Is the hope of eternal life just the result of an immature fear of death?

Question

What is the point of "eternal life," really? Why do you want to be around forever, and why does God want you to be around forever? Do you really think you're so special and interesting that the cosmos needs you to sit around the place from here to infinity?

Be honest, aren't you just afraid of death and invented this "eternal life" business as a way to get around it, and isn't it pretty worthless solution if you have to die to get there anyway?

Answer 1

I will agree and disagree, though I'm not a theist at all.

I agree that no beliefs held out of mere convenience are worthwhile. I also agree that we are most likely not needed by whatever created us (I'm operating from the perspective of a believer).

However, not everyone who believes is doing it out of fear. Be careful with your accusation, as it is equivalent to some of their own: "You don't believe because you fear responsibility and God!" or "You actually believe, but don't want to admit it!" We know this to be false; thus, it is necessary to apply the same understanding of ourselves to them. That is, we should try to see from their perspective before judging so quickly. If you want to attack something, attack hypocrisy.

Compassion and understanding. Let's try to not accuse others in such a general fashion. After all, we cannot know another's mind fully, and we non-believers don't like to be judged or interpreted by the believers, either, do we?

Edit: To respond further, I'm not sure if fear of death can be labeled as immature. People attribute different meanings to life and death and have different values. For example, someone may want to constantly seek knowledge, but if he dies, he cannot continue this.

If I were FORCED to make a decision about your last question, as a skeptic, I would say that ancient people came up with the idea that there is something more, something to move towards, in order to get past the concept of death. But is this model of self-comfort much different from anyone else's? In some ways, the nihilistic viewpoint can comfort someone; but there is not necessarily proof that we will just become "worm food."

Again: understanding others is key.

Answer 2

I believe that any claim to "know" what becomes of us when we die is immature.
Having said that, my answer would have to be "not necessarily."

The legitimate question is whether our consciousness (or some part of it) requires the living brain to exist. Nobody knows.
If it does not, then is it bounded, and if so, how? If something of us does continue beyond physical death, the idea is that this something would be a great deal more durable than our physical forms were.

Again, anyone claiming to "know" the answer to this kind of question should be treated with great skepticism.
For many people, I'm sure you're right, their hopes are driven by fear. On the other hand, great mysteries inspire curiosity that can simply be curiosity and accompanying speculation - even if the mysteries should happen to portend the utter annihilation of our individual selves.

Edit: k716: There is a difference between knowledge and belief that many religious people seem unwilling to acknowledge. My response is about the willingness to admit the possibility that what you believe isn't necessarily what is. It is immature to assert fact without evidence - it smacks of fear and denial, which is exactly what prompted the asker's question in the first place, I'm sure.

Answer 3

It's not that I think I'm so special and interesting. I just want to be around my friends eternally. I don't think that's so bad. I mainly believe in reincarnation though. If you loved someone you wouldn't want to part from them now would you? If you and you friends are saved or whatever then I guess supposedly you'd be around them eternally.
Why did God create us in the first place? Who knows maybe he's lonely sitting up in Heaven by himself. And no, I'm not afraid of death. I just hope the people I loved that died didn't just die and that I'll be able to see them again whether it's in the next life or in Heaven. Maybe when you die you can see things that you can't when you're only physically alive. Who knows. I don't think it's immature though.

Answer 4

That's actually an ignorant (i.e., uninformed) question. Obviously you don't read the Bible enough to know about Christianity or eternal life.

Everyone is all going to die, whether we are Christians, Atheists, Muslims, Satan-worshipers, Hindu, etc. I'm sure some people fear death. I do....well, I worry about the dying process -- the pain, the circumstances, etc. But I'm not afraid to die. As great as this life is, Christians know* that we are going on to an even better place afterwards. (And God wants us -- everyone -- with him eternally in Heaven. He told us in His word.)

*EDIT: Referring to the answer above mine, no, we do not know for sure since we haven't been there yet, but we have faith and believe that God and Heaven exist, and we will be going there after we die. (Same as no one can know for sure that God and heaven do not exist; it's just what you believe.)

Answer 5

Everyone wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die - ever heard that song. That is the problem. NO ONE WANTS TO DIE.

Humans hate to think that death cannot be conquered hence the hope of eternal life. ha ha!!

Answer 6

If eternal hope was due to fear of death then all that christianity would not work. Cuz the bible says it is appointed to man to die once. I am that special and I guarantee you are too!

Answer 7

Ding ding ding, you win a cookie.

Answer 8

No. there has to be something better then this life as we know it
or life is in vein and purposeless....

Answer 9

Why are YOU SO AFRAID OF ETERNAL LIFE pAL....IS IT YOUR MISSION TO MAKE EVERYONE BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO REJECT THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE?

tHINK ABOUT IT.

Answer 10

I disagree with your assertions.