Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave G on November 24, 2009 at 4:51pm

Joyce,

I'm getting it from actual comments that religious people have made, both to me and other people. I know perfectly well that not all, or even most, religious people consider this life to be worthless, but I've run into enough people who honestly believe that this life is just a preliminary and that any amount of suffering and misery can be excused or rationalized as long as it is for the goal of attaining the desired 'next life' that I'm fairly sure it is not just the occasional mental aberration. And the mindset still boggles me. It's not even the ones who assume that atheists, not having a deity to grant our lives meaning, must think that life is worthless, it's the ones that claim that their religion teaches that this 'flawed' life is unimportant compared to the next one.

Religion was created, as far as I can tell, as an attempt to explain what people did not understand. Our ancestors did not know that lightning was caused by ionic buildup and discharge in the atmosphere, so they invented spirits or gods or other mythical beings who were responsible. They didn't know why it would rain, so rain gods were invented, and rituals to appease these unknown beings were developed in an attempt to control when the rains would come.

Later, religions expanded, adding social and political control to their repertoire. The leaders, who supposedly could communicate with the gods/spirits/ancestors/demons, used this to solidify their control.

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Permalink Reply by Joyce on November 24, 2009 at 5:17pm

Well said! For religious folks, the afterlife gives meaning to suffering. They have to explain it somehow, don't they? And gosh yeah, I forgot about ancient societies trying to explain and rationalize nature and behavior, too. What imaginations they had! :)

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on November 25, 2009 at 10:09am

Storytelling is one of humanity's strongest traits. :)

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Permalink Reply by jam on January 24, 2010 at 10:11am

Our religion doesn't shout for 'suffering' for the sake of after life... It would not be right to generalize that all religions are based on 'ancient societies' dealing with unscientific truth...

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on November 25, 2009 at 10:10am

Yeah, the rapture ready crowd really highlights why some people describe Christianity as a death cult. They're not only desiring death for themselves, but for humanity as a whole.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on November 25, 2009 at 11:02am

Like a stereotypical evil villain, no less. Strange that they never make that connection. It is so....obvious.

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on November 25, 2009 at 11:16am

It's probably tied into their eternal afterlife belief. After all, they aren't really advocating the destruction of humanity, they're just moving them from one state (alive) to another (post-alive).

It's like they are mad scientists, without the science.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on November 25, 2009 at 11:21am

Hehe. Sad, but true.

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Permalink Reply by jam on January 24, 2010 at 10:16am

with the modern life, certain scientists and scholars are studying the science behind the holy books.
Being ancient books, it can be expected that these books are fiction and superstitious. However, there were findings and evidences concluding various statements in the holy book to be scientific such as explaining how life started, how it rains, and how a baby is formed... hmmm...
Not all theists don't use their brains... Although i admit, that many are not.
XD.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on January 24, 2010 at 11:15am

However, there were findings and evidences concluding various statements in the holy book to be scientific such as explaining how life started

Really? I don't recall ever seeing anything about abiogenesis or chemistry in any holy books that I am aware of. Perhaps you could elaborate on this?

Permalink Reply by Wendy on November 25, 2009 at 12:36am

Definitely going to do the will thing (in fact, literally JUST told my husband we need to do this). It really isn't a big deal to me what my parents want to do with my remains. Like I said, if it brings THEM comfort, I find no offense in them giving my remains some official ceremony. After all, I'm dead... what do I care?

And they're well aware of my atheistic tendencies... had many a debate with my father about it.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Turnipseed on January 24, 2010 at 12:06pm

Am I wrong in thinking that a will is read weeks after someone dies? If that is so, maybe putting your wishes about how your remains are handled should be in some other document which would be available immediately after your death. I don't know what that document would be but I'm betting someone on this site would know. Please, anyone out there knowledgeable on this subject? There seems to be many of us who wish our remains to be used for the benefit of others.

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