Atheists,
Reading over a lot of answers to your questions, I get the idea that you have this perception that people that believe in an afterlife do not really try to make the most out of this life.
Why is that?
The idea that the person that believes in the afterlife, does not take this life seriously is just not true at all.
The truth is, is that it is exactly the opposite, almost. (Because I can't speak for most of the Christians. Just myself and the ones that I know)
I have been a Christian many years, and in my experience I have found that believers in a higher power really find much meaning in life, because we believe that we all have a purpose. God has given us a purpose and if we follow Him, He will point us down the right path. Not only that, but we know that we have something to live FOR. And that makes life much more meaningful. We have direction in our lives. So the perception that we do not take this life so serious because of a supposed afterlife is not true.
2007-10-20 07:13:57 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Now I am not saying that you all don't have direction or meaning in your life or anything like that. This is not an attempt to insult you or convert you.
I am merely pointing out that just like you feel you have meaning in your life,
we also feel that we have meaning in our lives,
and just because we believe in God and heaven doesn't change the fact that we are human, and we realize that life is precious.
It is just that we look at life as a gift from God.
2007-10-20 07:16:40 · update #1
I do appreciate your obviously sincere effort to refrain from insulting with your question. Thank you.
"The idea that the person that believes in the afterlife, does not take this life seriously is just not true at all.
The truth is, is that it is exactly the opposite, almost. "
I agree with you on the first half, but not the second. I do think that atheists often jump to the conclusion that Christians do not live enjoyable or meaningful lives. I know many Christians who do live full lives, and who clearly value life. Being a Christian does not imply that one devalues life.
However, there ARE quite a few Christians who do devalue life, and do so explicitly because of their Christianity. Several have insisted on exactly that, in that many words, right here in response to various questions. In addition, whenever a Christian posts something like "Is the end near?", quite a few Christians respond with something like "I certainly hope so!".
I cannot imagine an atheist saying anything like that, and certainly haven't seen it here.
I don't think that Christian beliefs in an afterlife necessarily cause people to devalue life. However, the overall effect of belief in the afterlife seems to be to move people towards devaluing life.
You wrote "So the perception that we do not take this life so serious because of a supposed afterlife is not true".
Apparently not for you, personally, but for many Christians it most certainly is true. I'm not simply inferring this from their behavior and my assumptions: many Christians will tell you so themselves, if you word your question neutrally.
2007-10-20 07:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Very well. I enjoyed your question. I think that anyone can draw meaning from this existence, regardless of their beliefs. But I often hear religious people say that a certain death (say a child or young person in an accident) was "god's time" for them, and that isn't the case. Sometimes they treat an afterlife as the icing on top of the cake, and today is a "before life" that they must relinquish some types of human enjoyment to save themselves from hellfire (see very old ideas like the seven deadly sins if you're interested in the historical roots- no enjoyment of food, sex, money, etc).
And there is the concept to control the earth yet to "be not of the world," as the evangelicals put it, as if all the beauty around us were a plague unfit for humanity, which is never the case. Ann Coulter, who does not represent most citizens (but who has a strong following), claims that Christians should be able to "rape the earth," as given to Adam in Genesis. What type of world do these people leave to our children? Life is inescapably precious in a universe with a trillion galaxies, and light years of distance between the closest stars. Some people consider this world "corrupted by sin," and do not make the most of being a part of it.
Of course, these are my generalizations and will not apply to everyone. I am glad that you find purpose in your own life, and a belief in an afterlife doesn't reduce this at all. Also note that I believe I have a purpose -- I make my own, alongside my family, it just doesn't require belief in some continued existence after death.
NH Baritone: I often notice the same thing. I wonder if it is a sort of cognitive dissonance: Outwardly believing in a theistic system, while the subconscious recognizes the permanence of death and the frailty of life. Interesting.
2007-10-20 07:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in an afterlife, but I sure do believe in making the most out of this one. Ya know what I don't believe in? Following a higher power. If there really was one why would he let all this crazy stuff be happening ie: child molestation? Now if you tell me it is all in His plan? HA come on if your God plans stuff like that I am so glad I do not believe in Him. For everything you are asked that you have no answer for it is always because it is the way God wanted... or it is in His plan!!! What a joke. We all control our own lives, not any one or thing else. I am responsible for what happens not God. It just makes no sense at all. If you can tell me why He lets such horrific stuff happen and not just say it is His plan then I may think twice, but no Christian ever has.
2007-10-20 07:21:52 · answer #3 · answered by sandy p 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ae you saying you live just to keep living? And your purpose in life is to live forever? Isn't that just the same as living for as long as this life, except you don't keep on living? Who would want to be the same person for forever? What after that? I have a purpose in life, we all do. That purpose is to change the world for the better, or worse. I want to change the world for the better. I know life is real, none of us know if there is an afterlife. I'll live for what I know is real, I can do nothing more as far as figuring out if there is an afterlife than just wonder.
No one can say for sure if there is an afterlife. Why live for something you can't even be sure of. This life is worth a lot. I'm going to do everthing I possibly can do in life. Are you just going to hope your whole life?
