Do you beleive in an after life?

[Jason California]

I know there are a lot of atheist here, along with others that have a spirituality that is not defined by Christian terms.

My questions is do you believe in life after your current one? Do you believe that you consciousness will continue when your 70-100 years here is done?

Or do you think that this is it?

[Sackhead]

This is it kids. Last stop before the end of existence.

[Keith P.]

Yes.

[Magnum V.I.]

While for a long time I believed in an afterlife, I really don't anymore. I think an afterlife is a cruel invented joke. You get one shot and then blammo.

Edit: And for the longest time I was on my way to convert to Judaism. Where that is right now I have no idea. I don't begrudge people who are religious. I envy them and I have a deep respect for all that is profane and holy. But personally I feel like right now the only logical choice for me is Atheism. I don't really believe in a God anymore.

but even when i did I struck out the afterlife. It's a nice thought. But even if there WAS a soul and it goes to some place after this, how would it even be you? We couldn't even fathom what it would be like and our human consciousness would be shattered anyway.It would be so far removed from our current existence that it's meaningless to even ponder about.

[NickT]

I don't know.


I also believe that nobody, reguardless of their beliefs, can truly comprehend what happens after death.

[En Sabah Poo]

Its quite possible that once you're gone, you're just gone. It's bizarre to think about.

But I guess then, how do you explain ghosts?

[Dreaded Anomaly]

Dead is dead! :)

[CougarTrace]

if we are all being honest, I think the answer is I don't know..

[xyzzy]

I don't believe that there is an afterlife, but obviously, I have no way of knowing for sure.

[Jason California]

I forgot to make the poll public.

I voted yes.

I think it is easy to dismiss an afterlife or any existence beyond this one. I have experienced enough thing however that cause me to think this is not all there is to it. They are probably things that only mean something to me or few others and will not convince another that something is there. Perceptions and all that.

[xyzzy]

if we are all being honest, I think the answer is I don't know..

You don't know if you believe in an afterlife or not?

[NickT]

I don't believe that there is an afterlife, but obviously, I have no way of knowing for sure.
Well, there is one way :razz:

[Albert]

Do you believe in life after love?

[Ben]

If you have no idea if there's an afterlife, that means you don't believe in an afterlife.

[WillieLee]

Do you believe in life after love?

I want to know what love is.

[Jason California]

Do you believe in life after love?


For at least 1 year now.

[WillieLee]

For at least 1 year now.

Are you strong enough now?

[Dusty]

Not anymore. I believe that it was invented as a defense mechanism. Could you imagine how the social structure would break down if people realized that once their loved ones died, they'd never see them again? People are basically idiots about that kind of stuff. I say this as somebody who has lost several very close people in my life. I just accept death for what it is, though, I don't try to rationalize it as the goal of life.

[Jason California]

Are you strong enough now?

I was strong enough before.

[Ben]

Not anymore. I believe that it was invented as a defense mechanism. Could you imagine how the social structure would break down if people realized that once their loved ones died, they'd never see them again? People are basically idiots about that kind of stuff. I say this as somebody who has lost several very close people in my life. I just accept death for what it is, though, I don't try to rationalize it as the goal of life.Why would the social structure break down if people thought they'd never see dead people again?

[Thommy Melanson]

No.

I also don't believe there's really a Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy either.

Heaven is a nice story to tell children to ease them into accepting the concept of death.

But this is it.

[Maxwell]

Why would the social structure break down if people thought they'd never see dead people again?

The social structure would break down if people thought that there was no punishment or reward after their deaths.

[Mike]

No way. Why should we get an afterlife? Does that mean every living thing on the planet has a postmortem consciousness of some sort? Do plants have an afterlife? Why should humans get one? Consciousness is completely tied to the human body. Once it fails, consciousness fails, and life fails.

[adam_warlock_2099]

Live life while you can, because afterlife is just wishful thinking. If you can prove me wrong your dead, and you can't prove me wrong if your dead. I just plan to rot in the ground.

[Blake Sims]

I'd be inclined to say no, but hey who knows? I would love to be proven wrong on this one.

[JHickman]

I don't believe in time as a linear construct, so I'm forced to vote yes.

[Keith P.]

