"There is no life after death", he says

[ahs]

I posted an article about the 4 last things, to which a friend (I have no idea what his religious affiliation is, of if he’s athiest) said, “there is no life after death”.

How would I respond to that (in a meaningful way)?

My goal isn’t to brush him off, but to engage him in dialog…or at least get him thinking from a different perspective.

 

[fhansen]

I posted an article about the 4 last things, to which a friend (I have no idea what his religious affiliation is, of if he’s athiest) said, “there is no life after death”.

How would I respond to that (in a meaningful way)?

My goal isn’t to brush him off, but to engage him in dialog…or at least get him thinking from a different perspective.

Um, I guess I’d start by asking how he could make such a dogmatic statement-how does he know? Does he somehow know everything about the universe? Does nothing exist unless he’s seen or experienced it?

 

[yankee15]

Without knowing his knowledge of Christianity, I would explain the passion of our Lord to him. Is there any better proof for life after death than the Resurrection itself? Naturally, this will lead do a discussion of the veracity of the Gospels. At the end of the day, he (as well as the rest of us) will read those eyewitness accounts and make a decision on whether we believe what those men wrote. Lead him to the water, and he will decide if he drinks or not.

 

[ahs]

Okay, I took your advice, fhansen.

I said, “Why do you believe that there is no life after death, and how do you feel you are prepared to offer a dogmatic statement about it?”

But, just before I posted that, another gentleman asked him to look up
‘quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur’. (I like that!)

Yankee15, that’s a good idea. I’ll give it a bit and see if he offers anything in response…and pray.

 

[Nan_S]

I said, “Why do you believe that there is no life after death, and how do you feel you are prepared to offer a dogmatic statement about it?”

But, just before I posted that, another gentleman asked him to look up
‘quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur’. (I like that!)

Whatever is freely asserted can be freely denied. Straight to the point.

It has been my experience that many “noble” atheists deny the existence of God because they are comfortable in their self-appointed position of judge, jury, and pope.

 

[ahs]

Okay, he’s a [ex?]Buddhist who had a near-death experience during which he did not see any sign of “faith” or “enlightenment”…therefore, there is nothing after death.

I summarized to him that what I get from his statements; that he had no proof, therefore there is no life after death.

I believe I’ll bring up Christ’s resurrection at this point and recommend “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, unles someone knows a better (or Catholic) alternative to that excellent book?

 

[Nan_S]

Okay, he’s a [ex?]Buddhist who had a near-death experience during which he did not see any sign of “faith” or “enlightenment”…therefore, there is nothing after death.

I summarized to him that what I get from his statements; that he had no proof, therefore there is no life after death.

I believe I’ll bring up Christ’s resurrection at this point and recommend “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, unles someone knows a better (or Catholic) alternative to that excellent book?

Maintaining unrelenting atheism in and of itself takes a lot of faith. You have to have faith that you are the be-all and end-all of your personal piece of the universe, and that ultimately nothing else is more important to you than YOU.

Personally, I don’t have enough of that kind of faith to be an atheist.

Don’t overlook Lee Strobel’s other books: The Case for Faith, The Case for the Real Jesus, and The Case for a Creator.

The Case for Faith would be my #2 choice. It’s a good solid presentation of why it makes sense to believe in God.

I haven’t yet read The Case for the Real Jesus. Some folks get all wrapped around the axle by The Case for a Creator because their scientific “proofs” diverge from Strobel’s.

 

[ahs]

I said:

"It is not logical to dismiss something merely on the basis that you have not personally experienced it, nor seen the proof for yourself.

I would point to the resurrection of Christ as clear evidence that there is life after death. I believe that logic and reasoning, with the witness of history, will give ample evidence to the authenticity and veracity of the early writings that give witness to this.

There is a book that I once read, and I think it offers an honest look into that from a perspective you will appreciate. It was written by an atheist-turned-Christian/investigative journalist. I would like to challenge you to at least read it. I will even send you mine as a gift if you want.
Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ”."

 

[ahs]

Maintaining unrelenting atheism in and of itself takes a lot of faith. You have to have faith that you are the be-all and end-all of your personal piece of the universe, and that ultimately nothing else is more important to you than YOU.

Personally, I don’t have enough of that kind of faith to be an atheist.

Don’t overlook Lee Strobel’s other books: The Case for Faith, The Case for the Real Jesus, and The Case for a Creator.

The Case for Faith would be my #2 choice. It’s a good solid presentation of why it makes sense to believe in God.

I haven’t yet read The Case for the Real Jesus. Some folks get all wrapped around the axle by The Case for a Creator because their scientific “proofs” diverge from Strobel’s.

Ooh…I had forgotten that he wrote other books. I’ll give a recommendation for the Case for Faith as well.

 

[Memaw]

I posted an article about the 4 last things, to which a friend (I have no idea what his religious affiliation is, of if he’s athiest) said, “there is no life after death”.

How would I respond to that (in a meaningful way)?

My goal isn’t to brush him off, but to engage him in dialog…or at least get him thinking from a different perspective.

Won’t he be in for a big surprise someday. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Memaw]

Okay, he’s a [ex?]Buddhist who had a near-death experience during which he did not see any sign of “faith” or “enlightenment”…therefore, there is nothing after death.

I summarized to him that what I get from his statements; that he had no proof, therefore there is no life after death.

I believe I’ll bring up Christ’s resurrection at this point and recommend “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, unles someone knows a better (or Catholic) alternative to that excellent book?

