If you knew for a fact that life ceased to exist after death, how would you live your life now?

[LuckyOle]

This is a long thread and I haven’t read all of it.
(sorry if this is a repeat)

There was a recent article where an animal researcher indicated that sharing and thus morals was sort of a natural behavior.

It seemed the guy was making the point that religion was our cover for this behavior, but then he came around and sort of agreed that being actively taught a moral code (even by religions) was better than the natural state.

I wish I had payed more attention to the program now, it may have been on NPR

To answer the OP, I find the challenges of Love and even sacrifice to be rewarding, and give life meaning. I would see no difference in my behavior.

 

[hxcCatholic413]

Yes, but if you knew for a fact that life ceased to exist after death, how would you live your life now?

Curiously,
Mick

I think Gary was saying that us Americans live like life ceases to exist after death today for the most part.

 

[hxcCatholic413]

How is it then that atheists can be moral people? Surely god does not give these graces to people who openly deny him.

Everyone is in a different journey to seek God…even atheists. To think differently would be ignorant. God loves all of his children.

 

[stevealbert99]

Atheists are still human beings and therefore created in the image of God.

While they might not believe in God, He believe in them.

It is not a defined dogma that the god of Islam is the same God of the Christians and Jews. Even if he is the same God, the Church teaches that public revelation ended at the death of the last Apostle so the revelation of Islam can not be viewed by Catholics as being binding. It would, at best, be a private revelation and a private revelation can not have the intention of improving public revelation, which I believe Islam thinks.

So while some in the Church may say Muslims worship the same god there are conditions within in Teaching of the Church on that.

Also, some of what Islam does is base off of the hadiths and sharia law, which are not from the Qur’an, but rather are traditions of men.

In the Qur’an it specifically tells the Muslims to kill infidels. I never said they were the same god. How can you know that the Christian version of god is the true god, and the Muslim version is not? Muslims look at Christianity and think the exact same thing that you do but in reverse.

 

[stevealbert99]

Everyone is in a different journey to seek God…even atheists. To think differently would be ignorant. God loves all of his children.

Atheist are not “on a journey to seek God”, because they do not believe in him. To think differently would be ignorant.

 

[stevealbert99]

The god of Islam is not the one true God. I thought that was a given, considering this is a Catholic website.

How do you know that? The Muslims believe that their god is the true god, and the god of Christianity is false. Who is to say they are wrong?

 

[SSTeacher]

SSTeacher;7376684:

Yes, but if you knew for a fact that life ceased to exist after death, how would you live your life now?

Curiously,
Mick

I think Gary was saying that us Americans live like life ceases to exist after death today for the most part.

Thanks for your interpretation.

Appreciatively,
Mick

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Wrong. * Evolution* favors all animals that are capable of forming tribes, clans and ultimately as in the case of humans, nations. . Highly ordered animals such as wolves, , wild dogs, lions, hyenas and many others thrive because they live in well-ordered packs. Animals that hunt alone are not favored, and many are threatened with extinction–cats in general, especially tigers and cheetahs. Human beings tend to do better in well-organized societies. Those that live in smaller units, which for humans is in clans and tribes, rather than countries, tend to fight amongst themselves, be isolated and not thrive. . Afghanistan is one of these, which has one of the smallest population in the Middle East. This is what hurt the North American tribes. They were relatively small and didn’t cooperate amongst themselves. Those that did cooperate were able to raise formidable opposition to the European invaders.

Friend, your response is completely irrelevant to the context of the original question. The OP, who believes in God, was asking others who do how they would behave if God didn’t exist. The question presumed a certain moral context; responses that ignore or deny that context miss the important part of the discussion.

Evolution, which favors the survival of human beings by their organization of societies, is what favors man’s domination of the earth. Religion has in general been very destructive. Catholics wiped out the Albigensians and Cathars in the South of France, burned many Jews in Spain and Portugal and forced the emigration of the Moors and Jews, the lifeblood of Spain, which led to a centuries-long decline. The Muslims wiped out entire populations of Buddhists when they advanced eastward, and the Sunnis and Shiites are at it today.

Whether or not religion has been destructive is not the issue – even if your understanding of history is misguided.

Peace,
Dante

 

[DanteAlighieri]

How is it then that atheists can be moral people? Surely god does not give these graces to people who openly deny him.
You don’t think that we would have figured out not to kill and steal from each other without god?

God has written the natural law on all of our hearts. Even those who turn away from him know, on some level, what is right and wrong.

God is the objective good? what about the god of Islam, who orders Muslims to kill infidels and stone women to death? How is that objective good?

