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Have you any evidence for your claims about what happens when we die? Other than your previously referred to descriptions of having not actually died that is? Because unfortunately an experience of not dying is not really informative of what happens when we do die.
Also as another user pointed out the "just go dark" phrase is rather misleading. Darkness is itself an experience. The claim being made is that we have no evidence that anything at all is experienced after death.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RosemaryT
And I have sincere pity for those who believe thusly.
You can keep your pity for those who actually require or want it. I would say people without a belief in the after life generally fit neither of those. In fact quite the opposite as the idea of an eternal life is quite horrific to many of us and we are entirely glad there is not a shred of reason to think one exists.
I’m not going to die until Youtube dies. I have more than a hundred videos out. People will learn from me and laugh occasionally. Everyone should make a video to leave loved ones.
you have a pretty good idea here, I think I might do it.
Well I'm definitely not convinced by anything I'm reading here that there's an afterlife. But I do sense that we've a lasting significance (and it seems to me that's more plausibly true if we continue to exist). As I said, this could just be wishful thinking, but I'm not even sure I ever wished it quite frankly. I always felt that I'd be perfectly content if this life was all there is. But that's only if I swallowed hard and admitted that the sense of significance is illusory and all our talk about "This life matters" was pretense.
I suppose the explanation could also be "You sense that we have significance because we're not going to perish in some heat death of the universe". But how would I know this?
In any case, we can argue conditionally:
IF there is an afterlife that continues infinitely, we have real significance. What we do and say matters.
If there is no afterlife, then nothing is truly significant because everything will end up being the same regardless of our behavior.
Just imagine how bad our world would be, if we were taught there is no afterlife whatsoever, I think it would be total chaos, no one would be concerned about accountability, if our actions didnt matter one way or the other.
There has to be some fear of punishment/accountability to maintain a civil and orderly society. That may be why the church was created in the first place.
Just imagine how bad our world would be, if we were taught there is no afterlife whatsoever, I think it would be total chaos, no one would be concerned about accountability, if our actions didnt matter one way or the other.
There has to be some fear of punishment/accountability to maintain a civil and orderly society. That may be why the church was created in the first place.
I think Christianity and Judaism do not believe in any after life punishment for their followers.
Christianity = Once saved, always saved. Believe in Jesus and a red carpet cosmic welcome is awaiting. Rest of everyone is going to go to hell because Jesus is the only way.
Judiasm = There is no hell for Jews. Only a few days of Rehab period for the naughty ones before they are also sent to Paradise.
Just imagine how bad our world would be, if we were taught there is no afterlife whatsoever, I think it would be total chaos, no one would be concerned about accountability, if our actions didnt matter one way or the other.
There has to be some fear of punishment/accountability to maintain a civil and orderly society. That may be why the church was created in the first place.
More pertinent is it's what laws, courts, fines, retribution,condemnation from others and jails achieve if one goes against societies rules , not to mention unhappiness with oneself if not living up to your own standards ( and yes, we have them)
I'd be much less happy about living in an 8 x 10 concrete room while I'm alive than worrying about after death
Last edited by mensaguy; 12-28-2018 at 02:22 PM..
Reason: Fixed quote tag
Just imagine how bad our world would be, if we were taught there is no afterlife whatsoever, I think it would be total chaos, no one would be concerned about accountability, if our actions didnt matter one way or the other.There has to be some fear of punishment/accountability to maintain a civil and orderly society. That may be why the church was created in the first place.
So the only thing stopping you murdering, raping. stealing, cheating and being a thoroughly bad person...is the fear of punishment when you die. We theists don't do it because we believe it's not a good thing to do to others. Says a lot for the morals of you you theists eh? We are only safe from you murdering us in our beds...because you fear being punished for it when you die! Brilliant!
Just imagine how bad our world would be, if we were taught there is no afterlife whatsoever, I think it would be total chaos, no one would be concerned about accountability, if our actions didnt matter one way or the other.
Yet atheists do not live a chaotic life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rstevens62
There has to be some fear of punishment/accountability to maintain a civil and orderly society. That may be why the church was created in the first place.
Which is why we have to police. But even without the police, many people do not want to do bad things.
Ever heard of herd immunity? It's needed for most successful communities.
It might be an idea to use the correct words. We are talking morality, not diseases.
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