How do atheists cope with the thought of nothingness when you die?

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]Why should we care that death is the end? Also, why must atheists think death is the end? I see no reason why they must think so. The lack of a God does not necessitate lack of an afterlife. Pixel-Pirate

I agree with this. I'm an agnostic, but I personally edge toward the belief of spirits/ghosts.

I dont care. All I care is tryong to be happy in this life. And like the poster above said, "The lack of God doesnt necessitate lack of an afterlife."

Well, personally whenever that thought comes up I have a nice, cold one.

[QUOTE="hillelslovak"][QUOTE="darkhadou"] Christianity is best described as your personal fellowship with God! When we meet at churches, that is for a collective fellowship of brethren. Bro, if you want me to, I can explain the beginnings of our faith to you. If you want me to. Please, I urge you to try to study the Bible throughly and look at how it has affected civilizations. Ec=ven the Egyptians have hyroglyphs detailing the Jews being slaves, to them being rescued by their God who parted the Red sea. Now the Egyptians at that time worshipped idols? Why would they leave an account of some people being saved by an Almighty God in their nations history in the form of hyroglyphs??? There are signs everywhere that lead to Jesus Christ, but we have decided to blindfold ourselves!blackregiment

Current scholarship disagrees with that. The book of Genesis is thought by most Biblical scholars to have been written in about 1400BC. Of course, if one gets their history from Zeitgeist, that's a different story. :shock:

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/gilgymess.html

http://www.tektonics.org/af/babgenesis.html

The Bible , Qur'an were just books written by humans.

I won't be there to feel sorry for myself.

[QUOTE="blackregiment"]

[QUOTE="hillelslovak"] You're avoiding my argument. How can christianity be true if it's an overt theft from certain Sumerian beliefs?hillelslovak

Current scholarship disagrees with that. The book of Genesis is thought by most Biblical scholars to have been written in about 1400BC. Of course, if one gets their history from Zeitgeist, that's a different story. :shock:

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/gilgymess.html

http://www.tektonics.org/af/babgenesis.html

Hey, believe that if you choose but to compare the Ten Commandments to the Code of Hammurabi is a real strrreeech.

http://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/law/steal10.htm

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]Why should we care that death is the end? Also, why must atheists think death is the end? I see no reason why they must think so. The lack of a God does not necessitate lack of an afterlife. sonic_spark

Ummm...yeah it does..

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]Why should we care that death is the end? Also, why must atheists think death is the end? I see no reason why they must think so. The lack of a God does not necessitate lack of an afterlife. Pixel-Pirate

I agree with this. I'm an agnostic, but I personally edge toward the belief of spirits/ghosts.

God is a spirit....racer8dan

[QUOTE="sonic_spark"]

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]Why should we care that death is the end? Also, why must atheists think death is the end? I see no reason why they must think so. The lack of a God does not necessitate lack of an afterlife. Vandalvideo

Ummm...yeah it does..

Because it can't be explained by natural lawracer8dan

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="darkhadou"]The four gospels were written by four different individuals, who gave a testimony accoring to what they witnessed. For example, at the Tea party rallies, people have a different say of what really occurs, but it doesn't mean that everything that is said by the different individuals didn't happen. Catch my drift? The four gospels don't contradict each other. Matter of fact, the mere fact that different individuals could write their account at different decades, and have a similar testimony more than validates it.blackregiment

The four gospels were written over a period of decades with the last being written 90 years after Christ's death... The four do contradict one another. Matthew states one man outside the tomb. Mark states two men outside the tomb. Luke states one angel outside the tomb. John states two angels outside the tomb. If a Roman soldier stabbed Christ in the side, why does only one book state this? If Christ walked with his followers after his death, why does only one book state this.

These are what you call contradictions. And if there are flaws in the very fabric of the construction around the Messiah, is it any wonder why the rest of the Bible is seen in such a dubious light? Not to mention contradicting Creation stories.

A contradiction exists only when there are no rational explanations. Differences in the Gospel accounts are not contradictions; they are different accounts with differing amounts of detail.

Here's an example. Let's assume a man takes his wife, their two sons, and two of their sons' friends to a baseball game on Saturday.

The dad, taking to his friends at work says, "I had a great time at the ball game with my wife."

One son says to another friend at school, "My friend and I had a great time Saturday."

The other son tells a friend, "I enjoyed being at the ball game with my mom and dad this weekend."

The wife tells her friend, "I enjoyed Saturday since we went out and I didn't have to cook dinner."

Are their accounts contradictions or differing accounts of the same event?

The examples you gave are different perspectives, no argument there. However, when different accounts of the facts of the events occur, those are contradictions. In the same vein as your example, if that same family went to a baseball game, if one son says that Sammy Sosa struck out every time he was up to bat, that's one accounting of a factual event. If the other son says that Sammy Sosa hit five home runs, that's not a different account. That's a contradiction. Sosa could not have both struck out everytime as well as hit five home runs.

Similarly, there could not have been four different accounts of who was at the tomb when people arrived without creating a contradiction. It was a singluar event, but each account has a different set of facts that cannot mesh with one another. Only one of them can be true; therefore, there is the presence of contradiction. Therefore, the Bible is not accurate with every detail. Therefore, the entirety of the Bible cannot be taken literally.

