Guest r3alchild Posted February 23, 2013 Posted February 23, 2013 Question, does there need to be a god for there to be life after death. why can't all living things have another life because its a fundemental law like gravity, why should only the spiritual and religious minded people have a choke hold over life after death.
◊ crazyguy123 ◊ Posted February 23, 2013 Posted February 23, 2013 There could be an afterlife and a god might not be necessary for there to be one. I do hope there is an afterlife, one that is better than this one, for everyone.
Guest Pixie Posted February 24, 2013 Posted February 24, 2013 I've been thinking a lot about this. I would like to believe that we will be recycled (our soul-energy?) and maybe come back again to learn new lessons. Each coming back would be to perfect the human race. LOL Good God, I'm only in the beginning stages of deconverting and I'm thinking about another theory. I know for sure I would love to see all the people who died in my family again. I don't want hell but I do want heaven. I find it difficult to accept total nihilation right now.
mymistake Posted February 24, 2013 Posted February 24, 2013 It's tough when you are use to thinking about life after death and consider that it might not be so. I'm much more comfortable with the idea that there isn't one. I certainly wouldn't want an eternal life. That would be very boring. As for your question I believe the Christians stole the idea from the Egyptians. The Christians certainly don't have a corner on the market. They don't own it. If you want to imagine life after death for everyone go ahead.
florduh Posted February 24, 2013 Posted February 24, 2013 Since there are only conflicting guesses and no evidence whatsoever, you are free to imagine any kind of afterlife you like, or not. Probably most people wish that after death they could live on without their body and experience the wonders of the future and relive the past with loved ones. Some would like a reward and punishment system after death in order to achieve final justice. I think the Pastafarian version of Heaven is as good as any - beer fountains and strippers.
Moderator TrueFreedom Posted February 24, 2013 Moderator Posted February 24, 2013 If you are separated from what held your memories and identity I would have a hard time thinking of anything after this life as anything like an afterlife. It would be a new life. If the same consciousness made it into a new identity, it would be starting over, just as it did in this life.
SatansLittleSidePiece Posted February 24, 2013 Posted February 24, 2013 Laws of Thermodynamics anyone? Does our energy pass on to into another form (albeit less useable)? I don't see why that isn't acceptable for comfort. I tell my kids that while their conscience, as they know it now, might not continue on, if you put your remains somewhere important, donate your organs, what have you, on a very real level, you do continue on in one form or another. That's your afterlife. Spread amongst millions of other possibilities. 1
bornagainathiest Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Question, does there need to be a god for there to be life after death. why can't all living things have another life because its a fundemental law like gravity, why should only the spiritual and religious minded people have a choke hold over life after death. Thanks v.much for raising this one, Chrisstavrous! I suppose you're thinking of something that could be called an, 'Atheistic After-life'...? Many years ago, when visiting my British friends, I found this... http://sciencefictionfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/08/palace-of-eternity-by-bob-shaw.html ...in a second-hand book shop and snapped it up pronto! As Zomberina's pointed out, energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be changed form one form into another. Your thoughts? BAA.
Guest r3alchild Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Energy becoming one form to another is more sense than god ressurecting people in the blink of an eye.
bornagainathiest Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I'm inclined to think so too. Perhaps this is just another step or phase in evolution? An entirely natural one that needs no input or oversight by a supernatural entity? I could buy that. BAA.
Vigile Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Why would consciousness exist beyond the vehicle that makes it possible in the first place? You can however live on: Turn into a Tree After You Die: Bios Urn is a biodegradable urn whichcontains soil and a single tree seed which will be nourished by yourashes. By creating BiosCommunity, people can always be with their lovedones by registering their tree to GoogleEarth. You even have the choiceto pick the type of tree you would like to become. via bigthink #Tree #Urn 1
bornagainathiest Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Or like this? http://www.cremationsolutions.com/c4/Cremation-Diamonds-Made-From-Ashes-c39.html
JadedAtheist Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I read a book recently on the human consciousness and it has definitely solidified my opinion that the mind is a biological development and has made it seem highly unlikely there is any 'spiritual' aspect to life. The fact is that we like most other well functioning life form on Earth have evolved a very strong will to live. Most people don't want to die, even when seriously hurt or crippled. Even cockroaches run for their lives and attempt to save themselves when being attacked by our shoes. The human desire to live is so strong that we refuse to accept death as the end; this is ultimately the root cause of our underlying belief that there *must* be something more. Personally, I realize my distaste for death stems from something that I believe Christopher Hitchens described well (forgive my paraphrase): Death is like leaving a party. The annoying thing isn't that you're leaving the party but that it will continue on without you. I personally feel a great deal of loss not seeing how the world transforms and changes in the passage of time ahead of us. Though I am young, presuming I live to an average life expectancy I will probably not make it past 2070 and will probably not be in the position to readily enjoy what's there for the 20 years prior and up until that point. I would be happy being able to live as long as I like and then when I feel it's time to go, to be able to switch off without much fuss. Heaven is not objectionable to me, but it's certainly not required. 2
Guest r3alchild Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Yes it is very hard to think of nothingness while you are something.
