes over how other people would Despite becoming a rich man,

admire him if he was affluent. He Dexter continues to feel empty. He has

yearns for recognition and admiration. still not seized the happiness he has

This desire is transmitted throughout idealized so

his fantasies. For example, when he is much. Dexter’s He has still not seized the
just a caddy at the golf course, he conflicting happiness he has idealized
imagines that he plays golf with feelings of
wealthy men. His description of emptiness and so much.

winning is not about his feeling of achievement are

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clearly described in the story when he Even after Dexter becomes a

finally fulfills his dream of playing golf wealthy man his life continues to

with the same men revolve around

he caddied for. His his yearning for

feeling of “but he found himself glancing at the four Judy Jones. But
emptiness is first caddies who trailed them, trying to catch a he does not
seen when the story gleam or gesture that would remind him desire her per se.
states, “but he He desires his
found himself of himself, that would lessen the gap naïve perception
glancing at the which lay between his present and his of who she is.
four caddies who This is why he
trailed them, trying past.” (2-5) fails to see all the
(Fitzgerald)

to catch a gleam or flaws Judy Jones

gesture that would has. From the

remind him of himself, that would time Dexter condones the way Judy

lessen the gap which lay between his treats her nurse. To the time he fails to

present and his past.” (2.5) With this see Judy’s materialistic nature when

quote we see Dexter’s yearning for the she reveals she is sad because a man

past. He wants to feel what he felt she was interested in told her he was

when he dreamed of playing golf with not rich. These are clear examples of

the men he admired so much. how Dexter’s blind connection of

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money and love have not allowed him much about her is the breaking point.
to see the real hollowness of Judy’s life. This is demonstrated when Dexter
says, "long ago, there was something in
At the end of the story, the me, but now that thing is gone. Now
narrator reveals that Dexter did not that thing is gone, that thing is gone. I
seize the day. Although Dexter became cannot cry. I cannot care. That thing
rich and was able to be part of the will come back no more." (6.34) He
most affluent people of the east, he did comprehends that his life is still empty
not reach that idealized state of and those dreams he had as a child are
happiness that he dreamed so much now gone and will never come back.
about. Dexter’s realization that Judy
has lost what Dexter romanticized so

Carpe diem is the impulse to immerse ourselves in the pleasures of life without worrying Page 18
about how or when the end may come. Dexter’s naïve conviction that being part of the

upper class would bring him happiness is what drove him every day. His need for
constant contact with the upper class as a child and to fit in as an adult; his desperate
need for approval and admiration; as well as his worshiped perception of Judy Jones’ life
were his pleasures. Unfortunately, at the end Dexter realizes that everything he has done

did not give him the happiness he had so much hoped for. The realization that the
whimsical feelings brought by his past are all gone and will not come back, leave him

feeling empty. Despite all his efforts, he could not seize the day.

As discussed throughout the adaptation can be seen in a graduation
essay, the approach to speech given by Steve Jobs, when he
carpe diem has slightly was Apple’s and Pixar’s Animation
changed over the course of history, CEO. The speech takes place in 2005,
however the broad definition has and as he addresses the graduating
remained the same. Let the pleasures class of Stanford University, Steve Jobs’
of this world take over life and don’t personal interpretation of “Seize the
spend time worrying about the future. day” becomes obvious. He tells the
It is those pleasures of life the ones that audience: “Do what you believe is great
have continuously evolved adapting to work and the only way to do great
the changing lifestyle of the world’s work is to be what you do.” This is Jobs’
population. A clear example of this way of inciting a person to strive for

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perfection by becoming one with what
they do. He continues by adding,
“Time is valuable, don’t waste it” with
this he refers to the importance of the
limited time we have. It should not be
wasted doing mediocre work. Instead,
it should be spent doing great work.

“Do what you believe is great work and Figure 5 Steve Jobs
the only way to do great work is to be
Steve Jobs was born in San Francisco,
what you do.” California, on February 24, 1955, to
(Jobs) two University of Wisconsin graduate

students who gave him up for
adoption. Smart but directionless, Jobs
experimented with different pursuits
before starting Apple Computer with

Steve Wozniak in 1976. Apple's
revolutionary products, which include
the iPod, iPhone and iPad, are now

seen as dictating the evolution of
modern technology, with Jobs having
left the company in 1985 and returning
more than a decade later. He died in
2011, following a long battle with

pancreatic cancer. (Rigby)

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Although the notion of the of life as well as the constant desire to

purpose of life explored in carpe diem be immersed in the sinful pleasures of

has evolved, the negative view of time life go against all the principles set

and religion has remained the same. forth in the Bible.

