Valuing life

[_Socrates]

Is life of more value to one who does not believe in afterlife or one that does?

If you believe in an afterlife that will be better than this, why would a "life cut short" not be a windfall for the one who died early?

[_Joseph]

joethecoxman said if people realized how glorious the Telestial Kingdom was they would be killing themselves to get there.

This from the guy that also said babies were becoming Gods with the same body stature they had at the age of death. Worlds full of Gods that died right at or after birth somehow just does not compute.

As for valuing life, spend some time in Africa in war zones and you will see how cheap it really is.

[_Simon Belmont]

Is life of more value to one who does not believe in afterlife or one that does?

Not at all.

Not having an afterlife, for me, makes life much less valuable. Without our divine nature and the understanding that this is just a phase in an infinite and beautiful existence, what do we have?

Well, we're a conglomerate of bones, skin, and other tissue that somehow evolved the ability to question our own existence. When we die, that's it. What's the point?

[_just me]

I, personally, value this life and my body much more as an unbeliever. I mean, I always valued this life and my body but it is different now. There is more of an urgency to protect life. Death is a bigger deal...it's not just "walking through a door."

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Not having an afterlife, for me, makes life much less valuable. Without our divine nature and the understanding that this is just a phase in an infinite and beautiful existence, what do we have?

Well, we're a conglomerate of bones, skin, and other tissue that somehow evolved the ability to question our own existence. When we die, that's it. What's the point?

Simon, that's pretty myopic thinking. Tell me, if you think life doesn’t have enough intrinsic value to get you through 70 years or so, why should it be worth living for all eternity?

Doesn’t the fact that the majority of the world’s population manage to live perfectly satisfactory, fulfilled lives without believing what you believe make you stop and think just for a moment?

I know several Atheists and they will tell you that they find meaning in their lives in many of the same ways Theists find meaning in theirs. Atheists find it in the relationships they have with family and friends and in the interactions they have with society as a whole. They find it in the joys of creativity, the satisfactions of productive work, the pleasures of sensual gratification, and the challenges of intellectual pursuits of all kinds. And in the appreciation of the world and its beauty.

Atheists will also tell you that they enjoy life much more than Theists because they know this is the only life there is. Finally, Atheists will tell you that if there is a God, they will be rewarded and go to heaven for living a good and full life.

[_Socrates]

Is life of more value to one who does not believe in afterlife or one that does?

Not at all.

Not having an afterlife, for me, makes life much less valuable. Without our divine nature and the understanding that this is just a phase in an infinite and beautiful existence, what do we have?

Well, we're a conglomerate of bones, skin, and other tissue that somehow evolved the ability to question our own existence. When we die, that's it. What's the point?

What law or principle of nature, if there is no afterlife, would prevent evolution of the brain to the point of being able to question our own existence?

[_Simon Belmont]

Simon, that's pretty myopic thinking. Tell me, if you think life doesn’t have enough intrinsic value to get you through 70 years or so, why should it be worth living for all eternity?

It does have enough intrinsic value, by itself. I am saying that it makes it less valuable to me if it all just simply "poofs" out of existence after 70-90 years.

Think about it: You're going to wake up one morning and realize that you're 90 years old. At that point, it will seem like you've always been 90 years old, because everything that's happened to you up until that time is just a biochemical process that exists only in your grey matter (a "memory"). How depressing!

Doesn’t the fact that the majority of the world’s population manage to live perfectly satisfactory, fulfilled lives without believing what you believe make you stop and think just for a moment?

Now, you'd never let me get away with an appeal to popularity, and I don't think I'll let you get away with it either.

I know several Atheists and they will tell you that they find meaning in their lives in many of the same ways Theists find meaning in theirs. Atheists find it in the relationships they have with family and friends and in the interactions they have with society as a whole. They find it in the joys of creativity, the satisfactions of productive work, the pleasures of sensual gratification, and the challenges of intellectual pursuits of all kinds. And in the appreciation of the world and its beauty.

That's great. But, it means nothing. It all just disappears and ceases to exist for you after 90 years. What's the point of intellectual pursuits if you aren't around to see their fruits? What's the point of creativity? What's the point of relationships?

Atheists will also tell you that they enjoy life much more than Theists because they know this is the only life there is. Finally, Atheists will tell you that if there is a God, they will be rewarded and go to heaven for living a good and full life.

I know its the only life there is, too. I enjoy it because we only get one mortal life on earth. But I also believe that I will be able to see the fruits of the things I've done here from the perspective of the afterlife.

Edit: http://i53.tinypic.com/242u7nn.jpg

[_Simon Belmont]

What law or principle of nature, if there is no afterlife, would prevent evolution of the brain to the point of being able to question our own existence?

The better question is:

What law or principle of nature, if there is no afterlife, would encourage evolution of the brain to the point of being able to question our own existence?

See... what is the evolutionary advantage of consciousness? Of questioning our own existence?

[_Socrates]

Is life of more value to one who does not believe in afterlife or one that does?

Not at all.

Not having an afterlife, for me, makes life much less valuable. Without our divine nature and the understanding that this is just a phase in an infinite and beautiful existence, what do we have?

Well, we're a conglomerate of bones, skin, and other tissue that somehow evolved the ability to question our own existence. When we die, that's it. What's the point?

If not for the hope of having superhuman power in the afterlife, would you find this existence not worth living? Would you take the hemlock but for your hope of having superhuman power in the afterlife? Is your life so burdened that the pleasures and delights of experience and relationships do not make you welcome each new day?

[_Simon Belmont]

If not for the hope of having superhuman power in the afterlife, would you find this existence not worth living? Would you take the hemlock but for your hope of having superhuman power in the afterlife? Is your life so burdened that the pleasures and delights of experience and relationships do not make you welcome each new day?

I think you're poisoning the well here. Who said anything about "superhuman power"?

I think it will be a lot like Earth, but without the hunger, poverty, wars, and disease that we have here. Hopefully without the weeds, too; I hate weeding.