Valuing life

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Simon, I hope someday that you will truly be happy and enjoy life. It's tragic that your belief in the afterlife is your source of happiness and without it you would be "depressed". You are truly missing out. I think you are forgetting, "men are that they might have joy". Some simple suggestions for you: laugh, connect with nature, connect with people, learn, have simple pleasures, slow down, love your children, spouse, and others.

Good luck, Simon.

Thanks, but to what end, Everybody Wang Chung?

Joy, helping others, contributing, etc. Take your pick.

[_just me]

Simon, there are many things that you do each and every day that are fleeting and will give you no long term joy or accomplishment. Why do you do them?

Why do you post here?
Why do you prepare meals for yourself to eat?
Why do you take a shower?
Why do you watch a show or movie?

Do you really participate in any of those activities only because of your belief in an afterlife?

[_Simon Belmont]

Thanks, but to what end, Everybody Wang Chung?

Joy, helping others, contributing, etc. Take your pick.

None of that matters, I'm just going to die.

And, just me, the lightbulb ended for it's inventor when it's inventor died. Just like anything you or I do will end for us when we die.

So what's the point?

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Thanks, but to what end, Everybody Wang Chung?

Joy, helping others, contributing, etc. Take your pick.

None of that matters, I'm just going to die.

And, just me, the lightbulb ended for it's inventor when it's inventor died. Just like anything you or I do will end for us when we die.

So what's the point?

Simon, in the end it is up to each of us to find joy, meaning, purpose and happiness in life. I would submit to you that a belief in the afterlife is not a recipe or even a requirement for happiness (just look at all the depressed LDS/Christians). I would also submit to you that hundreds of millions of Aetheists have found joy, meaning, purpose and happiness in their lives.

Simon, if you think this life on its own, doesn’t have enough intrinsic value for you, why should your life be worth living for all eternity?

I will pray for you Simon.

[_just me]

Thanks, but to what end, Everybody Wang Chung?

Joy, helping others, contributing, etc. Take your pick.

None of that matters, I'm just going to die.

And, just me, the lightbulb ended for it's inventor when it's inventor died. Just like anything you or I do will end for us when we die.

So what's the point?

Uh, to enjoy the lightbulb while breathing. It is quite enjoyable, after all.

The point is pleasure, enjoyment, joy, entertainment, ritual, social acceptance....that is why people do things. Oh, and biological drive. That is likely the most important thing that drives us and all living things. Healthy people have a drive to survive regardless of the belief in an afterlife. Healthy people have a drive to eat and have sex and be close to other human beings. It is our biological mandate.

The lightbulb did not end. The thing that ended was the awareness of the inventor. The awareness coming to an end does not negate the accomplishment the inventor felt while aware.

You really value this life very little if eating a delicious meal is only worthwhile to you if you can think about it in the afterlife. Cuz, that is what you sound like.

[_Simon Belmont]

Uh, to enjoy the lightbulb while breathing. It is quite enjoyable, after all.

Then what?

How long does that enjoyment last? Can you define "now?" Can you define the interpretation of the passage of time? I woke up this morning as a 40 year old man. I thought "it seems like yesterday I was 8 years old and getting baptized" in the blink of an eye I am now 40. In another blink, I'll be 90, and in another I won't be. Time really happens all at once, just me, and so while we may live 90 years, the interpretation of that time span is an instant.

So, as you can see, a thinking atheist has a great deal to be depressed about.

[_just me]

Uh, to enjoy the lightbulb while breathing. It is quite enjoyable, after all.

Then what?

How long does that enjoyment last? Can you define "now?" Can you define the interpretation of the passage of time? I woke up this morning as a 40 year old man. I thought "it seems like yesterday I was 8 years old and getting baptized" in the blink of an eye I am now 40. In another blink, I'll be 90, and in another I won't be. Time really happens all at once, just me, and so while we may live 90 years, the interpretation of that time span is an instant.

So, as you can see, a thinking atheist has a great deal to be depressed about.

We live in the present moment, Simon. How is that depressing? I just blinked and I am still not 90 years old. I've actually blinked multiple times while typing this and I am still not 90 years old.

Eternity is found in the present. That is the beauty of it.

Here is the funny thing about your "then what" questions. The "then what" is exactly the same for you and me. You enjoy a lightbulb the exact same way I do. For both of us it is a momentary enjoyment, a comfort and pleasure that will be over when we shut it off and move on to the next activity. You don't enjoy a lightbuld more because you think your awareness will survive the death of your body.

[_GR33N]

beefcalf,

Seriously, there are many proofs of the truth of creation and we have an excellent understanding of the method by which each species currently found on Earth have descended from our ancestors.

Although the methods and strategies employed to uncover these truths were admittedly used by men who conversed with heavenly beings, the resulting explanations can be easily grasped by any man or woman who is honestly willing to listen.

Although a lay-person in the realm of molecular biology, I have a good grasp on the incredibly persuasive line of evidence which compels us view creation as absolute fact, and that it is completely incompatible with a literal interpretation of Darwin's theories. Accepting the absolute fact of creation does not, however, compel one to discard an interest and understanding of science.

Since the God I worship is real, I hope that He will forgive his children who close their eyes and cover their ears so as to avoid hearing or seeing evidences and explanations of how the world really works.

If you care to read, I can elucidate just one of the many, many incredibly powerful proofs of why either creation is true, or the God who created us has employed informative and honest practices to reveal his creative efforts.

Let me know if you are interested. :)

[_beefcalf]

If you care to read, I can elucidate just one of the many, many incredibly powerful proofs of why either creation is true, or the God who created us has employed informative and honest practices to reveal his creative efforts.

Please do. I am ready to read the powerful proofs. I am ready to read how God has honestly revealed his creative efforts.

[_harmony]

Although the methods and strategies employed to uncover these truths were admittedly used by men who conversed with heavenly beings, the resulting explanations can be easily grasped by any man or woman who is honestly willing to listen.

Say what?