Nihilism or Resurrection?

The nihilist observes that nothing that can be known outside of ourselves, and that all moral and theological ideologies are fantasies invented by either weak-minded people looking for comfort or strong-willed opportunists seeking to control the weak-minded; that human existence is useless and pointless.

This conclusion must be true, if we are merely animals. For animals, reason, goal and purpose is simply survival and procreation. A higher purpose for life - a moral and elevated purpose beyond animal appetite can come only from a source beyond that which is animal - a source outside and beyond that which is corrupt.

Saint Anslem observed that the fact that we even have such an awareness of something greater than ourselves, is an awareness that can come only from outside of ourselves and is proof that something or someone greater than what we can conceive of exists.

In other words, if we are merely animals, how is it that we aspire to such lofty goals: poetry, architecture, painting, music, worship - love? The question from Anselm might be, "Are we so delusional with pride that we think we can achieve a divine ascendency from animal appetites?" Does a rock dream of being a tree? Even an animist believes in spirits but even their "spirits" do not rise above animal nature.

Dare we hope in anything greater than animal nature, which is certain death and nothing more?

Saint Paul, who was accustomed to having conversations with philosophers of his day who were dealing with the same questions [Acts 17:16-21, wrote the following to Christians living in Corinth:

[1 Cor. 15:12-28] "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. [15] We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
[20] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. [24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. [25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death. [27] For " God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. [28] When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.