2007-10-20 07:31:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You were very careful not to be argumentative in this question. I thank you for that.
I am not one who believes in the afterlife that you do, but I believe it is possible (perhaps not likely, but at least possible) that reincarnation is real.
But no matter what you believe about what lies beyond the grave, you should try to make the best of this life. If nothing whatever is beyond, no harm. If something more, then presumably it is something which is at least partly based on a punishment or reward for how well you used the life you are currently in. It may be heaven or hell (which I don't believe, but presumably you do), or it may be another opportunity to improve your spiritual development. If so, the better you used what opportunities you had in this life, the better off you will be next time. Otherwise there is no point to reincarnation (or to the fate you expect) and no reason to differentiate between that and those who expect nothing whatever beyond the grave.
I may be expressing this badly, but my point is as above: no matter what you believe, it is sensible to do your best here and now.
2007-10-20 07:30:08 · answer #5 · answered by auntb93 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you somewhat, but must offer the caveat that I live in Mississippi, where it's more important to be seen at church than the rest.
The Christians I hang with are part of the Stewpot Community Services, a multifaith group that helps the poor with food, clothing, education, afterschool care (including a computer center) and finding jobs. Other members are atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Pagans, you name it. Though the organization was founded by two pastors, they are/were not opposed to any help offered.
Another thing I like is that the group does not evangelize. There is a chapel and if you wish to attend, fine. If not, fine.
So these Christians have a purpose to their life. On the flipside, right around the corner from me is the rabidly rightwing DaySpring Church.
2007-10-20 07:27:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Notice how you said "we BELIEVE....we all have a purpose" You just denounced your own religion. I am neither an atheist nor an agnostic. I just do not care. I am not going to believe in something that was written down thousands of years ago, and passed on and on, and edited many times, and calls itself a "story" nonetheless, and live my life by its "word". Think about it: if I started a religion called The Religion of King. In King, I 'believe' that the car,Christine, in Stephen Kings book Christine, is God and I am going to live my life by the cars word, wouldnt you think I'm crazy? I know what your going to say, Christine was a fiction "story". Well isnt that what the bible is, the "story" of Christ. I think that any extreme is bad and disabling. When someone can only see one side of something, they become blind and ignorant. They are unable to enrich themselves with both sides, and therefore are unable to even understand any other belief other than their own. Religions are like nationalists, they see nothing or no one because their own. Everyone else is wrong, they are always right. End of story. Religious people are on a seperate reality, that only goes in a straight line, but ends at the same place; death. We all die. Are you honestly going to tell me that when we die, we transfer bodies or the such, and live in this mystical place called the "afterlife"? I think the afterlife is nothing but a fallacy. It gives people a reason to live. Why cant people just live to live. Work hard because it feels good to produce, not because a f**king holy "ghost" says you should. Be kind to people(most religious folk dont follow this rule) because you would want them to be kind to you, not because it is a commandment written by another fictional person. Do good in your life because it feels good. Be a good person, because it sets the example.Americans especially, ALWAYS need to have something at the end of the road that they are working towards: money, promotion,big screen tv, fame, fortune. Why cant we all just live out our essentially meaningless lives, and get on with it. I dont hope that this rant changes anyones mind, I just hope that people can atleast understand. Thats whats wrong with religions, it dishibits your ability to even hear other opinions that counter your own beliefs.
2007-10-20 07:29:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The perception may come from some christians asking how atheists can have any meaning in their lives if they do not believe in an afterlife.
I pointed out the fact that since I do not believe in an afterlife, this life (for I have only one) is infinitely more valuable to me, conveying that much more meaning to it that I live it fully to its utmost.
Conversely, if those that believe in an eternal afterlife, how can this life be of any significance? This life would seem like a drop in the bucket of eternity. So it would seem rational to think, with that mindset, that this finite lifetime is inconsequential compared to eternity. If so, how can an inconsequential life have any meaning?
Do you see my point?
2007-10-20 07:22:23 · answer #8 · answered by CC 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
To get the most out of this life you have to live it. That means loving, traveling, raising children, fighting, heartbreak, crying, pain and friendships. Whether one is a Christian or an atheist these experiences are the pretty much the same.
I'm sorry you have come to think atheists bite.
2007-10-20 15:31:58 · answer #9 · answered by Michael da Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all feel a purpose in life, regardless of if we believe in a god or not.
We ignore the fact that we exist to pay taxes to support our leaders whims, and wars.
If there is a god, he doesn't own us like our own governments do, and we are silly to think that we can ever be free.
If I was to worship GW Bush, would that progress my future?
Is your god any better?
I am purely suggesting that you don't actually understand or even know your god, but if you believe in yourself, or the power of change, you can actually do it.
Idols have been around for thousands of years.
I would appear primitive if I worshipped the sun, wouldn't I?
At least I can see the sun and understand it.
As you, I am guessing, understand your god.
In my opinion, there is no afterlife....
Thank a God for that.
Make the most of every day, and believe in yourself.
-Bless you
(That was mean't without any religious concepts, but from the heart, so please do not take offence).
2007-10-20 07:52:53 · answer #10 · answered by Mike D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