How does believing in an afterlife...?

Question

make the here and now any better?

Does it not suit the people - who are willing too exploit us to have us believe in a afterlife, and does it not make us put up with anything, and not do anything about it, apart from pray and sulk?

Answer 1

It doesn't. If anything, it makes your time here worth less, because it is miniscule in comparison to eternity.

Atheists value life much more, in general, than religious people.

Answer 2

Well this depends on your religious and moral beliefs. Trough out history there were many that didn't believe in afterlife. But belief in afterlife is not something that's made up over the years by some cunning people, but an integrated part of human person. If you only believe in that what you see, then believing in afterlife is just a waste of time. But if you believe there's something more and this is logical, then u have to ask yourself:why would one grow spiritually and mentally and then for ever be gone? This life is only a test run, and helps us to prepare for what comes later, but you don't have to agree with me on that. This is just my own personal belief.

Answer 3

Believing in an afterlife does not make anything better here and now, other than knowing that there is any afterlife can give you peace of mind and you can go on living your life and not worry about what happens to you when you die. Believing in your creator can make things better here and now.

Answer 4

I don't think the premise of an afterlife is designed to make the here and now any better. That's one of my main problems with it, besides having a basic aversion to delusion and lies. This fantasy of an afterlife, it seems to me, cheapens the value of the life we have here. When someone dies, you hear, "Oh, he's in a better place now." What better place is there for anyone but to be here with the people he loves and who love him? This was done to keep control of people. Like, "Don't be jealous of the king over there. Just because he's eating off gold plates and you're starving to death, don't worry. After you're dead, wow, you are going to have ALL the good stuff and he's going to burn in hell." It's brilliant; it keeps the peasants from storming the palace. Or, it keeps the poor folk from storming the Vatican, where they live like kings to this day.

Answer 5

I agree with you - the idea of a perfect afterlife can mean that people don't want to deal with the problems in our world. It can mean that we put up with things that we should be struggling against.

I think the idea of a perfect afterlife is problematic, because all good things in life come from tension rather than the removal of tension. For example, the beauty of colour is a result of the tension between darkness and light. The ecstacy of joy is made greater by its contrast with suffering. The painfulness of life give us many opportunities to be loving.

Thank you for your thought-provoking question.

David

Answer 6

there are three ways to gain power and authority over others in a society religion being one of these. one can tell the type of religion by the society but also the society by the religion. what type of religion will work for one society may not for another based on lifestyle, terrain, economics, religious belief systems regarding the afterlife, etc. as long as those in control lead the society in a proper manner and all goes well they remain in power when things start going wrong there is another group who will take over.

Answer 7

Believing in the afterlife makes you always remember that there will come a day for you to pay for everything you do. So you think twice before hurting people, stealing, lying, killing, cheating, etc.

It also helps you endure injustice of tyrannts when you are so helpless and there is nothing you can do to take your right back because you know Allah is fair and one day they will pay dearly for it, if now, later.

Answer 8

see also Denial 101

I feel focussing on a supposed after life trivializes and devalues/dehumanizes this life

and you are prey to be abused in this one, no guarantee of next one

just like life insurance saleman quotes-

"your benefits when you die will be...."

but you do not benefit, you are dead

only those who you designate benefit from death, just like in real life the pastors and leaders are the beneficiaries

being told we are full of Original Sin upon birth we have to use a leap of faith to accept this and this taints all our time on earth

but for those born outside religion and dogma, they have a fuller life and treasure Nature, and treat this time as valuable and in need of care and passing on to future generations