Religion And The Afterlife

Alright, well I've wanted to do this for a while, and this thread is going to be all about my views about religion.

Well recently, I was talking to my friend about this whole discussion of religion. We are both pretty much atheists, even though we were both brought up by catholic families. Although I don't believe in Catholicism, I was forced to be confirmed a catholic. Luckily for my friend, he wasn't.

What happens to you after you die?

- Nothing, you are just nonexistent. You don't go on to another life, there is nothing more to be explored. Death is the end, and I'm afraid some of the people who are involved with religion get too wrapped up in the fact that they believe there is an afterlife.

Why spend your entire life, making sure you don't sin, or don't do anything wrong, just to get into this almighty afterlife, that you don't even know exists?

What if all you did, was waste your entire life, just to discover that there's nothing left after you die. Once you die, it's over.

I'm afraid people like Nuns, monks, and other forms of extremists are just losing precious time being alive, by wasting it on believing. Instead of believing so hard, why not just enjoy your life?

I guess I can't grasp the fact that there is a God, and that this almighty being created everything. We have PROOF that evolution has occurred, and do we have proof there is a God? No.

Why base your entire life on something that we don't even know exists? Why would you do that to yourself? Life is a beautiful thing, and some people just spend their entire life believing, trying to get into "heaven" when there is no such thing as heaven.

I asked one of my family members, my mother a simple question:

"So, Mom, in a perfect heaven, I would be there correct?"

And she responded,

"Well of course you would be."

Then I continued to think, well I don't believe in heaven, so how would I be there in her perfect heaven, I wouldn't be.

So what kind of heaven is this? Where family members and friends who don't believe in the same religion as you aren't there?

I'm not sure some of the people that believe in a religion realize simple things like this. It's mindless brainwash that people force into your brain, even if you don't necessarily understand the entire story or believe in it.

I have a friend, who is completely wrapped up in the idea of being a Christian, he believes he being good to 'God' and not upsetting him, and when I proceeded to ask him about the story of 'Noah and his ark' he tried to explain it to me:

"Well basically Noah got all the animals together on an ark"

That's all he could come up with, and I said:

"Well don't you have anything else about the story?"

Then he told me:

"I don't have to know the story, I just have to believe in it!!!!"

He continued to get upset, and I was so confused by what he said. I'm an atheist, and I cannot believe that some people actually have this state of mind. I can't fathom believing in something, that I don't know the whole story of.

Basically, I try to enjoy life during the moment, I'm not living just to be part of some afterlife that doesn't exist. That is just setting yourself up for failure, and I'm afraid most of the world who believes in God is doing so. Some of the people who are extremists and devote their lives, and their virginity to going to heaven, are just wasting their time. You only get one shot, and that one shot is your life, and if you continually try to make things work for you in the afterlife, just to be set up to die, and nothing happens to you, I look at that situation, and take pity on that person.

Of course, that person is now dead, and can't realize that there is no afterlife, but if there is no proof of this almighty being we call 'God' and there is no proof of any sort of Heaven or Hell, then how could you continue to believe this.

People during the early years of human life created religion to explain things they couldn't explain at that time, and I feel that it has carried into our current lives, and now that we have explanations for how these animals got here, or how these plants grew. We shouldn't have to still believe in a God if we already have these explanations. They just give people false hope.

I feel that people who say they've been spoken to by God is complete bullshit. God doesn't exist, and there is no proof that he has ever existed.

I guess I've exhausted my opinions, and I would just like to know some of your opinions of a higher power or being. I will gladly debate you until you realize that there is no God.

Seriously people, Atheism.

 

Thank you sir, thank you for that. I agree with everything you have said here, although I do believe there are some decent lessons and morals to be learned from the bible, about how you should live your life and interact with other people.

But I truly do believe there is no greater being, and that when you die, you are "done".

 

Once I read a book trying to convince you that intelligent design is a fact. I spent many hours just sitting there thinking and finally I drew a conclusion. IF God was real he would have the power to take as all to heaven if he "loves" us. If he doesn't he would be a sick fuck. If he does exist I wouldn't serve him. Besides why not just show yourself all mighty one! And don't try to hit me with the "free-will" shit. Our actions aren't random, we make decisions based on things around us and our genes. Period. Please argue with me on that, because that is fact. Hmmpf. Nor hit me with that "faith" shit, why not have faith for any other religion besides Christianity hmmm?? There is NO evidence for ANY religion. Why waste your life "serving" God when there is no evidence for that all signs point towards Evolution,etc. So what do you want to do? Waste your life playing Eeni-meeni-miny-moe with religions or facing evidence and STOP WASTING YOUR LIFE. Thanks, if anyone wants to argue, msn me [email protected], or post here =]

 

I agree with you 100%. The idea of people living an uptight life just for something they have been told of from birth is hard for me to grasp.