Kind of rude to post a thread like this when someone has a thread on the same page about their mother dying, doncha think?

[adam_warlock_2099]

The social structure would break down if people thought that there was no punishment or reward after their deaths.

With all due repsect sir, I belive that this life is it. Still it does not prevent me from living a life to help others. I am happy to know that I will die knowing I made my wife's life pleasant. That is good enough for me.

[Blake Sims]

Kind of rude to post a thread like this when someone has a thread on the same page about their mother dying, doncha think?

I don't think so, I doubt he did it intentionally. It's just a question of personal belief.

[JHickman]

Kind of rude to post a thread like this when someone has a thread on the same page about their mother dying, doncha think?

I think Utah is spured on by other conversations, but manners are in short supply around here this week, Keith.

[Thommy Melanson]

The social structure would break down if people thought that there was no punishment or reward after their deaths.

As a microcosm of atheism, I can assure you I haven't gone on a murderous spree, a series of lootings and arsons or even committed a wanton act of mopery.

Most people in the world just want to go about their lives in relative peace. That wouldn't change too drastically if there was somehow an official decree that the afterlife does not exist.

[Maxwell]

With all due repsect sir, I belive that this life is it. Still it does not prevent me from living a life to help others. I am happy to know that I will die knowing I made my wife's life pleasant. That is good enough for me.

I'm referring to people in general. Some people are naturally good and will try to help others and be generally kind just because they can.

But many other people live their lives following a code set out for them by priests or rabbis or whatever because they think they'll have eternal punishment if they don't.

[Maxwell]

As a microcosm of atheism, I can assure you I haven't gone on a murderous spree, a series of lootings and arsons or even commited a wanton act of mopery.

Most people in the world just want to go about their lives in relative peace. That wouldn't change too drastically if there was somehow an official decree that the afterlife does not exist.

Yeah, I'm an atheist too.

[Len Snark]

Its quite possible that once you're gone, you're just gone. It's bizarre to think about.

But I guess then, how do you explain ghosts?

Easy. They don't exist.

My thoughts on god:
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh42/LenSnart/Weird%20Stuff/god-motivational.gif

[Maxwell]

Easy. They don't exist.

My thoughts on god:

:lol:

[Dusty]

Why would the social structure break down if people thought they'd never see dead people again?

Because the psyche is a delicate thing. Not everybody would react like that, obviously, but it would be more than enough to collapse on itself. Some, who had listened to the fear mongering religious groups concerning hell and damnation for their sins, would most certainly make up for lost time and start sinning just because they now could. Just imagine what that kind of anarchy would be like. You don't think such a revelation would only get a shrug of the shoulders from them, do you?

[Maxwell]

Because the psyche is a delicate thing. Not everybody would react like that, obviously, but it would be more than enough to collapse on itself. Some, who had listened to the fear mongering religious groups concerning hell and damnation for their sins, would most certainly make up for lost time and start sinning just because they now could. Just imagine what that kind of anarchy would be like. You don't think such a revelation would only get a shrug of the shoulders from them, do you?


Bingo. Some people are messed up on the inside, and their belief in the afterlife is the only thing keeping some of them from doing pretty sick stuff.

[Maxwell]

Because the psyche is a delicate thing. Not everybody would react like that, obviously, but it would be more than enough to collapse on itself. Some, who had listened to the fear mongering religious groups concerning hell and damnation for their sins, would most certainly make up for lost time and start sinning just because they now could. Just imagine what that kind of anarchy would be like. You don't think such a revelation would only get a shrug of the shoulders from them, do you?
Double post.

[Marcdachamp]

There's so many unexplainable phenomena in this world. While some may believe that an afterlife and souls are a cheap way to avoid science, I truly do believe in ghosts, and that makes me believe there must be something else out there.

Besides that, I do have faith. I'm not exactly Captain Christianity, but I do believe in Christ, and I'd rather live my life based on the notion of love thy neighbor than not. A teacher of mine once said (I'm paraphrasing) "Whether you believe Christ was the savior or simply a crack pot, the idea of simply loving one another is still a good lesson".

[Run-BMC]

The social structure would break down if people thought that there was no punishment or reward after their deaths.

I used to think that, but...

