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As I write this, I'm watching my father sleep. He's losing his battle with cancer and the doctor doesn't think he'll make it to New Years.
Both my father and I are nonbelievers-Ive considered myself to be both and atheist and agnostic through the years.
I'm the type who will argue up and down that I cant believe in an afterlife because it doesn't seem scientifically feasible. But at this very sad time, I desperately want to think that when my dad finally goes, he'll go somewhere great where his consciousness will live forever. I realize that what I want isnt necessarily what is.
For the other non believers out there, how do you cope with death? What can I say to him to calm his fears? I need something now because I hate to think that this great man will be lost forever
If you don't believe in an afterlife how would 0retending that one exists make it so? My wife and
I occasionally joke about what our pets are doing in heaven but that is just a way of remembering them and trying to see how d9gs and cats that never knew each 9ther would get along.
I never think of my dad being in an afterlife nor both of my wife's parents either. They are dead, the are remembered by their children and grandchildren and by friends and neighbours. Only the memories are still alive.
As a Buddhist, I don't believe in the christian version of afterlife...and am very much up in the air about the Buddhist version. How do I cope with it at the ripe old age of 69...a shrug of the shoulders. I don't know...nobody knows. Guess it will be a new adventure...or nothing.
I'm so sorry, too. At my age I've lost a lot of people. I don't think you have to be doctrinaire, not that you would be, but just let them believe whatever they want. The main thing is just to let them know you love them, if you do.
If you don't believe in an afterlife how would 0retending that one exists make it so? My wife and
I occasionally joke about what our pets are doing in heaven but that is just a way of remembering them and trying to see how d9gs and cats that never knew each 9ther would get along.
I never think of my dad being in an afterlife nor both of my wife's parents either. They are dead, the are remembered by their children and grandchildren and by friends and neighbours. Only the memories are still alive.
For what it's worth, I believe there is a Heaven. If I am wrong, I'll never know it, but if I'm right, I'll live forever. It's a win-win situation for me. Good luck to Ya'll.
As a Buddhist, I don't believe in the christian version of afterlife...and am very much up in the air about the Buddhist version. How do I cope with it at the ripe old age of 69...a shrug of the shoulders. I don't know...nobody knows. Guess it will be a new adventure...or nothing.
While I'm suspicious of traditional religion's views on this, it is marginally possible that there are alternate planes of existence. I think in the Christian bible there's this "pillars of light" idea. That would mean that within every life form there's a kernel of something that's essentially immortal. And that it is bent on learning. Unlikely, but not impossible.
Everyone feels this, but whether we feel this as a self-protective mechanism or it's just actually true, I'm not prepared to say.
For what it's worth, I believe there is a Heaven. If I am wrong, I'll never know it, but if I'm right, I'll live forever. It's a win-win situation for me. Good luck to Ya'll.
Maybe not the best time to ply the very flawed Pascal Wager..
If there is an after life then there is. I don't believe there is and we may never ever know. Relax, and when it;s time we all go.
Like some said, if there is, we can have more fun and misery, right?
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