Do you believe in an Afterlife?

[ToadSprocket 12]

As a child, I was taught Heaven above and Hell below by my Christian upbringing. Baptist.

But as I grew up, education began to override many if not most of the teachings.

So, without getting into religion, I ask; do you think absolutely nothing occurs at death or do you have any beliefs that it doesn't end there? Maybe you believe in reincarnation .. as maybe another person or even an animal or such. Maybe you believe you become ghostlike and hang around Earth w/o being seen nor heard but can view and hear all. If so, maybe you think your Soul lasts for all Eternity.

This is what I believe. Of course the body becomes lifeless so no burning in Hell occurs nor does any Angelic wings become attached.

I think the Soul continues w/o a body (somewhere, maybe here on Earth, maybe not) and if you were a really really bad horrible person, Hell is having to go through Eternity with those terrible thoughts BUT if you were a reasonably good person, your Soul will be at Peace (Heaven).

With talk of an afterlife for thousands of years, I do believe something happens at death. I just don't think it ends completely. BUT maybe it does.

 

What say ye?

[MDC 8,091]

No

[IGotWorms 4,063]

You're just dead.

[Drizzay 758]

Yup, it will be awesome. I just hope I can be a part of it.

[rholio 340]

Heaven above, hell below.

[Voltaire 5,528]

My understanding is that if you've been really bad, you are punished by having to spend eternity hanging out with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and people like them.

[kilroy69 1,273]

no and I look down on those that do really.

[Artista 460]

I'm not sure about an afterlife but I've had enough experiences with when people die of seeing their shapes, feeling their presence and even one time clearly saying my name---all in broad daylight when I'm wide awake-- to know our spirits do go on at least.

[Djgb13 2,339]

Yes I do. I don't judge people who don't believe in it but I want to smack the hell out of people who talk sh1t about it. Those are the same people who start praying when something bad is happening.

[tanatastic 2,062]

No, it's silly to think there's an afterlife. You live, then die. There's nothing else. Billions of people have lived and died, it's dumb to think everyone has their own little special place after death. I'm telling you with 100% certainty, there's no afterlife.

 

Also agree with Kilroy. May as well believe in magic unicorn ponies as well, it's no different.

[frank 2,355]

Hell awaits.

[fandandy 3,314]

This is all just a computer simulation.

[tanatastic 2,062]

This is all just a computer simulation.

This is far more likely than any concept of heaven or hell being real.

[Djgb13 2,339]

No, it's silly to think there's an afterlife. You live, then die. There's nothing else. Billions of people have lived and died, it's dumb to think everyone has their own little special place after death. I'm telling you with 100% certainty, there's no afterlife.

 

Also agree with Kilroy. May as well believe in magic unicorn ponies as well, it's no different.

100% certainly huh? So you've died before? Yea that's what I thought.

[Artista 460]

Obviously no one knows until you die. So no point in arguing one side or the other. I base my belief that there is something more out there on my experiences. If I kick the bucket soon enough I'll make sure to descend upon you naysayers to prove to you otherwise.

[RLLD 4,282]

No

[BunnysBastatrds 2,707]

My dad's been dead for two weeks. He's talking to me from somewhere. I was looking through his file cabinet for a very important document a few days ago. I couldn't find it. I got so pissed off that Islammed the drawer and my finger. My intial thought was "Fawk!!!" And then I opened the drawer and file I was looking in prior and found what I was looking for after I smashed my finger. He was sending me a message. I truly believe that.

[frank 2,355]

See you in hell my friend.

[IGotWorms 4,063]

I don't believe in it but you're a d1ck if you sh1t on other people's beliefs. Obviously no one really knows for sure

[frank 2,355]

It goes on and on and on. It's heaven and hell.

[kilroy69 1,273]

I never on people's beliefs. I do look at them as less intelligent. if you believe in Jesus you should also believe in other myths like the thunder god and the tooth fairy.

[Djgb13 2,339]

I don't believe in it but you're a d1ck if you sh1t on other people's beliefs. Obviously no one really knows for sure

Exactly. I don't care if someone doesn't believe. I'm a little saddened yea cause I feel bad for them but I'm going to shove my religion down their throat or call them idiots. However, it seems people nowadays want to talk sh1t about others religion

[Artista 460]

It goes on and on and on. It's heaven and hell.

Dio.........

[jerryskids 7,195]

Do I believe in an afterlife? As a techie, not particularly, because it makes no objective sense. But from a metaphysical standpoint, I wonder... I'm typing this in my living room while my Christmas tree shines in the background. Somehow from nothingness, I am sitting here in a house appreciating the beauty of a tree. That's kinda freaky if you think about it. Some people don't though, and some of them have posted in this thread. I will always consider those folks who "know" that God or afterlife doesn't exist to be a notch below on the intelligence scale.

[tanatastic 2,062]

I never ###### on people's beliefs. I do look at them as less intelligent. if you believe in Jesus you should also believe in other myths like the thunder god and the tooth fairy.

Exactly this. Although I'll go a step further and say I take a big dirty crap on people's beliefs. A big steaming diahrea laced dump on anyone's ridiculous supernatural beliefs. If it's impolite I'll keep it to myself and then talk behind your back. Believe in Jesus but then say all the other thousands of gods believe in across the world are not real. Ok buddy, like one is more believable than another, sure.