Akheia Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I like the idea of this life being part of our evolution as sentient beings. Whatever it is, I bet it hinges at least a little on how we did in this life. If we're idiots in this life, it seems to me that's like frittering away your high school years--it might negatively impact how we do in the next world. I've read of some ancient cultures that thought that there were ultra-important secrets that people had to know to progress in the afterlife; it seems like a really old idea. It'd be kind of cool if knowing about precession actually matters enormously when we're thrust into giant spaceships in the next world and have to fly somewhere. But ultimately I'm reluctant to pin my hopes on any of it. I don't know, and I don't want to get caught up in worrying about it or preparing for it. That's like getting sent to an Asian supermarket when you have no idea what the produce is and no idea what ingredients you need to make dishes X Y and Z: whatever you do is probably going to be wasted time and effort. I just try to do the best I can.
LifeCycle Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I want to believe. But I don't kill cockroaches in hopes that they were politicians in their past lives. I let them live in despair knowing how their greed made them rich at the cost of the lives and quality of life for others.
Noggy Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 The law of conservation of energy states that your soul will turn into gas.
kolaida Posted February 26, 2013 Posted February 26, 2013 I figure if souls are real, it's just some form of energy that'll lend itself to something else once I no longer need it. Like zomberina suggests, I am an organ donor and if helps bring life to someone else that's great. Honestly, when I die, I just want to be done. Thinking, feeling, I find the idea of just disappearing into earth's soil with the billion of other bodies before me. I'd say that'd make me happy but since I will be thankfully free of ANY feelings/emotions, I believe this will be nice and simply how things are meant to be in the end, whether it's from burial or ashes. It's a relief to no longer have to even think about the next life. It makes stuff in THIS life seem more pressing, but I guess that's just the way it is.
wndwalkr99 Posted March 2, 2013 Posted March 2, 2013 I've been thinking a lot about this. I would like to believe that we will be recycled (our soul-energy?) and maybe come back again to learn new lessons. Each coming back would be to perfect the human race. LOL Good God, I'm only in the beginning stages of deconverting and I'm thinking about another theory. I know for sure I would love to see all the people who died in my family again. I don't want hell but I do want heaven. I find it difficult to accept total nihilation right now. Niliation isn't as bad as you may think. Things will simply be for you the way they were before you were born. Life is precious....enjoy it to its fullest (yours and those you love) while you have it. That's the best advice I can give you.
Ross Posted March 2, 2013 Posted March 2, 2013 Not knowing there is or is not I have found to be ever so liberating. I have gone from so wanting to be in heaven with dad, son and spooky to who cares now. Saves all that energy worrying if it is all true. From I do hope that person will not be the too. From some of friends will not be there. From some of those back sliding may not make it. From I had better get out the handing out tracts so others can go there too. From preaching that some will go to that place that you can't say from the pulpit because it offends, you mean hell. Yeah I am not worried at all as to what happens when my use by date comes along anymore. Thankfully.
Vigile Posted March 2, 2013 Posted March 2, 2013 I've been thinking a lot about this. I would like to believe that we will be recycled (our soul-energy?) and maybe come back again to learn new lessons. Each coming back would be to perfect the human race. LOL Good God, I'm only in the beginning stages of deconverting and I'm thinking about another theory. I know for sure I would love to see all the people who died in my family again. I don't want hell but I do want heaven. I find it difficult to accept total nihilation right now. Niliation isn't as bad as you may think. Things will simply be for you the way they were before you were born. Life is precious....enjoy it to its fullest (yours and those you love) while you have it. That's the best advice I can give you. Exactly. Death only means something while we are alive to contemplate it and as Epicurus pointed out, you, as in the conscious you, will never die because you can only know life. When you are dead, you will no longer be able to reflect on that, therefore death is of no consequence to you. Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist. -Epicurus
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