To me all we have is life. So, all we can do is enjoy life. If we are not happy we are missing the point of life. So many people, even non religious are missing the point. If you're not happy, you're nothing.

 

yep i completely agree as well, life is about enjoying the moments it provides you with, if you do something you don't enjoy then what's the point of living, what's the point of life if you're suffering each day, and you don't want to do what ur doin? what's the point of life? well, to have fun, and enjoy it while u can, and if you're not enjoying it, and if you're not enjoying the only chance god has given you, then whats the point of living it?

 

Well In Islam....We do believe in the afterlife. In Islam We believe life is a test in Order to get into the "real Life" the Afterlife. Say there is a god, Do you expect god to hold a huge sign Saying im Here. Ill Say it to you in another formula. Say You Have a Test (Life) And You Need To Pass The Test To Get into a, Lets Say A Private School (Heaven), You DOnt Expectmthe teachers to Walk Arround Holding A Sign telling you the anwsers. Such is life. God gives you all these Problem and only if you choose the right one will Get into Heaven.

Remember I Am giving You this On a muslims point of view.

Now you say people "waste their Life" Believeing in the after life. Well Do you Have to live like an idiot to enjoy life. You could Enjoy Life At the same time being sensible. You can go party at a Club, But do you really need to get drunk? You Could go Out with your Girlfriend And have a Good Time Or is a Good Time Getting Lucky.

I Am not a christian So i would not know alot about Nuns. But what i do know is they devote their life to god. They're not allowed to get married, or have sex. Well i find this ruining your life, but in islam Our Sheikh IS allowed to get married and have kids, Some even Have 4 wives.

I Dot Understand What Noah's ark story has to do with this, But Your friend must be ignorant., if He believes in it he should at least find out what happened. In Order to Believe in Something You Have to be at least know what the fuck you believe in.

As of the Matter of whether god exists is really up to the person. if he is open-minded and willing to accept that there is a god. Do you really believe god will hold a sign up in the sky saying im here. As I Said, God Doesn't need to be proved to exist, If You Believe in god then day by day you will see signs of his existance.

Cheers,
Magic Arrow

 

When it comes to after-life, I posted on another thread

Now one may ask, "what proof do you have of these other senses, or other effects of death." And to answer them, I have none. However, I believe this proof exists, we are simply unable to acknowledge it right now.

 

aaah magic arrow u lil bitch

i love ya


k bakc on topic:

I do not believe in a god, because I think god is just the easiest term of thinking to why everything is here.
How did the universe get created? God
Who created the humans? God
Now who created Strawberry Creme cheese (=D)? God (teehee)

And although the term is widely accepted among the world, I choose to believe otherwise. The theory of "god" was created by man in uncivilized times, and as time has moved on, the theory has broadened and it's followers have increased.

Therefore I choose not to believe in such a flawed theory. I do not know if god exists or not, and there is no solid proof on Earth that could prove otherwise.

 

Question

According to our definition of "logic" and "reason." Everything that existed/now exists is the result of a "cause." In that case, what is the first cause?

What caused the Big Bang? What caused the thing that caused the Big Bang? Clearly something must have been the "First Causer" or that which created something without being created, or caused, itself. This "First Causer" would have to exist outside of our concept of time. Something very difficult to grasp/prove with our definition of logic/evidence.

I refer you all to the Cosmological Argument

 

As you said yourself, after death there is nothing. If that's the case, said person would never realize it once the inevitable death occurs and would never experience that major disappointing feeling of knowing you've wasted your entire life. It kind of evens it out.

A lot of monks, nuns, priests, etc, gets solicitude of the idea. The simple thought that you're part of something greater than you, and that you will spend eternity in Heaven tends to be more than enough for a religious extremist to be happy. Wishful-thinking can even out the pleasure of bodily urges.

 

Here's why it's wrong:

Your theory says that God doesn't want us believe in him, while we know that according to the religion we have to believe in God to go to heaven. So if both these things are true God doesn't want us to go to heaven, how cruel is that?


Your bottom line pretty much killed mmy joy of writing this, but I did it for anyone who do believe this is true.

 

Refer all you like. To be honest I don't know more about this "first cause", if there was one, than you do. But don't expect me to go straight from there to believing in God just to get a simple answer. That is pretty much what religion is, the simplest way to answer a question that you don't know the answer to.

How was the Earth created? God
Where do humans come from? God
Why do people around the world speak in different languages? God
Why is there a rainbow? God
Why is it painful to give birth? God

The list goes on. I'll let the "first cause" question go unanswered until we can prove what it was.

