Ok, so im an atheist, its just that i feel hard to let go of the idea of heaven, for me imagining the idea of my loved ones dieing and never see them again is unimaginable, and when i think like this, it almost seems better to just believe, but then i remember that i just cant because i just don’t, how do you other atheists deal with this, because its depressing.
2007-05-31 18:12:22 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's more comforting to believe in a heaven, yes... but as Carl Sagan once wrote, "For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
2007-05-31 18:14:41 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 13⤊ 3⤋
I have often wondered the same thing. I'm not an atheist but I do acknowledge the possibility that there is no afterlife. I also find it depressing to think that I will never see my loved ones again. Just look at it this way, if life does end at death, then you will no longer exist therefore you wont even notice it. You won't have emotions or desires. You will be one with nothingness, and why should you fear nothingness?
2007-06-01 01:30:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I want to see my family again. I hope and trust that there is a heaven. I choose to believe there is one but I doubt sometimes. It all seems so bizarre, doesn't it? I would rather live my whole life as a Christian with the hope of someday being reunited with my family and be wrong than take a chance and turn God away and never seeing them again (forever). If there is a heaven, my whole family is waiting there for me and I will see them again. That gives me hope and peace. That is just how I feel about it - I hope you make the right decision. Only you can make this choice - no one else. It's a tuffy. Bless you.
2007-06-01 01:24:29 · answer #3 · answered by Kaliko 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In material world, our mind and memory could play a very important role in reasoning this matter. For example, religion is one of the products came from human mind or (philosophical thought) that deals with life after death and memory produces the capability to believe it.
In religious world, perhaps it is true so that everyone can have the answer for such matter. Is the answer sincere or true? No! Is the answer making you happy or comfortable? Yes!
Our unconscious mind finds reason to convince our conscious mind to believe it. In dealing with the death, our desire is much stronger than our reason.
Perhaps people want happiness more than logic!
I personally think the universe is where I will end up.
My molecules just will just diffuse to the atmosphere and the universe with my love one.
2007-06-01 01:34:05 · answer #4 · answered by Vector_The Positivism 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it certainly is depressing.
i am an atheist too and i certainly am not happy with the fact that, considering that religion is very unlikely too be true, my family, the ones i love, and myself will cease to exist after we die. the idea that all will be lost into nothingness is depressing. Personally, the way i try to look at it, is at least i recieved what i have so far in this life. something is better in nothing.
I would say that if it is something that really bothers you, try approaching christianity with a liberal progressive perspective. It makes it a lot easier to believe in a truly just god. I tell myself that if god is someway real, that surely all the obviously bull sh-- stuff in christianity is a test to see if people care more about true goodness, or are they more concerned with serving themselves and their own sense of piety.
2007-06-01 01:23:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since I have the power of my conviction, all of the things that seem to distress you do not bother me. I never have had the idea of heaven. I have been depressed, but not because of these particular issues. You either do or you don't. There is no such thing as a Sunday Atheist. You either are or you are not.
2007-06-01 01:20:59 · answer #6 · answered by Grendel's Father 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Joe, you're not an atheist if you admit the possibility that God might exist. You're an agnostic because you have not reached a solid conclusion either way. Only SOME agnostics believe it is impossible to ever know for certain.
Your beliefs should not be based on what is comfortable, however, but what is convincing.
How to deal with the possibility of no life after death? Work to not die at all! Let's get to work.
2007-06-01 01:14:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
There is an audio book by Julia Sweeny called "Letting Go of God" that I would definetely recommend to anyone who is having the kind of feelings you are right now. The book was so touching and funny. You can download it off of itunes. I can't remember how much it costs but it was worth it. Check it out :) You won't be disappointed.
2007-06-01 02:22:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything has a time and place. Nothing lasts forever. But if you were an atheist, where did you get the idea of heaven anyway?
2007-06-01 01:29:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look on the positive side. You won't have to spend eternity with all those people you despise . Can you imagine waking up on your 2,000 billionth morning to the same old faces. What do you say to them that you haven't already said 10 million times before. Mankind wasn't designed for eternity.
2007-06-01 01:35:26 · answer #10 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cherish my loved ones NOW, while I'm alive, because I know there's nothing after death. There doesn't HAVE to be more to life... there is just life and that's good enough. I won't see them again but I won't know that I'm not seeing them again because I'll be gone and eventually, so will they.
To me, it's not depressing at all. It's the natural order of things.
2007-06-01 01:25:27 · answer #11 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