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Permalink Reply by Donald S. Chase on August 2, 2011 at 11:28am

When you die, you become a memory to all those who knew you. Those who liked you will put you in heaven. Those who did not like you will put you in hell. Once there is no-one left on earth who remembers you, you cease to exist. My epitaph will read, "All you who pass here speak my name, that I might attain immortality".

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Permalink Reply by Okinawa R. on August 2, 2011 at 12:21pm

My epitaph will read, "All you who pass here speak my name, so that I might attain immortality".

 

 

 

i like that...i might steal it for my tomb later on...lol

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on August 2, 2011 at 12:46pm

I think the atheist perspective offers something truly unique in answer to this question.

 

Working on the conclusion that there is no afterlife, we have only this life to become the person we want to. There is no "be an asshole, go to confession, and you still get eternal heaven after your body dies."

 

Second, it provides motivation to be the best person we can. Organized religion has a habit of idealizing its poorer constituent while showering the leaders with lavish luxuries. It is a control mechanism that preys on poorer, less educated people. Barring some statistical outliers, people always want to improve their own situation. Knowing that now is the time, the only time, to do it motivates like nothing else.

 

Third, it makes this life a more special experience. This is life. There is nothing before or after for our "consciousness." This can be an intimidating thing to accept when transitioning from a religious background. Belief that everyone you have ever known is still around somewhere helps a lot of people deal with death. But that does not mean that it is a physically correct explanation of the things that happen. I have argued that it is actually a less healthy way of dealing with death. In my experiences, religious ceremonies are aimed at easing the pain, rather than dealing with the issue of death. This was the hardest part of the atheist transition for me and probably several others, but you pretty much have to rationalize it away just like the rest of the BS.

 

We're here if you need more support!

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Permalink Reply by Boatman on August 2, 2011 at 1:15pm

I'm paraphrasing here, as it has been several years since I read it, but I belive it was Robert Heinlein (corrections invited, please) who wrote

 

" I don't know that there is an afterlife. I don't know that there isn't an afterlife.  Eventually, we all find out, so in the meantime, whay not enjoy life to the full."

 

Words to live by.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on August 2, 2011 at 3:43pm

The same that happened before birth: Pretty much nothing. :)

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Permalink Reply by 3equ3cp1fsw0n on August 2, 2011 at 3:51pm

Yeah, I at least wish there was one (an after-life) where Hitler could be made to watch each and every minute of suffering he cause each and every man, woman, and child. At least give me that. Oh wait. Here is an even better idea. He could be made to feel each and every minute of suffering he caused. Yeah. let him watch it first, knowing, that after he has seen everything he caused, he can then be made to feel it.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on August 2, 2011 at 5:51pm

I always say if there was a hell - someone like Khamenei and Khomeini and other brutal tyrants and genocidal maniacs deserve to rot in hell forever - but at the same time - I am glad there is no heaven or hell. :) 

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Permalink Reply by Michael Drelling on August 2, 2011 at 4:48pm

Personally I have been pronounced dead twice, so I know that there is nothing at all afterwards. You do however see a white/yellowish light but it surrounds you it's not like a light at the end of a tunnel that you have to get to. It's painless and you have no idea it happened and time is gone and there's zilch. It actually made me more at ease with the final end of it all though. I drowned once and was dead for 2 mins then was brought back and was in a car accident where I was pronounced dead twice in one night! (I only consider that one death though since it was during the same incident.

 

I used to be deathly afraid of dying, and am still not exactly okay with it. I like living and all so that's where I still get hung up on. 

 

I'd like to believe what the Bhuddist's  think and your soul just keeps on keeping on so to speak but there's no way to know that for sure. 

However Nikola Tesla did find those other dimensions you speak of so there's that too.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on August 2, 2011 at 5:52pm

Wow...how long ago was that?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Drelling on August 2, 2011 at 6:42pm

First time was when I was 16 the car accident I was 17. It was a rough year haha.

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Permalink Reply by Meghan McWilliams on August 2, 2011 at 5:55pm

It is weird that we won't be here one day. We won't even be able to know that we are not here or that we ever were. It's odd for sure. I just think of it like going to sleep, but with out dreams and you never wake up.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on August 2, 2011 at 6:34pm

I feel the same way.

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