Atheists.. This question is not meant to offend I'm just curious...?

Question

Since a very high percentage of the world's population believes in a higher power and therefore is somewhat at peace with their eventual demise how did you comes to terms and find peace with the inevitability of your death .? I am not mocking or being critical in any way. I am just curious.

How do you come to terms that someday you will have a total lack of conciousness? nothingness, blackout, beyond nothing.zip...zero, game over?

Answer 1

I just figure that death will be the same as before I was born. I won't know the difference.

Answer 2

I understand how you reach this perfectly logical conclusion from a Christian viewpoint. I am Buddhist and am therefore categorized by most as Athiest, this is because I do not worship a Deity, /chuckles to self/ however, I don't bother with categories of belief or otherwise and leave it to the experts to worry over and discuss. There is the question however, that to you my death holds some fear, this is definitely not so. Let me explain, if you'll permit me.........

To all Buddhists, death is no more problematic or worriesome than opening a door and stepping through, it is a natural phenomenon of the cycle of Life. Our Lives begin at Birth, we progress through Life to inevitably die, however, that is where our two doctrines differ, at present anyway, I've read about the Vatican edict abolishing Purgatory as Dogmatic and if I understand Christian Dogmatic Practise, the Pope is infallible on matters of Faith including Dogma, so perhaps His Holiness's Papal edicts will some day change Christian Dogma on other issues...forgive my impertinance...I do not mean to offend just pointing out that Papal edicts do change Christian Faith from time to time.

To you, death is the final chapter of a short Life. After this there is Judgement...if I have the doctrine correct...forgive me if there is some variation....to Buddhists however, there is an equivalent of Judgement known as Karmic Consequence whereby any unresolved negative consequence incurred in Life has Consequence on the subsequent Rebirth of that person's consciousness. Negative Consequence means a more negative circumstancial Rebirth if you will.

The only worry for a Buddhist therefore is whether or not there are negative consequences for any Action we take. It is far better for us that we can determine the consequences of our Actions at each moment of our Life, rather than waiting for a third person Judge to determine it for us after the event and at a time where we can no longer do anything about it. If a good Life is led, then a positive consequence is assured even to a point where Rebirth may not even be required. You see for a Buddhist, it is unnecessary to become a Monk to attain Nirvana.

In conclusion, for us there is no purpose in 'worry' about death at all, in most people's minds there is no issue to be concerned about.

Peace my friend from a Buddhist....

Answer 3

That is a very good question, and I am not offended at all by it. I hope religious people will read our responces and understand our point of view. We, or at least I, have come to terms with the fact that we have only this life to journey through and enjoy, to make our own heaven or hell in. So, those who are responsible will try their best to make this world a better place than it was before we entered it, as our legacy and immortality. We live on through our children and our scientific and social contributions. Death is not something I look forward to, because I love life, not because I fear some kind of hell. And I refuse to live my life for a diety that I believe does not exist in hopes that I will get some kind of spirit mansion after I die. I consider that type of rationalization for belief "afterlife insurance" and it is too expensive. Peace.

Answer 4

Actually being an Atheist and not believing in an afterlife gives my life more meaning. I know this is the only life I've got so I damn well better enjoy it and live it to its fullest. As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well lived brings a happy death.

I have no fear of death itself, its the pain of dying I don't like. I've seen a few people die slow and painful deaths, I never want to go though that. When and if my life gets to the point that I see no reason to continue on because I am in pain, I have no qualms about taking my life.

Answer 5

I'm not an atheist and I do believe in higher power & what happen to you after death, etc... However, I'm also open to the idea that this life is all we have so we have to live it to the fullest & not just looking forward to something that may or may not happen. Religion does offer you the peace of mind, but I went to college, I took enough science classes to know that we're really all just dust in the wind, we born, we die, there's nothing to be scare of, unless you're like the victim of a one of the psycho killer or something... But yeah, it doesn't matter if u die early but if you have people remember you, you'll live on. It beats living forever but nobody knows or cares who you are...

Answer 6

If every one believes that starts are pin holes in a curtain doesn't make it true. In death most likely you just end and there is no pain its just like going to sleep and never waking up. I can be wrong some form of our energy might go on. I just see all religions as made up. The idea that there is a higher power and yet its different in each culture is proof we don't know.


How do you over come going to sleep at night? I mean you stop being aware of whats going on.

Answer 7

It doesn't bother me much past mere curiosity of what might be the case after death. In my constant pursuit to remain intellectually honest to both myself and those around me my current belief (yes, belief, nobody can cite anything after death as fact) is that being dead is exactly like being unborn. Whatever it "was" before you were born is exactly what it will "be" after you expire. I don't believe that people who posit an afterlife are "at peace with their eventual demise." It seems like the conjecture of a blissful afterlife is merely consolation to lessen a fear and anxiety of death.

I'm more worried about any suffering that may lead up to my demise than i am about what MIGHT be likely to happen afterwords.

Answer 8

It is simply something that we need to accept. Our medical technology is not advanced enough to give us immortality (yet), so we will all eventually die. It will be sad for the people left behind, but they will recover. And for us...depending on the circumstance it may come as a relief. Imagine being ninety years old and helpless in a bed, unable to take care of yourself or get relief from pain except through unconsciousness. Death would be a welcome end.

Answer 9

My death is going to happen whether I like it or not. In fact, since all of space and TIME was formed in the instant of the big bang, I can justifiably say that I was born, lived, and died 13.5 billion years ago, and my mind is only now experiencing the illusion of the passage of time. In short, I'm already dead and haven't been born yet. Nothing changes, nothing moves, it's all an illusion.

Why fear or anticipate what is already done and will be done?

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I don't try to come to terms with it. There's really nothing to come to terms with. When I cease to exist, I won't exist to care that I don't exist. It simply doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Answer 10

I disagree with you.....

I think that people become religious BECAUSE they are not comfortable with their eventual demise, and need to beleive that life goes on eternally after we die. At least, its one of the reasons...

As an Atheist, I will face my death knowing that I lived my life to the fullest that I could manage, that I lived and loved and was loved, and that my leaving earth will make room for another person to experience the beauty of life that I have. I dont want eternal life - it would make this life less special.

Answer 11

hmmm. im not really atheist im actually agnostic but i dont think its that tough to come to terms with mortality. i think religion plays a part of feeding people this idea of immortality. i think there are many people who believe only because they are afraid to cease to exist. i think its a nature of man to want to live forever, and since its proven we cant, we do the next best, pretend there is a form of afterlife.

however there may or may not be, it cant be proven. but i would much rather cease to exist then live forever. when you cease to exist, life becomes all the more precious.