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]Because it can't be explained by natural lawVandalvideo

my statement remainsracer8dan

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]my statement remainsVandalvideo

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]my statement remainsVandalvideo

I actually look forward to going back to the state where I was before my birth.

I actually look forward to going back to the state where I was before my birth.

pete_merlin

[QUOTE="darkhadou"][QUOTE="domatron23"] You took a verse without understanding the whole concept??? Did you read the whole Deut 28? Or 27 infact???domatron23

What Moses was telling them is that IF you follow the decrees of God, He shall bless you!!! The moment you start being rebellious, you may not have a great experience. And it was the truth!!! The Jews ended up being taken into slavery by the Babylonians and their land destroyed (and God told them this would happen by the way). Forget the bible, history tells us this story as well. And since that time, the Jews never had the land of Israel as their own, up until 1947!!! The signs are everywhere leading you to God, but we turn a blind eye to it. Just as countless people have done in the past!darkhadou

[QUOTE="blackregiment"][QUOTE="muthsera666"]

The four gospels were written over a period of decades with the last being written 90 years after Christ's death... The four do contradict one another. Matthew states one man outside the tomb. Mark states two men outside the tomb. Luke states one angel outside the tomb. John states two angels outside the tomb. If a Roman soldier stabbed Christ in the side, why does only one book state this? If Christ walked with his followers after his death, why does only one book state this.

These are what you call contradictions. And if there are flaws in the very fabric of the construction around the Messiah, is it any wonder why the rest of the Bible is seen in such a dubious light? Not to mention contradicting Creation stories.

muthsera666

A contradiction exists only when there are no rational explanations. Differences in the Gospel accounts are not contradictions; they are different accounts with differing amounts of detail.

Here's an example. Let's assume a man takes his wife, their two sons, and two of their sons' friends to a baseball game on Saturday.

The dad, taking to his friends at work says, "I had a great time at the ball game with my wife."

One son says to another friend at school, "My friend and I had a great time Saturday."

The other son tells a friend, "I enjoyed being at the ball game with my mom and dad this weekend."

The wife tells her friend, "I enjoyed Saturday since we went out and I didn't have to cook dinner."

Are their accounts contradictions or differing accounts of the same event?

The examples you gave are different perspectives, no argument there. However, when different accounts of the facts of the events occur, those are contradictions. In the same vein as your example, if that same family went to a baseball game, if one son says that Sammy Sosa struck out every time he was up to bat, that's one accounting of a factual event. If the other son says that Sammy Sosa hit five home runs, that's not a different account. That's a contradiction. Sosa could not have both struck out everytime as well as hit five home runs.

Similarly, there could not have been four different accounts of who was at the tomb when people arrived without creating a contradiction. It was a singluar event, but each account has a different set of facts that cannot mesh with one another. Only one of them can be true; therefore, there is the presence of contradiction. Therefore, the Bible is not accurate with every detail. Therefore, the entirety of the Bible cannot be taken literally.

There are no contradictions in the Gospels, just differing accounts with differing amounts of detail. If the accounts were identical, then people would say, they are exactly the same so they copied off each other.

[QUOTE="pis3rch"][QUOTE="domatron23"] Really you don't have any problem with it barring its factual inaccuracy regarding the supernatural? What about verses like this that pretty much make out Old Testament God to be a fiend: Deuteronomy 28:63 "And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it."domatron23

When I was an Agnostic, I never thought about it to be honest. Most of the Atheist's I speak to are the same way. I am very glad I decided to become a Christian though. Best decision I ever made.

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

The way I see it, if there's nothingness only, then I guess it wont matter what I think of it, cause I wont care once I am nothingness. I don't believe that of course, but I can say for sure that I am very uncertain as to how exactly my life is going to continue and what the spiritual realm is going to be like. I too, hope God or whatever Higher Power is there will let me post on here so I can finally end the debate for everyone, once and for all.

[QUOTE="darkhadou"]

You're avoiding my argument. How can christianity be true if it's an overt theft from certain Sumerian beliefs?hillelslovak

You would have to explain to me how it is a theft from Sumerian belifs

A lot of similarities are found here http://historel.tripod.com/orient/03mesop.htm

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

[QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

darkhadou

If God exists then surely at some point in my life I will see a sign that makes me become religious. Not even a deity can expect total devotion from somebody who didn't know better.

I'm not sure I'd want to pretend I was a Christian "just in case", anyway. If God exists and he is who he is then he would see right through that and a person should be ABSOLUTELY sure about their religion if they wish to follow it. I haven't the faintest idea what is what... the funny thing is I like it that way.

By living life to the fullest. Easy enough.Diablo-B

I really don't care ...

[QUOTE="darkhadou"][QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

If God exists then surely at some point in my life I will see a sign that makes me become religious. Not even a deity can expect total devotion from somebody who didn't know better.

