my hubby is atheist. he believes that when he dies, that's it. life's over. you're dead and burried with no afterlife. he told me he would really like to believe that there's life after death, but he just doesn't. he's not hard wired that way, even though he was raised christian.
so, i'm curious, how many other atheists would like to think that there's something after death, even though you don't believe that to be the case? if you were able to believe in life after death, what do you think would it be like?
2007-08-27 04:35:53 · 43 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'd love to haunt the planet after I die... but I don't think about death that often, so I don't really care
I definitely enjoy being an atheist
2007-08-27 04:38:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 4⤋
I enjoy being atheist.
Regarding my belief in an afterlife: I am undecided on whether or not I think there is any form of afterlife. I am torn between the fact that I would like to and prefer to believe that there is a form of afterlife and that there may very well not be one. I refer to myself as a spiritual atheist and have no completely ruled out the possibility of afterlife.
When I tell someone I am atheist, the first thing they ask me is "Well, what do you think happens when you die then? Nothing?" I hate always answering "I don't know" but I don't. No one does, really. So I tell them that there is no way of knowing what happens when we die and that I'm not sure what I believe. I believe reincarnation is a possiblity or that possibly something happens or that maybe nothing happens. There is simply no way of knowing and I am at peace with that because either way, I know I am trying my best to lead a good life.
2007-08-27 04:41:42 · answer #2 · answered by Christy ☪☮e✡is✝ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sure it might be nice to have a heavenly afterlife to some extent. I wouldn't be so excited about it if it's really just an "unending hymn of praise" for god. That sounds more like hell to me.
Death is scary, but I would rather deal with the cold, harsh realities of life and death than to wander around, blissfully ignorant of what is to come. In the end, any hope of an afterlife is simply wishful thinking.
2007-08-27 04:45:48 · answer #3 · answered by rbc_commish 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion isn't a "hard wired" based belief. Everyone would like to believe there's something out there waiting for us when we die, it's a security issue. Knowing we'll always be taken care of after death, living eternally - it sounds like the life, so who wouldn't want to believe in it? The thing is, is that atheists know there isn't that extra element out there waiting for us and that when it's lights out, it's lights out. As nice as everything else sounds, it just doesn't fit.
I'm an atheist and I'm perfectly content with my life, what I've done, what I'm doing, and where I'll be in the next 10 years. When the time has come for me to pass, whether it's old in my death bed, or young saving another, then it's lights out for me and I accept that.
Of course, it's a wonderful thought to think that there could be something out there, going to take my pain away and then, finally, I can live in eternal happiness - but I realize that none of that is true, because true happiness doesn't come from being handed everything you could ever want or need and I'm sure many of us realize that when we look at our rich friends who have to make their own drama and problems to feel good. It's like the saying goes, "Without the sour, the sweet wouldn't taste as sweet," so the people who have nothing but sweet in their lives, have to create sour points.. but because they have to make the sour.. they just end up being miserable, having everything they want.
Happy people are people who are happy with what they have, who work hard and roll through the good and the bad, only to realize that the bad makes hte good seem all the better.
Why go to heaven when you're handed everything you need for a life of "eternal happiness"? On all levels - logical and theoretical, I'd rather die with everything I have now, than to look forward to eternal pampering.
2007-08-27 04:44:40 · answer #4 · answered by Alley S. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm an atheist and I do tend to think that one's consciousness in some form continues after physical death. I base that idea on the fact that nothing in the universe ceases to exist - it only changes forms. What form we might take after death, I don't know. And I believe that anyone who says he does know because he can regurgitate some tired old verses from a nonsensical book of superstition is a fool.
2007-08-27 04:54:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, as an atheist I believe what can be verified, not what I would like to be true. So even if I liked the idea, I couldn't just convince myself it was true because I wanted it to be true.
However, though the knowledge of my mortality was awful to me as a child, it isn't such a terrible idea any more. I remember how magical and full of wonder life was like as a child, and how it has become a routine now. Also, my most creative years are behind me. I will be content to one day retire this set of eyes and make room for a young and fresh pair.
2007-08-27 04:50:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
enjoy being an atheist? don't hate it or enjoy it. I am what I am. I enjoy it as much as I enjoy being right-handed.
What's to think about what happens after death? Dead is dead. Thinking about it is fruitless. I don't find myself wishing for an afterlife or anything.
If I were able to believe in the afterlife, I'd think I'd see all of my loved ones there. Besides that, nothing else matters.
2007-08-27 04:48:49 · answer #7 · answered by Darth Cheney 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It would be great not to cease to exist.
However there is no evidence for it.
Since there is no evidence for any life after death I can not give any meaningful comment on what it would be like. The FSM vision of beer volcanoes and stripper factories are just as valid as the Christian heaven and hell, which are just as valid as the Egyptian underworld.
It is precisely because there is no evidence to show any one version of the after life is more accurate than any of the other hundreds that are out there, that I do not believe in any of them.
Unless you have some evidence to support your version, other than wishful thinking.
2007-08-27 04:46:43 · answer #8 · answered by Simon T 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have no desire for another life; this one's been plenty. Sometimes I wish there were simple answers to everything in the world, but then that usually happens when I'm tired of thinking, and I really don't want to give that ability up.
Life after life would be pretty much the same as this one; religious descriptions just make me chuckle.
2007-08-27 04:41:31 · answer #9 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sometimes , i do hope for reincarnation with partial memory kept each time =P this way i'll nv get bored.
anyway , serious , lets assume you have lots of faith , you do all the nice nice things and never once sin , then you realise that there's no afterlife and wasted your lifetime not enjoying anything real nice.
but then again , if you go to heaven , then well good =) but for me , aint really good since i comes from a non-christian family , most probably based on the bible , they arent going to heaven and i don't think i am happy that way too.
come to think of it , if you were born in a christian family , of course you do want to go heaven and all of you get reunited. it's not the same for a convert. they don't get reunited , they just stay at one spot and envy . so why not spend the rest of eternally in hell with their family =x .
i am sure one day the engineers in hell will build a mega ice thrower.
2007-08-27 04:39:19 · answer #10 · answered by Curious 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I got to float around in the clouds with a group of cabana boys at my beck and call - sure I could stand living forever.
But I don't believe I have an immortal soul. And even if I did, the god of the bible is too cruel for me to worship, so I would never get into heaven.
2007-08-27 04:44:33 · answer #11 · answered by Nea 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