Man’s understanding of God is not the same thing as God, who revealed Himself to His people through Jesus Christ and the founding of the Catholic Church. Even in ancient times, when people thought lightning was Zeus smiting his foes, God existed – and truth existed, too.

Peace,
Dante

 

[lakotak]

It seems to me that if you go on the premise that God does not exit, then the devil could not exist either, so how would would you know how you would live without the morals of good and evil to guide you in one direction or the other?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

How do you know that? The Muslims believe that their god is the true god, and the god of Christianity is false. Who is to say they are wrong?

Because of my faith, Tradition, and the Holy Scriptures (Also could replace these last two with the Church).

Reason can tell us there is a God, or Uncaused Cause, or Uncreated Creator, but that is all reason can tell us.

We must look to the Church for the rest.

It is a very individualized journey and I really can’t explain it all to you here.

Especially since you resist in believing.

 

[stevealbert99]

Man’s understanding of God is not the same thing as God, who revealed Himself to His people through Jesus Christ and the founding of the Catholic Church. Even in ancient times, when people thought lightning was Zeus smiting his foes, God existed – and truth existed, too.

Peace,
Dante

you did not answer my question…

 

[stevealbert99]

Because of my faith, Tradition, and the Holy Scriptures (Also could replace these last two with the Church).

Reason can tell us there is a God, or Uncaused Cause, or Uncreated Creator, but that is all reason can tell us.

We must look to the Church for the rest.

It is a very individualized journey and I really can’t explain it all to you here.

Especially since you resist in believing.

in case you didn’t know, tradition and holy scriptures, which is what your faith is based on, are creations of man, just as the Qur’an is a creation of man. How do you know which man was right and which was wrong? You can’t.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

in case you didn’t know, tradition and holy scriptures, which is what your faith is based on, are creations of man, just as the Qur’an is a creation of man. How do you know which man was right and which was wrong? You can’t.

I know you are banned but I am responding for everyone else.

We do not believe that Tradition and the Holy Scriptures are solely the creation of man, we believe that they are inspired by God.

I know you are an atheist but do not distort our beliefs.

 

[snowflakes]

…

 

[snowflakes]

in case you didn’t know, tradition and holy scriptures, which is what your faith is based on, are creations of man, just as the Qur’an is a creation of man. How do you know which man was right and which was wrong? You can’t.

And your proof is where? Besides, your an atheist, which is fine and all but you really can’t force your non-beliefs on believers. Having opinons is one thing but you are going beyond that. I am not sure why you would want to post on a catholic forum unless you just wanted to learn about the catholic religion but it seems you just want to debate it. Which would be fine on a debate forum but this isn’t that type of forum.

Well, I can’t say Merry Christmas to you, so just Have a Nice Day! And to everyone else, have a Merry Christmas and thank you all for the replies.
Okay, that’s all I had to say. I didn’t even realize my thread was still going on.

 

[Ichthys4121517]

How do you know that? The Muslims believe that their god is the true god, and the god of Christianity is false. Who is to say they are wrong?

Who’s to say you’re wrong, or I’m wrong, or anyone’s wrong, according to your philosophy? Why criticize our beliefs if you claim that one person’s beliefs are as good as the other’s? There has to be someone who is wrong and someone who is right. I wouldn’t be a very intellectually honest person if I admitted that I believed in something that, for all intents and purposes, is “just another religion”, now would I? I believe I am right, and I have reason to believe I am right, just as you would claim.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

you did not answer my question…

Yes, I did. Re-read that post, if you’re still around.

Peace,
Dante

 

[1234]

How is it then that atheists can be moral people? Surely god does not give these graces to people who openly deny him.
You don’t think that we would have figured out not to kill and steal from each other without god?

God is the objective good? what about the god of Islam, who orders Muslims to kill infidels and stone women to death? How is that objective good?

We don’t kill and steal for the benefit of society including the town in which we live and our families. We all must contribute to the fabric of society. . Being nice and considerate to people, donating and volunteering is satisfying to ourselves, builds friendships, community and goodwill. Most people aren’t included to murder and steal. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see this.

I don’t think that stoning and murder is in the Koran. These are the actions of a lawless, disordered community.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

We don’t kill and steal for the benefit of society including the town in which we live and our families. We all must contribute to the fabric of society. . Being nice and considerate to people, donating and volunteering is satisfying to ourselves, builds friendships, community and goodwill. Most people aren’t included to murder and steal. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see this.

I don’t think that stoning and murder is in the Koran. These are the actions of a lawless, disordered community.

The order to kill infidels and Jews is DEFINITELY in the Koran. The stonings and honor killings are part of Sharia law and Arab culture.