I'm not sure I'd want to pretend I was a Christian "just in case", anyway. If God exists and he is who he is then he would see right through that and a person should be ABSOLUTELY sure about their religion if they wish to follow it. I haven't the faintest idea what is what... the funny thing is I like it that way.

[QUOTE="Diablo-B"]By living life to the fullest. Easy enough.darkhadou

Yes, we do live in very unconscious world, and if the human race doesn't start to evolve that consciousness (which fortunately there are many people in this world who are) then we are going to destroy ourselves. It's not going to be "God's Wrath" however. God isn't going to punish us for our unconscious ego that almost every single person on the planet is afflicted with to some degree. We are going to destroy ourselves in our own unconsciousness if things don't start changing though.

God is a supreme being beyond anything our minds can conceive or imagine, so you really think a consciousness as pure and absolute as that can be angered, hurt, damaged, or offended in any way, by things that we do on Earth in our own unconsciousness. The mind is both the greatest gift and greatest curse of mankind. THAT is the source of "Sin", that is the source of darkness in us, that is the source of incessant thinking. and that is the source of the false made Ego. God looks upon us like we would look upon a child with a deadly brain disorder; with love, compassion, and forgiveness for our inability to see through the illusion. I pray every night that the world begins to awaken, and I pray every night that MY eyes even get opened. Despite all I say here, many times I feel just as unconscious as the rest of the world.

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

[QUOTE="darkhadou"][QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

linkthewindow

Who's Mohommand??

[QUOTE="linkthewindow"][QUOTE="darkhadou"] My friend, why take that huge gamble? Anyone die without Jesus, and it's hell to pay!stepnkev

Who's Mohommand??

[QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

[QUOTE="darkhadou"] My friend, why take that huge gamble? Anyone die without Jesus, and it's hell to pay!darkhadou

If God exists then surely at some point in my life I will see a sign that makes me become religious. Not even a deity can expect total devotion from somebody who didn't know better.

I'm not sure I'd want to pretend I was a Christian "just in case", anyway. If God exists and he is who he is then he would see right through that and a person should be ABSOLUTELY sure about their religion if they wish to follow it. I haven't the faintest idea what is what... the funny thing is I like it that way.

.. Serioulsy this is getting old.. Reading the Bible willl not garentee to convert people.. If that were the case skeptic wouldn't exist.. Like it or not, religious belief has alot to do with the person's upbringing.

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"][QUOTE="sonic_spark"]

Ummm...yeah it does..

racer8dan

Neither can God, so there for God can't exist...?

I believe spirits could be natural phenomenon. The body is filled with energy, energy isn't destroyed when you die, it has to go somewhere. It is believed spirits may simply be collections of energy imprinted with your past emotions.

I find that as viable an explanation as "God did it".

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"] How does an afterlife necessitate God? Why can't there be a spirit without God? Why can't this spirit exist after death without God? I don't understand why a spirit must necessarily be super natural. Why can't spirits be a natural phenomenon? Pixel-Pirate

Neither can God, so there for God can't exist...?

I believe spirits could be natural phenomenon. The body is filled with energy, energy isn't destroyed when you die, it has to go somewhere. It is believed spirits may simply be collections of energy imprinted with your past emotions.

I find that as viable an explanation as "God did it".

God and spirit are outside of natural laws.. It doesn't exist or not exist.. Its just when we are talkinga bout facts, we will act like it doesn't exist in saying there is no evidence in it..

I'm not really an Atheist but I see it this way... If there isn't a God and something else happens when you die other than something to do with Heaven or Hell... Be it nothing, reincarnation or whatever. I am dead and have no control over that which I am not conciously aware of, so why should I care about something which wont affect me after I am dead.

Personally I am not sure what to believe and I will just have to wait and see what happens. I am sure that when I die I'll be all like "oh, I see how it is now, I wish I could post on OT and tell everyone"

The concept of a life after death or some sort of existence in a realm beyond that of life isn't necessarily a theistic ideal or concept.

Because of that, I don't believe that pure nothingness follows the end of this life. In fact, I believe the exact opposite.

My friend, why take that huge gamble? Anyone die without Jesus, and it's hell to pay!darkhadou

The same way I cope with the fact that I didn't exist before I was born.

ProudLarry

[QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

[QUOTE="darkhadou"]You know what is funny? A lot of you that doubt God have clearly not tried to read the bible in it's enitrety. darkhadou

I've read the Bible and the Koran, and I'm still an atheist. Your point being?

And personally I feel that death is eternal sleep/a natural event.

You do realise I'm not a Muslim/Christian/Jew? I don't believe in any religion full stop even though I read the Holy Texts.

My friend, why take that huge gamble? Anyone die without Jesus, and it's hell to pay!darkhadou

Because if that's the nature of God, then **** him. That's a God not worthy of worship.

[QUOTE="MoonMarvel"][QUOTE="Vandalvideo"] So....you are glad that you fear death....?Vandalvideo

Although your logical deduction is rational, your conditions are flawed. Those that are not atheists do not necessarily fear death. In fact, most people who are not atheist believe in some sort of God(s). And those who believe in the divine also believe in a life after death. Most who believe in an afterlife do not fear death.

So therefore most that are not atheist actually do not fear death.