Why are we fighting over something we have no idea about?

Question

Christians have no proof of heaven or hell, Atheists have no proof that we go no where, and no one else has any proof of any legit afterlife so why is everyone claiming that theirs is real???? Keep in mind that those who died on the operating table could just be having some kind of hallucination that might only have occured for a few seconds after they're revived. I know its OK to have a little blind faith, (whether convinced there is or is not a place we go when we die). I know I do, the only thing is some religions take it to the extremes!! Its so incredibly childish to judge people and tell them they are or are not going to a certain place WHEN WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA!!!!!!!! When is civilization going to grow up and agree to just wait and see what happens? Note: I am not just targeting christians here but every single person who bases their opinions of other people based on where they "know" they are going.

like I said, blind faith is OK-- it can center people; stating it as a fact is what gets to me

Answer 1

I agree with you, except... Each of us has our own personal answer to "Life, the Universe & Everything". It is their foundation, they must fight to keep it stable! Some people are silly. If, in their own heart & mind, it was the absolute truth they wouldn't have to fight over it, it would be unshakable. Athough, when faced with an unknown opposing us, we tend to fight, it's human nature. Sorry.

In the mid-70's, I found a book in the library on death experiences. The author made no claims, other than he was a psychologist and had collected a lot of interviews of people that had clinically died and later revived or were revived. For some, they were dead a short time, others woke up a couple hours later in the morgue. There was no story line, just accounts of death experiences of Americans in the 1950s & 60s, printed in the late 60s. I guess, these days, we call them near-death experiences. The print was small and the book was over 2" thick. The accounts were pretty much the same; out of body, tunnel, bright light, people they knew or angels greeted them, they were told that they couldn't stay, were sent back, revived. Several, while out of body & hovering over themselves, saw things that they couldn't have seen happening. What they remembered seeing amazed their doctors and others that were there at the time of temporary death. After the first hundred accounts, it got pretty boring, but I pushed myself to read the rest, because I wanted to be sure that nothing different happened. Very few saw Jesus, most didn't. If it was a hallucination then it would have been generated by their imagination and since the basic "light at the end of the tunnel" story hadn't been going around back then, it couldn't have influenced their imagination. So it must have really happened.

Personally, I've seen enough and experienced enough healings to make me think that Christianity is the answer. I asked God to be real to me and, He is, in ways that I had never imagined.

We have the freedom to make our own choices. We can believe in what ever we want! I want Jesus, another Krishna, another no-such-thing-as-God...

Each of us thinks we have some idea about what's the right WAY. Some people don't want others to mess up their lives & waste their time going the wrong way. Some say "Come & join me, we can have fun together", "NO" says another, and the fight ensues.

We'll just let them fight it out and remember to duck.

Answer 2

As to why people fight over it, I haven't a clue. Except that some people seem to be interested in fighting at the least excuse. But I'm not sure we have "no proof." What you sound like you mean is "no evidence." Proof, in the legal sense, is what the jury believes. They see evidence. If they believe it, they call it proof. So if the jury votes your way, you have "proved your case."

But it is not true that we have no evidence. There are people who have been dead for short periods and revived. You mentioned those, and I agree, they may not be convincing. But it is evidence. Then there are past-life regression hypnosis experiences; again, evidence, whether or not it is convincing proof to you. There are also LSD and other drug-induced experiences. There are deep meditation and other "altered states" experiences. I do not know what would constitute real proof for your purposes, but my own altered states experiences (we won't go into how they were induced) have convinced me that (a) I have lived before and (b) I will get another chance to do it right.

As to the "wait and see" attitude you recommend, that is simply too frightening for someone who believes it will be punishment or reward for what they do here, and therefore it is necessary that they know what the rules are and how well they have complied with them here. My own belief does not require that, but I understand both Christians and Muslims have doctrine that rather requires they take that sort of position -- and the rules by which they make it into paradise differ markedly between the two groups. I try hard to have compassion for people in such an anxiety-producing situation, but like you, I consider it ultimately childish.

Answer 3

Because "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

Welcome to the world of the knowledge of Good and Evil. We hope you enjoy your stay and are able to understand enough of what's going on. God has left His words in the world's bestseller, the Bible, and we sincerely hope you - and the rest of mankind - take the time to read it. Things will start making a WHOLE lot more sense after that. In the meantime, feel free to do, think, and say what you please. But, be ready for the end because you never know when that'll be. I'd start reading ASAP. It'll give you more than just a little idea regarding what we are fighting about. Remember, if you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem - like it or not...

Answer 4

I can completely see your point - but as humans, we all have the need to believe in something. Throughout our lives, we (purposely or not) categorize ourselves, and put ourselves into groups - then the worst of each group will find reasons to pick apart others. It would be fantastic if we all could just accept each other for who we are.....the world would be a great place to live - no more war! It's a shame that this message will only be seen by select Yahoo Answers users ... it should be communicated worldwide.

Answer 5

strange thing is, the proof for poeple's beliefs is only inside themselves. So they believe it so much that it becomes fact. And yes it's true we can not know for sure, but it's better to choose one way or the other.

funny thing you said about the operating table thing. in the movie "waking life", the theory that is built in that movie is, that when we die, our brain keeps working for about 8 min. and during this time, we dream. and dreams can seem for an eternity, can't they?
And in this unconcious dream state, people have acess to phsycic waves floating around the earth, and so they can meet other people in their dreams. And so this "eternity" is the afterlife. now theres a thought, hey?

Answer 6

I agree with you completely. I do not put forth my opinions as fact and I do not refute those who operate on blind faith. It's not my place to try and disrupt someones faith, (as if I could do such a thing). Wait and see is how I've always felt. Believe what you will about what happens after death but don't put forth your beliefs as if they were proved fact.

Answer 7

OK- lets say you are right about the "no proof" just ask your self would you rather ... (1) die a Christiuan and be wrong or (2) die an athiest and be wrong?

Answer 8

Look at it this way... if Christians are WRONG...thennnn there is nothing for them to worry about when they die. And their life ~if they lived it according to the Bible~ has been used to better the world around them.

If they are RIGHT however... where does that leave everyone else?

Answer 9

I agree on some points, but as a person who studied electrical energy, I learned that enrgy is never lost, only changed.
Maybe our life energy changes when we die?

I believe in GOD, but not man's religions - they keep telling people to kill.

Answer 10

Everyone thinks that their thoughts are your thoughts. I believe I will die, as far as where I go I have no idea. We were taught as children good works equal heaven. I sometimes think this is hell.