 

But aren't even atheists God's children, whom he loves dearly? Why would he want to send me to hell if he loves me?:'(

 

Okey, I think this is very related to Do u believe in god topic .
Of course I believe in God and I'm Muslim. Magic Arrow said the point of view of Islam. Now , U said that u r Athiest which I find it very foolish. Can u tell me how we were created ? . Do u think we were evaluated along the years ? . I invite u 2 watch this video and then came to discuss.
Here
Now about afterlife . Let's have an example like Hitler : He killed thousands of ppl and then died . Do u think that is it ? . There is no Justice.How we are created ? I think religion gives me the only reasonable answer. Finally , I have read the whole Quraan and all I can say its a miracle and u can watch some videos in my Sig.
Note : If u were christian , then u weren't believing in God as Bible was changed to serve human purposes.

 

The video is over an hour long, summarize it so people who has an IQ that isn't in the single digits may point out its inherent flaws and logical fallacies.

To answer your questions in numerological order:
1) We weren't created, we evolved. It has been proven time upon time, in every single court case of Creationists vs Evolutionists in the tired old debate of "Should our children learn evolution or creationism in public schools?"
2) Do I think we were evaluated over the years? Who should valuate us?
3) Yes, I think that's it. There is no justice to the world, and sadly there's nothing we can do about it, except punishing criminals and the likes with our limited capabilities. Also, don't you think the pedophile Muhammed should be punished for molesting a 9-year old girl, beating his wife, holding slaves, killing infidels, waging war on other people for not accepting him as their prophet?
4) Look at answer 1.

That's the stupidest thing I've read on this site. Ever. >_<

 

I agree with you one hundred percent. In fact our life storys are
strickingly similar. I to was raised a Catholic and just recently confirmed
but now an Atheist.

 

these "signs" you speak of at the end about if you believe in "god" you will see them eventually , is what we in the real world call illusions of brainwashing. if people tell you something enough for so long eventually you are gonna believe it. But I believe atheists are just as ignorant as religious people. Honestly why try to stop someone from being religious, if you believe when you die nothing happens etc. how is that going to benefit you. all atheists are, are arrogant foolish people (true atheists anyways) that absolutely have to believe they are right 100% of the time. but think of it this way, as people above said. The bible and other religions teaches good things that stops people from growing up to be the next serial killer or rapist etc. although it doesn't stop all of them it does stop a lot of them. Now as I have said many times before I am a nihilist which is something like a atheist although we don't really care about other religions, we see it as we all have a life and there isn't a point in living it so why not do it to have fun etc. what ever makes YOU happy. If that means you on your knee's twice a week praying to a non existent "thing" then so be it.

Reasoning for it to be wrong. If god honestly existed and was suppose to take people "to the promised land" what makes them believe he would do so? If he exists he would obviously be a very cruel and merciless "god" you see every day hundreds or millions of people (even his great followers" die of unnatural causes. Why doesn't he stop this? because they didn't kiss enough ass? what about the infants who didn't even begin to live. what because they were not the proper size color to meet his specifications? To be honest it sounds like you are all a bunch of hypocrites, because I am assuming every single one of you who believe in god , believe that Hitler and all other dictators are wrong. Well that is just what your god is doing, congratulations.

 

we came in unknowing, we'll go out unknowing. It's illogical to believe in heaven, it's a happy thought but it's illogical. Religion is fear driven, only the fearless know there's no monster under the bed. Watch when you christians finally get to check under your bed only to find out there's nothing there.

-TPH

 

Firstly, assuming god exists, you must remember he/she is superior to you. Your feeble mind cannot begin to comprehend his actions. His actions/will could never be understand by our inferior means of reasoning. Furthermore, why should god constantly intervene in our pathetic nuances?

You say he is "very cruel and merciless" because he "doesn't stop" various catastrophes. So is it cruelty for letting us live our lives? For allowing our society as whole, not at the individual level, to learn from our own mistakes? For allowing our society to evolve, and protect ourselves from disease, famine, and any other calamity? No that is not cruelty, that is the supernatural ability of God to put himself/herself above all subjectivity. Unlike humans, god wouldn't be burdened with "emotions" and "irrationality." What you see as "wrong", god sees as necessary. Assuming god exists, as a human, you are below him/her. Questioning his/her actions is moot, especially when it comes to the question of whether he exists or not.

The fact is, one cannot disprove, beyond a doubt, the existence of god. Nor one can one prove, beyond a doubt, that god exists. So remember,

"To each his own."

 

^^^ too you my friend, why would "GOD" make us go through catasrophes to learn our lesson when we are destined to a perfect heaven?? what lesson are we really learning... oh yes that's right, that god does not exist. nothing further at the moment.