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Belief that life continues after death more beneficial?

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Which is belief is more benefical to your psyche?
Life after death 31%  31%  [ 4 ]
No life after death 69%  69%  [ 9 ]
Total votes : 13

Joker
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13 Jun 2012, 4:55 pm

Vigilans wrote:
WilliamWDelaney wrote:
Does anybody think I ought to continue belaboring this exchange with Joker?


Just remember that time will not be returned to you


You can play to Vigilians :wink:



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13 Jun 2012, 4:57 pm

Joker wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
WilliamWDelaney wrote:
Does anybody think I ought to continue belaboring this exchange with Joker?


Just remember that time will not be returned to you


You can play to Vigilians :wink:


What do I play to Vigilans? And what instrument should I use?


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13 Jun 2012, 4:58 pm

Vigilans wrote:
Joker wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
WilliamWDelaney wrote:
Does anybody think I ought to continue belaboring this exchange with Joker?


Just remember that time will not be returned to you


You can play to Vigilians :wink:


What do I play to Vigilans? And what instrument should I use?


Use a hockey stick to slam shot the puck at the angry theists :lol:



Thom_Fuleri
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13 Jun 2012, 5:27 pm

enrico_dandolo wrote:
Thom_Fuleri wrote:
The main advantage of a belief in an afterlife is comfort. Death is a scary concept and it helps a lot of people to think of it as a transition rather than an ending. It's also a very childish idea, and it does a lot of harm. You only have a certain amount of time in this life, so why waste it in readiness for another one that you have no proof actually exists?

Because there is little incentive to act virtuously all the time if there isn't a punishment afterwards. Of course, this can be exploited by the powerful, but it helps keep certain behaviours in control. It can be beneficial, on a societal level (keyword: can).


Ah yes, the paradox that Christians (the usual proponents of this argument) are less moral than atheists - some Christians seem to believe the only thing that stops them going on crime sprees and murdering people is the will of God. Atheists are divided from God and therefore have to restrain themselves by their own efforts...

The big issue with these beliefs is that they are so subjective. Do this and you'll be rewarded, do that and you'll be punished. But what are "this" and "that"? Will you be punished with eternal fire for blasphemy, or eating pork, or working on a holy day? Even Christian morality has shifted over time - Jesus was hot on giving up your riches, forgiveness and the destruction of out-of-season fig trees, but the bible happily condones slavery, incest and violence. Are there people in Hell for eating shellfish two thousand years ago while new believers are spared this torment? It's all very baffling.

And that's just looking at Christianity. What if the Buddhists are right and we just come back here?



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13 Jun 2012, 5:47 pm

Vigilans wrote:
If people are going to delude themselves by believing that works of fiction hold the truth of the universe, they could at least pick a good work of fiction. So if you really, really need to believe in sh*t all being connected, and spiritual stuff, with unexplained phenomenon actually being explainable by the efforts of tiny invisible elves- convert to Jedi
or Tolkienism. :D



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13 Jun 2012, 6:21 pm

Thom_Fuleri wrote:
enrico_dandolo wrote:
Thom_Fuleri wrote:
The main advantage of a belief in an afterlife is comfort. Death is a scary concept and it helps a lot of people to think of it as a transition rather than an ending. It's also a very childish idea, and it does a lot of harm. You only have a certain amount of time in this life, so why waste it in readiness for another one that you have no proof actually exists?

Because there is little incentive to act virtuously all the time if there isn't a punishment afterwards. Of course, this can be exploited by the powerful, but it helps keep certain behaviours in control. It can be beneficial, on a societal level (keyword: can).


Ah yes, the paradox that Christians (the usual proponents of this argument) are less moral than atheists - some Christians seem to believe the only thing that stops them going on crime sprees and murdering people is the will of God. Atheists are divided from God and therefore have to restrain themselves by their own efforts...

