It's funny how your almost never born atheist, you become atheist. I personally think the whole religion thing is far fetched. Why cant we just be dead after we die? Why does there HAVE to be an afterlife? Dont get me wrong i respect others decisions, I just don't believe in it, who's with me? I'm going to be some grass fertilizer one day And home to some maggots + worms.
Well, if you want something i.e. a new car, you don't sit there and say "okay, I'm waiting for the car to show up" and then once a car doesn't show up, you conclude that cars don't exist because you couldn't find one.
Not a very good analogy considering asking is all that is stating as being needed. Not to mention I've done plenty of active looking.
I, however, look at it rather the opposite. I find the idea of an eternal existence depressing. If there truly is an eternal life waiting for us after this one, then this life is even MORE pointless. What meaning can one ascribe to a few decades in the face of eternity? What can one do now that is going be of any importance when compared to an eternal existence?
What would you think of an eternal life, not a second one somewhere else, but this one here, where you could see how this world develops and constantly contribute small parts to it over time? This would be, personally, the best way of eternal life I could imagine, although it is still confronted with problems; for example, what if a meteorite hit you and roasted your body? But all in all, I tihnk you're right. All in all, death is what really makes life worth living (apart from the small pleasures of life).
Explanation, please? If we only have now, and we live short lives of only about 100 years, in a world that is obviously flawed, and this is the best it's going to get, then why would you have anything to look forward to? And if you die,and nothing happens, then you just... cease to exist, I guess. And if that's just going on forever, or until time ends, then isn't mankind simply on a freefall to oblivion, attempting to keep the pain away long enough to forget his imminent death. If death is the end, then life is a line, with a beginning and an end. That, in my opinion, sounds kind of depressing.
You believe that you NEED to believe in God to have a purpose. You believe that you NEED to look forward to more. You assume that you NEED to believe in an afterlife otherwise you will become depressed because there's just nothing. But understand that YOU NEED to understand that it's perfectly possible to live a life believing there is nothing after death.
I don't want to discuss how it's possible, because you seem to be more stumped on "if" it's possible, and here you see many living examples.
It baffles me how some people just cant picture nothing after you die. I just imagine everything going black, but of course you would not know that it's black because your dead.
Is it really so hard? Maybe instead of hoping to live forever in an afterlife, you can be content knowing your children will continue as you and their kids and so on.
I think everyone is born agnostic. RIght in the middle, not on either end of the spectrum.
Your part right, agnostic just means without knowledge of spiritual things. So an infant who doesn't believe because of their lack of knowledge would be an agnostic atheist.
It baffles me how some people just cant picture nothing after you die. I just imagine everything going black, but of course you would not know that it's black because your dead.
Actually the concept of nothing is a hard one to grasp given the lack of context we can put it in. Even the way you imagine it is not correct.
2nd objection: Why would God magically make life purposeful?
That's actually a pretty good question. If we look at the idea of God and us from the perspective of a parent and child, then which has the more meaningful life? The child who never leaves home and stays under the protection of his parents remaining under their rules, or the one who leaves home and the protection of his parents and their rules, striking out on his own to do his own thing and make his own rules to live by?
It baffles me how some people just cant picture nothing after you die. I just imagine everything going black, but of course you would not know that it's black because your dead.
Basically, before you was born.
Why the hell not?
Even the way you imagine it is not correct.
Completely true. Black is the lack of power (aka light), and thus is within the spectrum we can see. If we're dead, there is nothing we can see. Darkness shouldn't be confused with what we can see.
That's actually a pretty good question. If we look at the idea of God and us from the perspective of a parent and child, then which has the more meaningful life? The child who never leaves home and stays under the protection of his parents remaining under their rules, or the one who leaves home and the protection of his parents and their rules, striking out on his own to do his own thing and make his own rules to live by?
I kinda think the one who seen the Mummy and lives by "Be ready" is the best.
1st objection: And there MUST be a point of life because...
Well, if there's no purpose to life, then there is no reason for life. Therefore, following that string of "logic", we should destroy everything we possibly can.