[frank 2,355]

[Djgb13 2,339]

Exactly this. Although I'll go a step further and say I take a big dirty crap on people's beliefs. A big steaming diahrea laced dump on anyone's ridiculous supernatural beliefs. If it's impolite I'll keep it to myself and then talk ###### behind your back. Believe in Jesus but then say all the other thousands of gods believe in across the world are not real. Ok buddy, like one is more believable than another, sure.

And that's what makes you a d1ck. You don't see me talking sh1t about any other religion or atheists. Matter of fact I'm close friends with atheists, Jewish people, and a Buddhist. We get along fine without someone talking sh1t about the others religion or lack of one. Learn to be a decent human being and you'll realize you can have friends who have different views than you

[tanatastic 2,062]

And that's what makes you a d1ck. You don't see me talking sh1t about any other religion or atheists. Matter of fact I'm close friends with atheists, Jewish people, and a Buddhist. We get along fine without someone talking sh1t about the others religion or lack of one. Learn to be a decent human being and you'll realize you can have friends who have different views than you

Can't argue with any of it.

[cbfalcon 828]

I absolutely believe we just die and that's it. Total nothingness then.

 

But it bothers me. I wish I believed in afterlife. Tried to, and still do. I hate the thought of dying and never being with my daughter again, and knowing that has an expiration date makes me sick. The thought of afterlife with her is comforting. But my brain is seemingly incapable of find such a illogical concept. I wish I was dumber.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I would like to. But I don't. I just don't see any objective way it makes sense. I think we are sacks of meat with a consciousness. And frankly, much more of our vaunted "self" is just the urgings of chemicals, instinct, and evolution.

[tanatastic 2,062]

Pleased at the number of rational thinkers in this thread. Making me smile.

[naomi 361]

I absolutely believe we just die and that's it. Total nothingness then.

 

But it bothers me. I wish I believed in afterlife. Tried to, and still do. I hate the thought of dying and never being with my daughter again, and knowing that has an expiration date makes me sick. The thought of afterlife with her is comforting. But my brain is seemingly incapable of find such a illogical concept. I wish I was dumber.

 

The idea of just ceasing to exist didn't bother me before but I guess it never really struck me as the reality of things either. It seemed like wishful thinking. I can see how it is a depressing thought when you have a kid though.

 

I was familiar with the biblical doctrine of how you're saved by grace, not of any works you do (or don't do), so I reckoned that if I had an eternal stead, it wasn't in my hands. I would be at the mercy of God if, you know, all that stuff was reality. A disconcerting prospect.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Exactly. I don't care if someone doesn't believe. I'm a little saddened yea cause I feel bad for them but I'm going to shove my religion down their throat or call them idiots. However, it seems people nowadays want to talk sh1t about others religion

Would you be upset if a nonbeliever felt bad for you?

 

For the record, I don't believe, and don't belittle those that do.

[mmmmm...beer 822]

Yep... of course thats par for the course for me right? Rightwing wacko an all that.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Do I believe in an afterlife? As a techie, not particularly, because it makes no objective sense. But from a metaphysical standpoint, I wonder... I'm typing this in my living room while my Christmas tree shines in the background. Somehow from nothingness, I am sitting here in a house appreciating the beauty of a tree. That's kinda freaky if you think about it. Some people don't though, and some of them have posted in this thread. I will always consider those folks who "know" that God or afterlife doesn't exist to be a notch below on the intelligence scale.

Just because the natural world is extraordinary, and our feeble attempts to understand it fall short of explaining everything, doesn't suggest a higher being or afterlife. Both are pretty simplistic ways to sidestep our ignorance.

 

And belief, or lack thereof, has little to do with intelligence. Atheists tend to score higher on IQ tests, however.

[Voltaire 5,528]

No.

 

This inner turmoil of wresting with the religious beliefs of my upbringing use to tear me up when I was younger but I could never successfully force myself to believe in that stuff. It never made sense to me.

 

I've long since stopped trying and moved on. I don't dwell on this stuff anymore. I tried it, it doesn't work for me, I've made my peace with it.

[vuduchile 1,947]

I don't know.

[JTB 52]

If believing in the afterlife makes one a "better" person I'm all for it.

[penultimatestraw 473]

No.

 

This inner turmoil of wresting with the religious beliefs of my upbringing use to tear me up when I was younger but I could never successfully force myself to believe in that stuff. It never made sense to me.

 

I've long since stopped trying and moved on. I don't dwell on this stuff anymore. I tried it, it doesn't work for me, I've made my peace with it.

I used to claim agnosticism, because it seemed too extreme to claim disbelief for something one can never really know. But you'd think there'd be at least a little tangible evidence by 2015 AD, besides a few pieces of burnt toast. If there is a higher being, you aren't going to fool her by faking it, so better to embrace atheism if faith doesn't do it for you.

[penultimatestraw 473]

If believing in the afterlife makes one a "better" person I'm all for it.

Following the teachings of just about every religion can accomplish that, as does adhering to things like the Golden Rule, even if you don't believe in an afterlife.