The big issue with these beliefs is that they are so subjective. Do this and you'll be rewarded, do that and you'll be punished. But what are "this" and "that"? Will you be punished with eternal fire for blasphemy, or eating pork, or working on a holy day? Even Christian morality has shifted over time - Jesus was hot on giving up your riches, forgiveness and the destruction of out-of-season fig trees, but the bible happily condones slavery, incest and violence. Are there people in Hell for eating shellfish two thousand years ago while new believers are spared this torment? It's all very baffling.

And that's just looking at Christianity. What if the Buddhists are right and we just come back here?


Where does the bible condone slavery or incest?



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13 Jun 2012, 6:22 pm

SpiritBlooms wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
If people are going to delude themselves by believing that works of fiction hold the truth of the universe, they could at least pick a good work of fiction. So if you really, really need to believe in sh*t all being connected, and spiritual stuff, with unexplained phenomenon actually being explainable by the efforts of tiny invisible elves- convert to Jedi
or Tolkienism. :D


Blasphemy!! There is only one Return- and that is Of the Jedi, broham


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13 Jun 2012, 7:08 pm

Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


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ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
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13 Jun 2012, 7:10 pm

If there was a way to tax the afterlife, government would do it.



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13 Jun 2012, 7:22 pm

This thread is entertaining



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13 Jun 2012, 7:47 pm

snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


It is called an analogy. I also did not said anything about *not* believing in afterlife


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13 Jun 2012, 7:52 pm

Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


It is called an analogy. I also did not said anything about *not* believing in afterlife


Or did you?



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13 Jun 2012, 8:18 pm

Joker wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


It is called an analogy. I also did not said anything about *not* believing in afterlife


Or did you?


Your mom? No..? what the s**t kind of question is that chuck


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13 Jun 2012, 8:21 pm

Huh... I feel sort of like an intruder in an already established conversation :lol:

Oh well I'll get over it~ Belief in afterlife can be good or bad, depending on the way you react to it. Some people fear god and his final judgement, so they refrain themselves from committing crimes, breaking the law, and such, so in this case it can help. It makes them mostly follow what their church say is good, and refran from doing what their church says is evil, so... it can and has been abused by those making the rules, sure, but at least they won't go around killing people in fear of going to hell.

People who believe in an afterlife with a lot of virgins if they kill themselves would be bad, obviously. Or those who get a bad lot inlife and do nothing to change it because they believe they'll get eternal bliss in the afterlife as a reward from all their suffering, I'd rather do my best to be happy in THIS life, which I'm sure exists.


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13 Jun 2012, 8:47 pm

Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


It is called an analogy. I also did not said anything about *not* believing in afterlife


I get that, and I don't get the connection. Reason being is that you are certain avoiding paying your taxes will get you in the end, and you're most likely right, even if you believe you'll be fine. And you compare it to believing in life after death, but you can't be certain about it. It's just a belief.

Bottom line. Bad analogy.


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13 Jun 2012, 8:49 pm

snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
Vigilans wrote:
snapcap wrote:
SpiritBlooms wrote:
I can see positives and negatives to both sides, but there have actually been studies that show people are on the whole happier if they have some believe in an afterlife. Is it a foolish sort of happiness? Who knows?

I believe in an afterlife, but it's not a strong belief - I could be wrong, who's to say? I also don't think about it that much. I try to focus on my current life and live it well. I figure even if I am a spiritual being living a physical existence, there's got to be some purpose to the physical existence and I should do my best to make the best of it. Living for some future, heavenly existence while I'm here wouldn't make much sense.


If it enhances their life, how could it be foolish?


Pretending taxes don't exist would probably also enhance a person's life, though in reality it is a false sense of security that will lead to consequences. At least with the afterlife, there won't be any let down or consequences; unless one's belief about getting there involves killing


What does believing there's life after death have to do with taxes?

How does believing there isn't life after death lead to a false sense of security?


It is called an analogy. I also did not said anything about *not* believing in afterlife


I get that, and I don't get the connection. Reason being is that you are certain avoiding paying your taxes will get you in the end, and you're most likely right, even if you believe you'll be fine. And you compare it to believing in life after death, but you can't be certain about it. It's just a belief.

Bottom line. Bad analogy.


Thus Snapcap has spoken.