Aren't most convicted criminals religious? Wasn't there a study on this?

[Patton]

There's so many unexplainable phenomena in this world. While some may believe that an afterlife and souls are a cheap way to avoid science, I truly do believe in ghosts, and that makes me believe there must be something else out there.

Besides that, I do have faith. I'm not exactly Captain Christianity, but I do believe in Christ, and I'd rather live my life based on the notion of love thy neighbor than not. A teacher of mine once said (I'm paraphrasing) "Whether you believe Christ was the savior or simply a crack pot, the idea of simply loving one another is still a good lesson".

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/7653848_4f98df17fb.jpg

?

[InigoMontoya]

No i don't.

You'd think that it would make me like my life to the full but it doesn't. I just had a 1 week holiday and i spent most of the time play computer games, waiting for DRagon Age news, and reading comics.

[charlie]

I don't believe in time as a linear construct, so I'm forced to vote yes.

I would love to hear more about this.

I personally don't think there is an afterlife, and live my life like that is the case. Do all your good deeds here. Leave it all on the field, to use a sports analogy. :)

[Maxwell]

No i don't.

You'd think that it would make me like my life to the full but it doesn't. I just had a 1 week holiday and i spent most of the time play computer games, waiting for DRagon Age news, and reading comics.

Well, Dragon Age does look good. :)

[Kingsumo]

Sure I do. Not in the religious sense of heaven and hell, which is mostly due to being an atheist.

However, despite that, I do believe that we have a soul, and I believe that the soul does move on to something else once my body dies. I don't hold any wishful thinking that the me that is my consiousness as it is will remain, but I do believe part of what makes me me will.

Kind of hard to explain in a brief way, but ultimately, yes I do believe there is something else after.

[JoeE]

Nope. This is it.

[Shepherd]

I seriously doubt it. If we continue on after we die in any form, I doubt it's in any way that we can really comprehend. You never know, though, I guess. I think I'd be a bit presumptuous to say "no" 100%.

R

[Jason California]

Kind of rude to post a thread like this when someone has a thread on the same page about their mother dying, doncha think?


There was no intent to be rude, but that is part of what has my mind on this. My grandfather turned 75 today and he is now starting to show his age when he was always one of the strongest men I have ever met. He is in many ways more a father to me than my genetic pop. That added to some recent deaths has this topic on my mind.

I am looking to share ideas and if JM does feel like bothered by this thread I am genuinely sorry for additional pain I may have caused.

[I AM GROOT!]

Yeah, I believe in an afterlife. Whether there is really one, I won't know until I'm dead.

[WillieLee]

Bingo. Some people are messed up on the inside, and their belief in the afterlife is the only thing keeping some of them from doing pretty sick stuff.

Do you have any evidence of this being the case.

[Maxwell]

Do you have any evidence of this being the case.

All I said is that some people are messed up, and that some of the messed up people are held back from doing horrible things by their belief in the afterlife.

And no, I don't have any evidence. I'm just going on that by my limited life experience with people.

[WillieLee]

All I said is that some people are messed up, and that some of the messed up people are held back from doing horrible things by their belief in the afterlife.

And no, I don't have any evidence. I'm just going on that by my limited life experience with people.

Then you might as well say that people don't commit crimes because they are afraid of ducks.

[Maxwell]

Then you might as well say that people don't commit crimes because they are afraid of ducks.

Wait, are you saying that orinthophobia does not lower the crime rate? :mistrust:

[Kingsumo]

Then you might as well say that people don't commit crimes because they are afraid of ducks.

That shit's not funny. I was going to knock over a liquer store once and I saw this duck sitting there, just staring at me. Then it pointed to me with one wing. I know, it's hard to believe, but it did. It pointed to me, and then to the liquer store, and then did that drawing it's wing across it's neck thing. I knew it was a warning. Fucking ducks.



;-)

[Maxwell]

That shit's not funny. I was going to knock over a liquer store once and I saw this duck sitting there, just staring at me. Then it pointed to me with one wing. I know, it's hard to believe, but it did. It pointed to me, and then to the liquer store, and then did that drawing it's wing across it's neck thing. I knew it was a warning. Fucking ducks.

;-)

:rofl: