Remember what it was like before you were born...

[Slynt]

You just *can't* compare this to how people viewed the world prior to the 15th century (or whatever...); at that time, scientists did not have the technology to realize the existence of the Earth's orbit. Now, however, we do have a fair bit of technology, in addition to a much larger base of knowledge, and nothing can support any theory on afterlife.

 

[TyrantOfFlames]

Originally posted by Metalmaster
You just *can't* compare this to how people viewed the world prior to the 15th century (or whatever...); at that time, scientists did not have the technology to realize the existence of the Earth's orbit. Now, however, we do have a fair bit of technology, in addition to a much larger base of knowledge, and nothing can support any theory on afterlife.

Of course you can. The scientists (wizards) of the middle ages were very technologically advanced compared to the earliest tribes of men, "cavemen". They had metallurgy, they had boats, they had huge buildings, etc. Also: we have as much technology to enlighten us about the afterlife as they had to enlighten them about the solar system. Who knows what can be discovered in the next 500 years? It is an apt analogy, even if it is a pointless one.

 

[moonchild]

sometimes i would like to think that when we die we simply end our existence in all forms, just an eternal sleep, probably because i can simply not grasp nor want to grasp the concept of eternal life, that is life as it is now, other times i dont even know if i exist anyway, am i just a memory of a life, destined to repeat itself for eternity, but inside i know there is more, i am not a christian, and often i mock blind faith, but i know there is a god, in what shape or form i know not, but i know that he's got an amazing sence of humour, often in my darkest hour something will happen, just a little thing, that make me laugh and i'll remember how pointless this all is, maybe life itself is a joke, we get so caught up in such petty things that we are blinded to what lies beyond, the whole picture, after all nothing that we do in life on earth matters, everything is forgotten in time, its what we learn from life that is important, how we further our spiritual awareness, i do believe in reincarnation, i think that there are lessons to be learnt in life and we must continue life on earth until we reach some stage of purity and perfection, we become light. i cannot say that my ideas are right and yours are wrong, that would make me as bad as the blind religions that i mock so frequently, each person decides their own fate, each person sees the world in a different light, but for me i have had spiritual experiences which lead me to believe there is life after death, i used to long for death, welcoming with open arms hoping she would give up her mysteries, but then i realised that life on earth is so short anyway, we might as well live our life here to the full, take each day as a new opportunity, see the world how we want to see it and not have others force their tainted views on us

 

[Russell]

Originally posted by Metalmaster
You just *can't* compare this to how people viewed the world prior to the 15th century (or whatever...); at that time, scientists did not have the technology to realize the existence of the Earth's orbit. Now, however, we do have a fair bit of technology, in addition to a much larger base of knowledge, and nothing can support any theory on afterlife.

Just because we have a broader base of scientific knowledge now, why does this rules out the possibility of an after life? Yes nothing supports it, but on the other hand nothing contradicts it either (at this point I'd like to say I don't believe in an after life). Basically, this idea has relatively little to do with science

 

[JesusChristPose]

As a born again then unborn ex-christian. I have studied the bible thoroughly. I have read comments on here talking about the "soul" and agree with the crux of the argument that the "soul" was created by christianity, however, not exactly...it was the "defining of the soul" by the early fathers of christianity that is at the core of this discussion. So the comment about the Native Americans believing in "souls" is correct too.

In the OT it is written, "The soul that sinneth is the soul that will die."

The translated word for soul is the hebrew word "nephesh" - this same word can be found in the book of Genesis many times referring to dead bodies and dead animals.

Conclusion, the soul isn't something we have it is what we are and it will die.

 

[MountainDweller]

Does electricity die just because you break the light bulb?

 

[Russell]

Yes. There is no current flowing. There is the potential, yes, but no actual electricity

 

[JesusChristPose]

I have heard that analogy before while attending church services. I don't buy it.

 

[SentencedToBurn]

god i cant stand it when people say the earth and all the galaxys were created just by chance. that everything was science. that is bullshit. not everything was created by science. who started science?? who started anything? there has to be a point to that.
and saying there is no proof to afterlife is just kind of dumb too. what is a scientist supposed to be like "ive just discovered heaven today on a powerful microscope. no, thats why its called the afterlife. we dont know until were dead.
no one really knows anything about afterlife so we should stop bitchin at each other (me included )
we will all find out in the end.

 

[Soul Forlorn]

god i cant stand it when people say the earth and all the galaxys were created just by chance. that everything was science. that is bullshit. not everything was created by science. who started science?? who started anything? there has to be a point to that.

And to those who believe in some sort of a god, how was this god created? Was it simply by chance? What is this god's purpose for creating us?

Yes, I believe in science. No, I don't think that everything in this universe exists by chance alone. There is a reason why almost everything exists. Read any well-written book on evolution and you'll know what I'm talking about. The existence of everything has followed a concise, timely, and logical manner since day one.

I suppose there really is no point to arguments of this sort. I agree that no one will ever truly know what happens when we die. I have simply stated my beliefs and I acknowledge that they could be wrong. I believe in whatever I deem to be the most logical. I believe in absolutely nothing that at the very least can't be explained logically by science. The explanation doesn't necessarily have to be proven by science, but it does have to base itself on enough proven facts to lend it credible in my eyes. I have, with my own eyes, ever witnessed anything that is considered supernatural, godly, unworldly, etc. and I tend to believe I never will. These things are illogical to me. Therefore why would I believe something of this sort would happen in the afterlife, within this life, or before the beginning of time, so to speak?

Slightly off subject, more of an attack on christianity, but how can someone who lives an entirely virtuous life be doomed to eternal damnation in a pit of flames simply because they don't believe in god while someone who "sins" their entire life but "accepts christ into their heart" in the end can be forgiven? If there is a christian god (and of course I wholeheartedly believe there is not) who would do this then I'd just like to give a hearty "FUCK YOU!!!" to him. I wouldn't want to worship the slimy mother fucker anyway!

 

[Obyeybyeogone]

I completely agree with Science's explanation of how everything happened after the bigbang, but the thing I wonder is what made the bigbang happen? If you just say "It just happened" then you can't shoot down a Christian's "god just exists" explanation.

 

[Lina]

Originally posted by Oyo
I completely agree with Science's explanation of how everything happened after the bigbang, but the thing I wonder is what made the bigbang happen? If you just say "It just happened" then you can't shoot down a Christian's "god just exists" explanation.

but that's the difference -- athiests say "we don't know yet," whereas christians claim to know for sure.

 

[Obyeybyeogone]

I hate to be annoyingly techical, but atheists say there is nothing else, we're right. If you don't know yet that's being agnostic . A lot of people that say they are atheists are actually agnostic.

 

[E V I L]

I spoke with my good buddy God yesterday, and he told me to relax, for when one dies he (his soul) is instantly turned into gobblygook, morphs into an angel and then rides on a chariot of fire driven by two grand white pegasae, named larry and bill. One's history becomes one with the OOMA and is used to regenerate such things as plants and laughter. My good buddy God is such a cool creator, indeed. He tells me of such things, of such wild orgies in the hypernavitudes of ethereal places in my loins. People die and suffer this world precisely to replenish themselves and add to the infinite, yet fragile, store of the OOMA that is the initimal part of all that is goodness- from whiskers on kittens and the artistry of snowflakes.

My buddy God also tells me there is a golden lamp on the planet of Neptune. And should one recover it, he too can be a God-- something about the transmotrifications and intertrasvestities of the kinesis of psychogenic motilities.

Yes, I love you all! Let us die together and perhaps catch that chariot of fire whilst listening to some Opeth!! Come with me, be my friend, I shall introduce to all the hottest gods and godessess. And we'll ride and party before we venture for the great golden lamp of Titt-lick on the mystical planet of Neptune. Ah yes, we'll have time before invariably we all reawaken as "another" regenerated from the OOMA and start life all over again, with no prior knowledge of previous lives, and masturbate with ideas that ignore the fact that reincarnation is just another way of describing death and is absolutely no different from death as death as death as death. (which also mistakes the very nature of consciousness and the concept of self. Understood, reincarnation is by inference or logical neccesity a preclusion, an impossibility, a concept that obliterates itself a la reductio ad absudem)


E V I L, definitive author of metaphysicology, who has just begun his hourly regiment of happy pills, and life-long friend to his good buddy God.

 

[Obyeybyeogone]

God likes me more than you, I donated $12 million to the "Buy the minister a new mansion fund".

 

[MountainDweller]

Originally posted by godisanathiest
Yes. There is no current flowing. There is the potential, yes, but no actual electricity

Oh, no, my friend, the electricity is still flowing. The air-tight container that allows it to glow is just broken. Soak yourself in water then touch the inside of the broken bulb (while it's on) if you want proof.

Another analogy:
Take a glass of water and drop the glass...it breaks, but has the water disappeared? The water may eventually evaporate, but it's only changing forms, not disappearing.

Want science? Energy can't be created nor distroyed. Energy...electricity...we are electricity.

I find atheists to be just as annoying and thick-headed as the religious right, only in the opposite end of the spectrum. You can't win an arguement with either, and it's nearly impossible to make them think. The atheists are just a tied to their "religion" of science as the religious right to their religion of dogma. I believe agnostics to have the right idea.

I'm not asking anyone to buy anything. All I want is for others to think.

 

[MountainDweller]

I'm not defending anything. I didn't give any answers, I posed some thoughts to hopefully expand peoples' thoughts on possibilities, which you attempted (and horribly failed) to scientifically break down. I have no more to say on this because it's pointless trying to make people think if they don't want to.

 

[MountainDweller]

Again, it's not worth wasting my time with someone who feels the need to insult in attempt to make a point. Farewell.

 

[S4R]

Originally posted by Oyo
I hate to be annoyingly techical, but atheists say there is nothing else, we're right. If you don't know yet that's being agnostic . A lot of people that say they are atheists are actually agnostic.

You are correct Oyo. Thanks for pointing that out people are often confused or have never heard the term agnostic before.

 

[Russell]

Originally posted by MountainDweller
Oh, no, my friend, the electricity is still flowing. The air-tight container that allows it to glow is just broken. Soak yourself in water then touch the inside of the broken bulb (while it's on) if you want proof

I hate to be pedantic, but it depends how the bulb is broken if the coil inside is broken electricity can't flow, but if the glass is broken, yes it may be able to, but not for long as it would soon burn out and the coil would break

On another note its an absolutely ridiculous analogy that has absolutely no relation to dying in any way IMO.

I agree with what you say about many athiests tho. It pisses me off majorly when christians get their head bitten off for trying to defend their beliefs, just in the same way it pisses me off when they try and force their religion on others. If they do this or try and convert people to atheism, or even claim their view is the only "correct" one it is behaving in just the way many people became atheists to escape from or they criticize in christians