If I could convince you that there is no life after death?

Question

That when you died, that was it. Your faith in an afterlife or reincarnation was wrong, no fluffy cloud, no harp, no coming back as an Elephant or cow, or another person. If I could truly convince you that once you went into the ground that was the end.....

Would you live your life differently? Would you seize the day? Would you say your faith in an afterlife stops you from achieving as much as you may because you think you will be rewarded in the next life for being put upon in this life?

I'm not trying to undermine people's faith or mock any religion, I just want you to address this hypothetical situation in isolation.

I asked this in P&S, as the religion group would just argue that there is life after death and I was going to hell. I'd hope that the folks of P&S would be more able to make that leap of imagination.

I do not intend to undermine faith, same way as I would never try to convince anyone that they were wrong. It's just hypothetical, just a what if...

Answer 1

I would live my life differently....I would probably live it to the absolute fullest.....I won't think about making mistakes....Because karma won't affect me, right? Not that I'm a Buddhist or anything, but I believe that what you do in this life affects you in the after life.
I love this question. So deep.
And by the way - nice name;)

Answer 2

I'm not a religious person, but you could Never prove that there is no afterlife any more than a Catholic person could convince me that there is one.

Since death is Final, anyone that could testify as to what happens to our souls upon the exit from our bodies is unavailable to let us in on the secret.

What I extract from that is that no one could accurately say how they would behave differently, because we cannot hope to shake off that last glimmer of uncertainty.

You may find that people, without hope for an eternal reward, have Less inclination to achieve greatness here on Earth. If I "knew" that nothing I could do would truly matter--I might be inclined to commit crimes, or stay in bed all day, or indulge in gluttony. There's no reason to think people would be "better" if they had no faith.

Answer 3

I feel the same way. However, I believe religion has a useful purpose in society as a teaching tool of morality. Before the world as we know it became increasing literate religion served as a staple of society. The theologians used religion as a method of control for the masses and even discouraged literacy because if people could read for themselves the could think for themselves and that would lead to distention. The power of religion today in underdeveloped countries sways the masses to the beat of strong lead. This is apparent in the middle east. The advancement of society, science, culture, and technology pushes out the need for religion. It's quite simple to think of it as religion providing what society needs until the society outgrows it. Religion answers the countless questions the masses have, and if they ever doubt the answer they are instructed to have blind faith. Without religion an underdeveloped society would lack direction and some resemblance of structure. Some people living in developed society today still feel the need to have religion in their lives as a guide for life. This leads to hypocrisy and conflict with the state. The state should always allow religion to prosper within itself but use common sense judgment on issues and not let religion get in the way of prosperity for all.

Answer 4

I feel there isnt any real proof either way of there being an afterlife or there not being any afterlife. I always felt that any religion is fine as long as the person doesnt try to push it on others and their religion doesnt hurt anyone else. If you were to prove to me one way or the other,i doubt it would matter to me.I've done both a lot of good in my life and a lot of bad in which if their is an afterlife,there isnt anyway for me to change anything ive done already.I'd still just be another jerk waiting in line for my turn to "go".

Answer 5

I would sit down with you and listen to your points of view on life after death, I wouldn't argue with you or tell you your talking nonsense, I took the blinkers off a long time ago and like to see the whole picture these days and like to listen to other peoples opinions, I do believe in the afterlife, I'm a very spiritual person, my choice.

Answer 6

Those who have allowed others do their thinking for them would never take this leap of imagination with you. They would rather hold on to what they have been told. Your question is probably sacrilegious as far as they are concerned. It would make them actually exercise their freedom of thought beyond the confines of their mental laziness and self-imposed boundaries.
Would I live my life any differently if your hypothetical situation holds true? No, cause that's how I live my life now. I seize everyday as it comes.

Answer 7

As it stands, I'm not convinced either way as to whether there is life after death, but the truth is, we are unlikely to ever know, and I just don't believe there will ever be a way to prove it one way or another. So, would I live my life differently if you could convince me that this is the only one I get? No, I really don't think I would.

Answer 8

My present life style is out of my own making,thoughts and decisions which made me proceed towards set goals when I was young and in college. I was not then aware of any after life.The awareness of an afterlife came some three decades later Now , even if you convince me that there is no after life, how can I abandon the goals set much earlier ?I will,no doubt ,continue my present life style.

Answer 9

I find a lot of peace and hapiness the way I live my life with the faith I choose. I know it is a hypothetical, but I would most likely not change anything about my beliefs because I find so much hapiness the way I live now.

Good question.

Answer 10

Still the same way on how I live it by now...I don't really believe in reincarnation either because I have no feeling that I was born before., or maybe if that's true then., I'm brand new..lol...but maybe theres no life after this.,because no one had ever come back from their life before after our soul was taken..maybe we should just live our life to the fullest but there are many hindirance in this life..so better live your life on how you want to live it..that will still be our choice afterwards....

Answer 11

Describe - define a possibility evidence for existence after loss of existence None. Explaining - clarify how evidence could be convincing and how it could no longer No evidence is quite unconvincing. Discussing/comparing - communicate the subject concerns approximately how convincing evidence is very than itemizing the arguments Broadening - question why human beings could choose evidence of existence after loss of existence. what different subject concerns are there with it? because of the fact human beings are terrified of loss of existence, they're terrified of this international ending for them. they do no longer opt to quit, they opt to maintain happening and on.