That's actually a pretty good question. If we look at the idea of God and us from the perspective of a parent and child, then which has the more meaningful life? The child who never leaves home and stays under the protection of his parents remaining under their rules, or the one who leaves home and the protection of his parents and their rules, striking out on his own to do his own thing and make his own rules to live by?
Okay, so you're saying that you should do whatever you want with no regards to laws, etc? The reason children stay under the rules of their parents is BECAUSE THEY'RE SAFE THERE. If, as a child, you decided to just ignore all instruction, and do your own thing, would you have been a better person? Freedom is not always the best, especially the fake freedom that some people think comes from disobedience to rules. What's better: to live safely under the rules, or die out in the chaos of "freedom from rules"?
2nd objection: Why would God magically make life purposeful?
God gives us purpose Because he created us in order to worship him and glorify his goodness and generosity for giving you life. plus to be happy with him for all eternity in heaven. That is how God gives life purpose.
I think everyone is born agnostic. Right in the middle, not on either end of the spectrum
I agree but would add "with a tendency towards Religion." Because all ancient and modern cultures had (and have) religion. It is natural for one to question his purpose and how all thing came to be and then attribute it all to a greater and all powerful source or sources (like the Greeks, the Romans and Hindus).
Well, if there's no purpose to life, then there is no reason for life. Therefore, following that string of "logic", we should destroy everything we possibly can.
. . . What? No. Non sequitur. Lack of a purpose =/= need for destruction.
It baffles me how some people just cant picture nothing after you die. I just imagine everything going black, but of course you would not know that it's black because your dead.
Well, for all you theists, imagine what it was like before God "separated the darkness from the light."
What do you imagine?
I agree but would add "with a tendency towards Religion."
Perhaps for most people, but not for all. I have always tended towards reductionism.
Okay, so you're saying that you should do whatever you want with no regards to laws, etc? The reason children stay under the rules of their parents is BECAUSE THEY'RE SAFE THERE. If, as a child, you decided to just ignore all instruction, and do your own thing, would you have been a better person? Freedom is not always the best, especially the fake freedom that some people think comes from disobedience to rules. What's better: to live safely under the rules, or die out in the chaos of "freedom from rules"?
I cannot speak for him directly, however I can tell you that from my knowledge of him he doesn't mean that.
There is no purpose. Does that mean we destroy everything? Hell no, there is no purpose in erasing that without purpose. Take into account that purpose isn't there for us, we make it as well. It is our decision, no one elses.
or die out in the chaos of "freedom from rules"?
May I just add on my rant thread this is contrary to that. The idiocy of people as a collective encourages chaos before discouraging it. Plus you're doing what many religious people do, exaggerate.
Basically, this:
Okay, can't find a video. It's basically one of those "Lay you down in the dust" speeches the Ori in Stargate gives. Basically the idea I have of religious people - the only difference is the Ori is actually real in that story.
Well, if there's no purpose to life, then there is no reason for life. Therefore, following that string of "logic", we should destroy everything we possibly can.
We can make our own purpose in life. And if life does need to have a purpose why must that purpose be God?
Okay, so you're saying that you should do whatever you want with no regards to laws, etc? The reason children stay under the rules of their parents is BECAUSE THEY'RE SAFE THERE. If, as a child, you decided to just ignore all instruction, and do your own thing, would you have been a better person?
That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying eventually every child needs to grow up and find their own path. It seems with the "God, us" relationship we are to remain perpetual children, never being allowed to grow up and find our own path. Worse yet going by the stories of the Bible God (as a parent) actively discourages and hinders such growth. The person who often has a more meaningful life is not the one who stays at home under the care of their parents for their whole life, but the one who goes off and makes their own life.
Freedom is not always the best, especially the fake freedom that some people think comes from disobedience to rules. What's better: to live safely under the rules, or die out in the chaos of "freedom from rules"?
Just wondering do you advocate that God is all about free will after making this statement? Not living under thumb of your parents rules doesn't mean you just live in complete chaos, it means taking responsibility for ourselves.