I’ve had a ‘near death’ experience twice in my life and I never heard or saw anything. In fact I didn’t even know it till I was told by my Drs. That didn’t stop me from believing. In fact it helped my belief grow stronger. Prayers for him and you for helping him. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Emily2014]

Totally endorse Meemaw’s wise and humorous comment.
Have some dear friends who are professed atheists and they are all far better ‘Christians’ in their daily lives than I could ever hope to be. One is in fact terminally ill and I am absolutely certain that he will indeed have a wonderful surprise when his earthly life has to end.
There are many paths to Heaven and God knows each one of us. I believe that He leads us gently to Him in His own time and in His own way.
Perhaps it is better just to try to demonstrate the joy we find in Jesus by the way we try to live. Debating that which cannot be proved to a professed unbeliever can some times be negative. Perhaps it is best to just respect what is said, agree to differ, love unreservedly and leave the rest to Almighty God.

 

[schaeffer]

Maintaining unrelenting atheism in and of itself takes a lot of faith. You have to have faith that you are the be-all and end-all of your personal piece of the universe, and that ultimately nothing else is more important to you than YOU.

Personally, I don’t have enough of that kind of faith to be an atheist.

Most atheists I know do not believe nothing is more important than them, in fact that is the antithesis of what they believe.

It is a faith, but there is as much convincing evidence (you may well not agree) for their faith as for many others.

Nor have I met any of them that believe they are the be all and end all of anything.

No point in misrepresenting or misunderstanding another faith. That stance won’t help in any meaningful dialogue.

Atheists do not attempt to replace the concept of god with themselves.

Neither are all or most of them moral relativists.

I’m not here arguing for atheism, just for honest representation of the beliefs of people in general.

 

[ynotzap]

Did any one ever consider dialoguing about the existence of spiritual realities, death is regarded as the cessation of life, a lack of life giving movement in the human body,how about the activity of the human intellect, the use of concepts and their nature?? Death in the human body is the cessation of physical activity, is death of the soul the same, and what is soul?
How is it that we can be conscious of our selves, is this physical? Answering some of these question should be very indicative of life after death. To approach the question from a Faith perspective is not effective, if the person has no faith. If he has it will be a simpler matter. To approach it from a philosophical matter there is a chance, because of man’s natural desire to know the truth. Reason can lead you to the doorstep of Faith, but that will take Jesus to grant it to you, His Spirit
Did he always exist? How is it possible? Is he independent , and self-sufficient, if he has no control of the events in his life, what does that say to him?

 

[Charlemagne_III]

I posted an article about the 4 last things, to which a friend (I have no idea what his religious affiliation is, of if he’s athiest) said, “there is no life after death”.

How would I respond to that (in a meaningful way)?

My goal isn’t to brush him off, but to engage him in dialog…or at least get him thinking from a different perspective.

To deny life after death is to deny spirit. How does he prove he has no soul that survives his body?

Be careful how this is done. Some people are suicidal and really don’t want to survive death!

 

[oldcelt]

To deny life after death is to deny spirit. How does he prove he has no soul that survives his body?

Be careful how this is done. Some people are suicidal and really don’t want to survive death!

How can anyone prove that we do have a soul that survives death? I happen to think it is possible, but I couldn’t prove it.

 

[Milasol]

Okay, he’s a [ex?]Buddhist who had a near-death experience during which he did not see any sign of “faith” or “enlightenment”…therefore, there is nothing after death.

I summarized to him that what I get from his statements; that he had no proof, therefore there is no life after death.

I believe I’ll bring up Christ’s resurrection at this point and recommend “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, unles someone knows a better (or Catholic) alternative to that excellent book?

Check out this Buddhist monk who had a NDE and saw clearly evidence of an after life.

He never heard of Christianity and actually was guided by Jesus

His name is Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu

He saw hell and heaven.

His body was being prepared for cremation. He had been dead for a while. He was also a Buddhist monk who died at a Buddhist monastery.

The curious thing is that he had never learned anything about Christ and after his experience converted to Christianity.

Read more here bibleprobe.com/backfromthedead.htm

 

[ynotzap]

This to me would be the exception, although I heard of some cases who had a NDE. The fact that the man didn’t have any NDE, doesn’t mean that there isn’t life after death. He could consider the testimony of those that had. He could consider all areas of testimony, even some Christian beliefs which include miracles that are confirmed by science, at least science didn’t deny them, they could not explain them, and there is the philosophical approach. So it’s not like there is no evidence, maybe it is willful ignorance. Some people deliberately avoid the truth Some people make little effort to find the truth. And maybe some people are incapable of any depth of understanding. Some people are the source of their own knowledge, If they think so, it must be so.

You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but not all of the people all of the time…A. Lincoln We can know the truth Even on a natural plain it takes belief

 

[Nan_S]

Check out this Buddhist monk who had a NDE and saw clearly evidence of an after life.

He never heard of Christianity and actually was guided by Jesus

His name is Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu

I’ll have to tell you that I’m extremely suspicious of such stories. The identifying information provided is vague and unverifiable, and it sounds way too much like the Urban Legend emails I sometimes get.

 

[Milasol]

I’ll have to tell you that I’m extremely suspicious of such stories. The identifying information provided is vague and unverifiable, and it sounds way too much like the Urban Legend emails I sometimes get.

I agree completely. I was just responding to someone who said that a Buddhist had an NDE and found nothing. I just thought it was ironic to post the story of another Buddhist who contradicted that one.

But that aside, I don’t believe in many NDE’s I have read so many NDEs and out of 100 stories that I read I only believe maybe 2 or 3, if that.

I have read some that I truly think are satanical. See Anita Moorjani. I have read others that were simply false. I have read some that I truly think they had an experience, however I don’t think they were real.