For Atheists> If there's no afterlife, does believing in one really matter?

Question

Just curious, and a little background--> I'm Wiccan, my boyfriend is Atheist, and amazingly we get along great and have many interesting discussions. One topic we brought up the other day was about afterlife. He believes death is death, nothing after. I believe in reincarnation. If Atheists are right, does it really matter that I believe in life after death since I'll just be dead and not know any better anyways? He maintains that he's actually got the best deal because if he is wrong, he'll just be happy to still be existing after death. How do other Atheists feel about this?

Stevevil0> Thanks for the great insight. Since my boyfriend is the only Atheist I converse with on a regular basis, I had no idea that some may see an afterlife the way you described. How interesting!

Answer 1

as long as you dont waste your time doing things that you wouldn't do if you didn't believe in an afterlife. then you both have the same deal.

Answer 2

Hi

Getting along together should not be very difficult when you're mature. Every person is free to make his own decisions. But what concerns me the most is that you claim that all atheists dont believe in the afterlife.

Merriam-webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com) states afterlife as next:

1 : an existence after death
2 : a later period in one's life
3 : a period of continued or renewed use, existence, or popularity beyond what is normal, primary, or expected

Hence an "afterlife" could just be a second life.

I am an atheist too and yet it is possible to believe in the afterlife.

Some atheists believe that the big bang will (re)collapse and it will expand the exact same way. In this case everything would reoccur the same way. This way we can have no notion how many (after)lives we already had, as our memories are exact the same as in a previous life.

Some other beliefs include the fact that over a range of infinite time, there would exist at least 1 chance that another species is born with the exact same brain structure as I have. This would mean, in a naturalist's opinion (the brain causes consciousness), that I would have another life.

Another belief is that I might get cloned by modern science and that I get the chance to have another life.

You see atheists can believe in the after life too.

Answer 3

I guess your boyfriend is right because if he is wrong he'll still have an afterlife but it doesn't matter either way to him. Also if you live your life and are happy with the decisions you make, does it really matter if there is an afterlife? If there is great, if there isn't then at least you made your mark on the world.
They say that having faith can heal you, it can be good for you and that you may even live longer for it.
Each person has their own individual faith and having faith in nothing is still faith.
I don't belive in god but I do belive in an afterlife, I don't know what that makes me but I would hate to think that this is the end, I just don't think anyone is in charge in the next life.

Answer 4

Good question, especially with the details. (Correct grammar and spelling! Amazing!)

I can't speak for all atheists, cause the only thing we agree upon is no god, but the general concern I would have is how someone's beliefs about what happens in the afterlife affect their ACTIONS in the here-and-now. To take an absurdly extreme example, if your belief in reincarnation means that you think that killing me while I sleep is doing me a favor, then I have a problem with your belief. ;)

The world has seen many cases of fundamentalists causing havoc in the present life to obtain some promised rewards later. Christians had the Inquisition, Crusades, and in general the repression of all sorts of people for the benefit of the victims' souls. Islam has an obvious problem with suicide bombers, and crazy sects like Heaven's Gate occasionally show up and kill themselves or others for their crazy beliefs.

All-in-all, I would say most atheists probably don't care what beliefs others profess, provided that those people don't take immoral actions or try to restrict the rights of atheists based on those beliefs. Live and let live.

Answer 5

It depends on how you look at it. I don't see any problem with the end being the end and i'm indifferent on how i feel about an afterlife. I don't believe there is any kind of afterlife or reincarnation because i dont believe in the concept of a soul.

Answer 6

it matters greatly if your particular brand of religion says that only your group will get into the afterlife and that you are therefore justified, indeed if not compelled, to go around converting or killing those who don't believe whatever it is that your group believes

if the afterlife belief was wholly a personal thing (ie not shared with any one else) then no problem

Answer 7

If death is death and nothing happens after wards, then I would just die right now. I mean, what's the point of even trying to live knowing that when we die, that's it and our consciousness would disappear.
Our consciousness is all we really have underneath out bodies, if it will disappear then life is not worth living

Answer 8

no, and I like Wicca, but consider myself an atheist, and I get along great with myself. I don't think what someone believes matters, as much as what those beliefs prompt them to do while they live. (blessed be, to you and your bf)

Answer 9

i'm atheist but i totally believe in reincarnation also, that has nothing to do with God but i also believe your body has a spirit and when you die your spirit lives on, not in heaven not in hell but on earth, depending on how or when you die will define what kind of spirit you will be and if you will be born again!

Answer 10

Yes, because some people need to believe to have morals.