I am agnostic, approaching being an athiest. But the thought of athiesm seems depressing. I was bought up religiously, so the idea of an afterlife, whether it be heaven, reancarnation etc. seems better than the idea of dying and that is it. Nothingness for eternity. How do athiest feel about that?
2007-05-17 13:07:46 · 33 answers · asked by suc mie dik 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is Atheism, Monotheism, and Polytheism. After all, something had to start this mess of mass and energy, called the universe, going. Study them all before choosing....the study itself may be a worthwhile lifetime endeavor.
2007-05-17 13:15:31 · answer #1 · answered by Terry 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I feel better about life than I ever did as a Christian. This is the only life I have, so I'd best make the most of it. It is strangely empowering. I don't have to live with the fear of upsetting some invisible being who will send me to hell for eternity if I even just think the wrong thing. I appreciate everything I see and everything I learn more deeply. Nothingness might be for eternity, but, if it's nothingness, then how would I ever know about it? I'd be nothing as well.
I also don't want to live my life doing good things for some reward after I die. I'd rather do good works because I like to make people happy. That's far greater than heaven.
2007-05-17 13:16:59 · answer #2 · answered by abulafia24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't be aware it's nothingness for eternity, so it's not as if it can bother you.
You get this brief span between birth and death. It has to be enough to inspire you to value each day to the full. People who live every day as if it's there last are the ones who realise that one day it will be. You will always be better filling this life that you are certain about than hoping for some vague continuation.
Personally I don't find oblivion more scary than eternity in heaven. For one thing, the nature of heaven sounds just horrid. Secondly, what exactly is the attraction of living FOREVER? I admit a few hundred years would be interesting, but forever and ever and ever...? There would be angels going insane. It makes no sense.
2007-05-17 13:22:26 · answer #3 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe our lives end and that nothing remains of us except that which we acheive in this life. That is not depressing to me. In fact, it makes me want to live a better life each day since I think when the ride it ends, it ends. I challenge myself to do, see, and learn as much as I can without ignoring the need for a little downtime here and there. Besides, if there is no afterlife, then eternity has no meaning to me. This is a good thing for me, since eternity would not be enjoyable. Without the human senses, what point is there to have an eternal afterlife?
2007-05-17 13:14:29 · answer #4 · answered by seattlefan74 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but Darwin was the messenger of the deciever.
Look around you and ask yourself w2here did all of the life come from, and then see if Dear Darwin explains why man from an ameoba does NOT include an explanation of all life here which is reaching a vastness of a number that would certainly have bogglesd the min=d of an idiot evemn such a thinker as he was at a time such as now.
You "MUST" be a creationist believer simply because of all of what even carbondating CANNOT accurately explain.
We, even as humans in our infinitisimal intellect and or lack of wisdom have created and are able at our state of micro-evolution to be able to take genetics into space and plant them and evety seed from here to a place otherwhere in the universe and beyond.
So, if you were the father or bringer of the life that is HERE, would you not LOVE it and Give IT, everything it needs and could want ?
Then you factor in the equaon of how energy (WHICH YOU ARE), has a half life of forever to a meaurement on a scale which WE have no measurement for yet, then you will conclude that you ARE simply... a part of something that NEVER ends, and was before you are NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.......
Believe......... BELIEVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Duh.
2007-05-17 13:32:27 · answer #5 · answered by foulweathercatcherman 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The way that helped me the most was "It's just like before I was born. That wasn't so bad!"
Honestly, I don;t like nothingness. I'd rather have heaven. But, no offense to my husband, I'd rather have Johnny Depp too. Life isn't about what is most appealing to me, but what most likely is true.
"An unexamined life is not worth living." True for atheism as well. If that is where your mind, conscience and reason draw you, then rest comfortably there. There aren't a lot of people that can stare into the abyss like that and...be ok with it.
And once you adjust yourself around the idea, it fits a little better. I remember waking up weeping, just thinking of all the knowledge there was to...know, and how precious and sacred was this brief time I had on this ball called earth.
2007-05-17 13:12:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
"Atheist" means "without theism", and is therefore spelled "ei" rather than "ie".
The thought of atheism seems depressing to you because you're not actually considering it honestly. Think about it: if you are dead, how is anything depressing? "You" are no longer; you don't feel anything, including depression about being dead. Nothingness is the ultimate comfort for me, as an atheist. I don't fear making the "wrong" decisions and suffering eternally; I am released in knowing that regardless of what I do or say, I will ultimately cease to exist, as will everything around me.
2007-05-17 13:17:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that their is nothing else to come means that I make more of my life now. I want to experience everything, as I know that there is no second chances. I'm not scared or worried by the fact that there is nothing to follow this life.
If the only reason you believe in something is so you can go to heaven, it is a bad reason. Death is inevitable. Live for the now, not the hereafter.
2007-05-17 15:34:17 · answer #8 · answered by Sarcasma 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It inspires me to enjoy this life even more, knowing that it's the only one I will have.
Mark Twain had a great quote about this -- hold on -- looking for quote. Dang, can't find it -- will let you know if I do, but it was along the lines of not being inconvienced before he existed, so it won't bother him that there is no afterlife.
Here is another one by Twain that you may like. "There is no other life; life itself is only a vision and a dream for nothing exists but space and you. If there was an all-powerful God, he would have made all good, and no bad."
2007-05-17 13:11:08 · answer #9 · answered by Kathryn™ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The idea of an afterlife gives a very nice feeling, but a feeling, even a happy one, doesn't make anything exist.
The idea of dying and ceasing to be aren't pleasant thoughts, but they are a reality of life. When I think of my end, I hope I can look back on my life and feel proud of my accomplishments.
2007-05-17 13:17:20 · answer #10 · answered by OMG! PANCAKES LOLz! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i agree. the idea of an anfterlife is comforting.
carl sagan said somehting along the lines of "we shouldnt perpetuate a false beleif just because it makes us feel better"
we have one life. if you need to die to find meaning in your life...well that your perrogative. but i beleive there is no afterlife so im going to make the best of this life.
were kindof thrown into life. its not a choice. you either deal with it mand make the best of it or you sit back and dream up magical places you can go AFTER you die...where apparently youll have a better...uh...life
besides, the idea of eternallyu groveling at the feet of a sadistic egomaniac isnt exactly the way id like to spend all of eternity.
2007-05-17 13:09:45 · answer #11 · answered by johnny.zondo 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