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The Atheists Mantra; Why is the thought of no afterlife scary
Topic Started: Sep 28 2005, 10:24 AM (1,291 Views)
captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

When dealing with the religously inclined in real life, a common response about the possiblity of any lack of afterlife I get is : "that thought is too depressing / scary"

Why is this so, it is something I cannot grasp.


There's no contact with this world anyway, after death.

At very best it would be a one way thing, watching over the ones you've left behind, for the most part we have no contact with those that have left us, not on any grand scale anyway. Those that claim they can usually have a book on sale or want to give you tour dates.

That may be rather frustrating also, watching from behind the pearly gates, wanting to tell your Grandson not to walk out in front of that bus, but are unable to.

I dont think the belief that there is no afterlife to be cynical or negative, just that its a very strong possibility.

The thought of no superior being with a master plan should not also be construed as negative, just maybe we humans arent that special after all.

Our lives are important to us, and those that know us, but in the grand scheme of things, maybe not so much.

The thought that we may be here due to some huge accident is deliciously ironic.

The thought that we are here due to some outrageously unlikely mathematical probablity is very intriguing

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psyfi
psyfi
It isn't scary to everybody but certainly to some. I think this is because all the mind knows is existence. Not knowing non-existence, there is a tendency for the person to define the concept of "non-existence" with what the mind knows of existence (e.g., feelings of loss, feelings of consciousness fading away when the desire is to hold on to it, etc.). Thus, what actually scares people isn't non-existence but their ideas about non-existence. This is exactly the same reason why some people are afraid of the afterlife and of God too.
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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
It is an interesting fear isn't it?

If you don't exist, you would have no idea you don't exist. Buddhists are more familiar with these types of metaphysics as Buddhism is really more of a philosophy than a religion and often delves into Zen-like questions of existence and non-existence.
It is possible that at the end of existence is non-existence, but from non-existence comes existence. As a Zen master once put it:

There is a mountain, there there is no mountain, then there is a mountain. :meditate:
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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
captain_proton_au
Sep 28 2005, 10:24 AM
When dealing with the religously inclined in real life, a common response about the possiblity of any lack of afterlife I get is : "that thought is too depressing / scary"

This is not a "common response" that I have heard. Let's do a poll on it here.
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HistoryDude
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Shaken, not stirred...
This is not just a "fear" of some modern-day atheists. This is an ages old question that has perplexed, fascinated, and scared peoples in many cultures throughout time. I think another point to emphasize when considering this is not simply the fear of non-existence, but humans' fear that, because of our mortality, all of what we were and did may be all for naught. Call it a search for a little piece, or more, of immortality.

And, maybe this is off-topic, but for those who think we just *poof* non-exist at death, I have to ask, where is your hope in that? :shrug:
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captain_proton_au
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HistoryDude
Sep 29 2005, 01:16 PM

And, maybe this is off-topic, but for those who think we just *poof* non-exist at death, I have to ask, where is your hope in that? :shrug:

Hope for what?
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Fesarius
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Admiral
It's an interesting question. One of the quintessential atheists of our time, Walter Kaufman, asked what can we hope for, esp. if one is not a believer. His Faith of a Heretic is one of the best books I've ever read. Bertrand Russell is also a great read if anyone likes to read the response of atheists to the various reasons why people believe what they do.
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psyfi
psyfi
I think that Great Hope can be found by atheists. However, unlike the religious person, this Great Hope is totally invested in and given freely to the things of this world. I am thinking of Milton Erickson, a man known for his "miracle cures" and miracle cures were exactly what this psychiatrist and hypnotherapist performed. He had no belief whatsoever in God and yet you will look long and far to find a person more profound and more spiritual than he was. Pick up a copy of "My Voice Will Go With You: The Teaching Tales of Milton H. Erickson" and you will see exactly what I mean.




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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

^^^

I'll wait for the movie ;)
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psyfi
psyfi
captain_proton_au
Sep 30 2005, 11:49 AM
^^^

I'll wait for the movie ;)

Well you would have to have an interest in psychology to want to read Erickson since much of his work concerned curing people believed to be hopelessly psychotic, some of whom had been in back wards of asylums for decades. Not only would he cure them, he would do it in maybe five or six sessions using stories as part of his interaction (hence the term 'teaching tales)! Anyway, he was a wonderful and amazing man who was filled with faith in people and had great Hope for them as over-comers.



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Fesarius
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Admiral
I do not believe in atheism.
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doctortobe
Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
I've probably mentioned this in other threads (in fact I know that I have), but if we are to be obliterated after death, then why are we supposed to be good? What reason is there to work for nice things when you can just take them? Should one be good for goodness' sake when there is no real difference between good and evil in the end?
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

^^^

Are they the main reasons you are "good" though, or are we "good" because of the consequnces our actions have from our friends, families, the law, the government, and fear of retribution from our fellow man
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

I would also argue that we arent "good", we may be nice and helpful to strangers, treat those around us well, but then save up for our new SUV's and DVD's while millions around the world starve.

Remember that - camel through the eye of a needle has more chance than a rich man getting into heaven phrase in the bible ( and I'm very loosely paraphrasing there ;))

You might find you dont end up getting to go to heaven cos you didnt send off enough money to Oxfam or CCF, or you didnt do enough community service
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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
doctortobe
Oct 3 2005, 08:13 PM
I've probably mentioned this in other threads (in fact I know that I have), but if we are to be obliterated after death, then why are we supposed to be good? What reason is there to work for nice things when you can just take them? Should one be good for goodness' sake when there is no real difference between good and evil in the end?

I think without God there is no good and evil. There is only legal and illegal.

If one's god is science then one's goal in life is to pass as many genes into the next generation as possible.
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