But, does this notion of seizing the day The Christian approach to living life is

follow a defined in the

theological “… Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and bible as a way to
framework? In let your heart cheer you in the days of your live life to the
order to answer fullest but in a

this question, a youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and meaningful way.

person will first the sight of your eyes. But know that for all This way of living
need to these things God will bring you into life is outlined in
understand the judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9,
Christian (Ecclesiastes 11:9) “… Rejoice, O
approach to young man, in

living life your youth, and

described in the bible. Once this let your heart cheer you in the days of

concept is understood, it can clearly be your youth. Walk in the ways of your

seen that the precepts of carpe diem heart and the sight of your eyes. But

such as the negation of eternity, the know that for all these things God will

lack of understanding of the meaning bring you into judgment.”

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This passage perfectly summarizes is, then, something eternal in man, it
what it means to seize the day, but in a must be able to exist and to be grasped
Christian way. It indicates a person can within every change … For repentance
is precisely the relation between
be immersed in what they enjoy the something past and someone that has
most, but always keeping in mind that his life in the present time” (3). In other
every single action will be weighed in words, Kierkegaard is establishing a
direct connection between what is done
the Day of Judgment. with the principle of enjoying life and
the notion that it will last forever. This
As a result of this notion, way when seizing eternity, the person
adopting the pessimistic view of the
future seen in the interpretation of “If there is, then, something eternal in man,
carpe diem through time will be it must be able to exist and to be grasped
denying the existence of God and his within every change … For repentance is
promises of an eternal life. The precisely the relation between something
Christian philosopher Soren past and someone that has his life in the
Kierkegaard, presents the notion that
life is eternal in chapter one of his present time” (3)
book, Purity of Heart Is to Will One (Kierkegaard)
Thing. He does this by saying, “If there

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will be conscientious of his/her actions Figure 6: Soren Kierkegaard
and will avoid making mistakes that
will haunt them through perpetuity. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) has been
proposed as the 'father of existentialism, as a
In addition, the lack of faith
perceived in every definition of seizing forerunner of post-modernism and as the
the day goes against the principle that proponent of a purely humanistic religiosity.
the bible sets stating that every single
deed will be weighed on the Day of According to Julia Watkin all of these
Judgment. This concept is confirmed in approaches suppress the reality of
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 when it says, “The
end of the matter; all has been heard. Kierkegaard as a Christian thinker, albeit
Fear God and keep his one of a uniquely challenging cast who saw
commandments, for this is the whole the need to treat Christianity as a personal
duty of man. For God will bring every existential adventure in which one is not
deed into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether good or evil.” This afraid to risk oneself. In Kierkegaard,
passage points out that the meaning of Watkin uses Danish critical sources to
life in earth is to honor God and live classify the legendary thinker as one of a
according to his norms, because God is radical Christian persuasion. Kierkegaard
with us at all times and everything will raised and addressed vital philosophical and
ethical-religious questions about existence in
a way that continues to be relevant across
disciplines, generations, and cultures. This
book distinctly and simply introduces
Kierkegaard to new readers as a Christian

religious thinker. (Watkin)

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be looked upon on the Day of enjoying life, thus, going against the

Judgment. teachings of the bible. However, if a

Equally important is how a person chooses instead to honor God

person chooses to seize the day. and his mandates as stipulated in the

Whether seizing bible, they will be

the day means seizing the day in

drinking wine, “…Blessed are those who wash their robes, so the full extent of

having sex, that they may have the right to the tree of the Christian
being drunk or life and that they may enter the city by the worldview. This is
following the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers explained in
ruling of God, and the sexually immoral and murderers Revelations 22:14-
makes a and idolaters, and everyone who loves and 15, “…Blessed are
difference those who wash
between being practices falsehood.” their robes, so
granted access to (Revelations 22:14-15) that they may

the city of have the right to

eternal life or the tree of life

not. When adopting Baudelaire’s and that they may enter the city by the

approach to seize the day by being gates. Outside are the dogs and

drunk in whatever you enjoy the most, sorcerers and the sexually immoral

a person can choose sinful ways of and murderers and idolaters, and

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everyone who loves and practices will enjoy the eternal city. Conversely,
falsehood.” In other words, at the end those who have chosen to be drunk in
of times everything will be judged and sin will not be granted entrance to the
those who have followed God’s word eternal garden.

As previously exposed, the notion of carpe diem as described throughout time
by great writers, goes against all the precepts established by the bible. From
denying the existence of the eternal life, to not finding a purpose in life or

immersing one’s self in sin, all perceptions of carpe diem go against the
Christian worldview. Christians should instead choose to seize the day by
remembering at all times that life is eternal. A Christian way to seize the day
should include altering the relationship that exists with family, friends, work
and materialistic things, so that every moment that is spent with them makes

that relationship worth it to have through the end of times.

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