Why do so many people believe in an afterlife?

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MCalavera
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25 Jan 2013, 4:26 pm

ripped wrote:
MCalavera wrote:
Logically speaking, one can still ascribe a purpose to life even if he doesn't believe there's anything for him after death.

For me, it's worth living because I like the good feelings I've experienced in my life especially with people I've grown to like and with interests and hobbies I've come to enjoy. All thanks to the "gift" of life. And so I wouldn't want to let go of the good feelings so easily just because there's no objective point to living.


So you argue as a pure hedonist?


Depends on what you mean by hedonist.



ripped
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25 Jan 2013, 8:45 pm

wornlight wrote:
ripped wrote:
Except the nagging inescapable feeling that there must be something more...

what is this 'nagging inescapable feeling' but desire? the feeling of not wanting to want. let it be its own fulfillment, and find heaven here and now.

It doesn't require even the slightest effort of desire.



ripped
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25 Jan 2013, 8:47 pm

MCalavera wrote:
ripped wrote:
MCalavera wrote:
Logically speaking, one can still ascribe a purpose to life even if he doesn't believe there's anything for him after death.

For me, it's worth living because I like the good feelings I've experienced in my life especially with people I've grown to like and with interests and hobbies I've come to enjoy. All thanks to the "gift" of life. And so I wouldn't want to let go of the good feelings so easily just because there's no objective point to living.


So you argue as a pure hedonist?


Depends on what you mean by hedonist.


"For me, it's worth living because I like the good feelings I've experienced in my life" - MCalavera.



MCalavera
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25 Jan 2013, 9:07 pm

Don't we all?



ripped
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25 Jan 2013, 9:09 pm

MCalavera wrote:
Don't we all?

No.



MCalavera
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25 Jan 2013, 9:12 pm

Either way, I've provided a good answer to the original question.



ripped
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25 Jan 2013, 9:15 pm

MCalavera wrote:
Either way, I've provided a good answer to the original question.

You provided a question.



MCalavera
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25 Jan 2013, 9:23 pm

Yes, but before that, I answered a certain question asked by either you or someone else (can't remember now).



ripped
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25 Jan 2013, 9:28 pm

MCalavera wrote:
Yes, but before that, I answered a certain question asked by either you or someone else (can't remember now).

Oh.



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25 Jan 2013, 10:43 pm

Jaden wrote:
So if you don't belive in Hell, where would the evil in the world go? What about evil people? If everyone would go to the good afterlife, what's to stop people from causing havoc in an evil way there? Why would that be any different/better than earth?

two words- "outer darkness."

think of it as akin to the dunce cap in the corner for bad boys who've gone on around the bend. there they stay until they can chill out a bit.



Kait
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26 Jan 2013, 12:21 am

Who's to say that an afterlife doesn't exist? I don't think that's a delusional belief. It's an understandable hope as I fear oblivion,myself. Nothingness is such a scary thing to imagine.

I don't think we can prove whether a God or any gods (and goddesses) exist or not, and I think it's even harder to prove whether souls exist or not. Yes, many atheists, many scientific people, say that they already have proved that there's no such thing as God, and some say, they proved that there's no such thing as souls. The theory of evolution, for example, proves that Adam and Eve weren't the first and only people out there, like the bible says, and it also proves that God didn't create the world in 7 days like the bible says. But I don't even think that proves whether God exists or not, as I don't think the bible is meant to be taken literally. It's more of a legend, or a metaphor. And even if Christianity isn't the true religion, there still may be such thing as spirits or an afterlife out there.

Many religious people take their beliefs too seriously. They act like they somehow KNOW that their God(s) exist(s). Some people make laws based on their religion, they oppress other people, suppress scientific facts, and start wars, because of their somewhat delusional beliefs. It's really stupid because if they can't proof the existence of their God(s), why should they let their religion interfere with other peoples' lives. Shouldn't it be a more personal thing? However, I think atheists take their anti-religiousness too seriously as well. Why can't everyone just learn to accept each other and keep their believes personal? I hate any kind elitism or narrow-mindedness. I really do.

Personally, I don't know how to describe my religious/spiritual beliefs. I definitely can't just describe them in one word. I guess I'm agnostic but I'm also a Christian, and I believe in many other things. Agnostic = not knowing; it doesn't mean not believing. And I consider myself agnostic because you really CAN'T know anything unless there's proof, and even if there is proof, how do we really truly know that "proof"isn't some kind of delusion as well? Some people just think they know and that's what causes problems. Personally, I'm open-minded to almost all religions. I think every one of them has at least something to offer. I stick with Christianity mostly because I believe in Jesus's teachings, as in forgiveness, empathy, being nice to those who are looked down upon in society, etc. but that's a belief, not a fact. I sort of believe space is, like, god, actually and I believe in astrology. I believe there's some bigger picture out there that connects every religion, every non-religion, everything that goes on in our world, as one. I know this probably doesn't make much sense to you...it's hard to explain...

But you know, heaven and hell could very well be other planets that we get reincarnated to. I'd like to believe in heaven, and I don't like to believe in hell...but you know, we're never sure of what's out there, exactly.


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MCalavera
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26 Jan 2013, 12:31 am

Kait wrote:
Who's to say that an afterlife doesn't exist? I don't think that's a delusional belief. It's an understandable hope as I fear oblivion,myself. Nothingness is such a scary thing to imagine.


That says a lot in my opinion.



Bezeone
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26 Jan 2013, 10:41 am

Declension wrote:
The obvious answer is: "Because they like the idea."

But this raises the next question: "Why do so many people believe in a terrible afterlife?"

Seriously, if I was going to believe in an afterlife in order to make me happy, it would be a much better afterlife than the standard Christian one.

Here are three ways in which my imagined afterlife would be better than the Christian afterlife:
(1.) There would be no Hell - everyone would go to the good afterlife.
(2.) There would be lots of fun activities to do, not just praising God all day.
(3.) You would be able to end your existence whenever you wanted to.


About #1: I think the second death will be that, a real second death. After that, the guilty are non-existant. No hell, but there will be flames...but how long one will burn depends upon there sins.
About #2: I think we'll be doing more than just praise the Lord. (We'll have eternity for that. :lol: )