To atheist: what will you feel AFTER death

[Led_Zeppelin75]

One of the reasons religions were founded is so that men can have reason to make themselves feel superior to others who don’t believe in it. The whole “you’re going to hell because you don’t agree with me” really pisses me off.

“Better recognize your brothers
Ev’ryone you meet”

–John Lennon from "Instant Karma"

 

[Pug]

UnknownCloud:

Nirvana is also another way to cope with the fear of death and suffering.
Just be honest and admit it - that is why people seek truth - to conquer fear!

I think truth is valuable for its own sake. It is simply better to know that deciduous trees shed their leaves. That has nothing to do with fear (well, most people have no fears about leaves).

 

[ahimsaman72]

UnknownCloud:

.

Nirvana is also another way to cope with the fear of death and suffering.
Just be honest and admit it - that is why people seek truth - to conquer fear!

Just so that we are on the same page - I posted what my learning of Buddhism had taught me. Nirvana itself is not simply an idea or notion. The Buddha himself attained nirvana in his historical body. In the Buddhist teachings there is no Creator God - no birth and no death. Everything is in the process of change. There is no “self”.

So, it’s not really accurate to say that Nirvana is a way to cope with death. Because - there is no death. To imply death there must be something that dies - a self. This doesn’t exist in Buddhist teaching.

Hopefully, this has helped clear some things up. I think people seek truth because it is our nature to want to know. There are many emotions that can make us seek truth. It can be anger, fear, compassion and love.

Peace…

 

[ahimsaman72]

Led Zeppelin75:

One of the reasons religions were founded is so that men can have reason to make themselves feel superior to others who don’t believe in it. The whole “you’re going to hell because you don’t agree with me” really pisses me off.

“Better recognize your brothers
Ev’ryone you meet”

–John Lennon from "Instant Karma"

I understand your frustration. We should all be open-minded and seek the betterment of each other, rather than attempting endlessly to prove each other wrong. We should help each other to realize truth.

Peace…

 

[UnknownCloud]

Anyway, man has always tried to understand his world and his purpose in life. Buddhism is a path to liberate one from suffering. It doesn’t seek to solve the mysteries of life and death. Shakyamuni Buddha did not speculate on the existence of gods. He thought to dwell on such things was a waste of time and energy. On the outside Buddhism looks like it is a coping mechanism, but that is not true. The same can be said of Christianity - that God is a crutch for the weak minded. But, of course, this is not true either.

This is what makes Buddhism wise, but also why it isn’t true. In this sense, buddhism isn’t a ‘religion’, but it is often treated as such. What Easterners dislike about Christianity is what I dislike about Eastern thought - that it gets dragged into simplistic ‘rules’ and ‘canons’.
I still practice Zen, because Zen is not a religion. Zen, like many Buddhists sects, is simply a way to live - but it has no real beginning or end in and of itself - it is wisdom, and totally at the feet of Jesus who was himself more ‘zen’ than ‘jewish’.
Christianity is worthless unless its revelation came from God - unless its path was paved by Truth Himself. As St. Paul said, ‘If Jesus was not raised form the dead, our faith is in vain…’
Christianity is not just a way, it is either The Way, and other ways imitate it imperfectly, or it is not. It is either the Faith that man needs or it is not.
With respect to Cherubino’s experience (thank you for sharing that btw), I can certainly relate to that. However, once I felt at peace - I still yearned to know why there are flowers, why my experience was so beautiful no art (no forms) can imitate it, and why I am still alive. Being at peace doesn’t mean the end of thought, although it may mean the end of indulgence.

I know its somewhat futile to argue over what Buddhism holds as actual (I guess I can’t call it truth), but I would like to know how Buddhism could claim ‘no soul’ or ‘no self’ when such an idea is so rigidly impressed upon us, and so intangible in its nature that no one really knows what a ‘soul’ actually is, how can such a thing be negated if it is, in essense, misunderstood to begin with? Surely, one must know what it is he is avoiding if it is to truly be avoided.

Pax

 

[AnAtheist]

Before I answer that question I like to point out, that the question of an afterlife is not necessarily connected to the question whether there is a god or not. There may be an afterlife but no god. There may be a god but no afterlife. And haven’t yet introduced reincarnation…

So much for the theory, practically I expect to cease to exist, therefore I’ll be feeling nothing at all.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Like I said before,every person has a God given conscience that tells them there is a God. Its just that its smoke filled and lied to by the enemy[satan]. Atheists can continue to deny it but hopefully Gods Truth wll someday set them FREE. God Bless

 

[AnAtheist]

Pug:

I don’t see why the thought of what they might feel after death would be disturbing to a generic atheist. I surmise many just say they die and that is it…cessation. The process of dying would retain some fear, I’m sure. Who wants to experience that, especially if it is slow and painful?

Exactly.
I surely don’t want to die, at least not now, as there is still much to do which I haven’t done yet.
I suppose the average atheist fears death far less than the average theist. The atheist e.g. does not fear judgement nor punishment.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

AnAtheist:

Exactly.
I surely don’t want to die, at least not now, as there is still much to do which I haven’t done yet.
I suppose the average atheist fears death far less than the average theist. The atheist e.g. does not fear judgement nor punishment.

And thats because they are LIED to by no other than the great deciever,father of lies, SATAN.

 

[AnAtheist]

SPOKENWORD:

And thats because they are LIED to by no other than the great deciever,father of lies, SATAN.

Ähem, this might shock you, but atheists do not believe in Satan either.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Ähem, this might shock you, but atheists do not believe in Satan either.

No, im not in shock,again just another Lie by Satan again that he also doesnt exist. Satan has also told you there is no God ,there is no Hell,ect…

 

[AnAtheist]

SPOKENWORD:

No, im not in shock,again just another Lie by Satan again that he also doesnt exist. Satan has also told you there is no God ,there is no Hell,ect…

No mystical being has ever told me anything.
If I started to hear voices, I'd stopped taking those drugs.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

AnAtheist:

No mystical being has ever told me anything.
If I started to hear voices, I'd stopped taking those drugs.

You mean your God given conscience hasnt spoken to you.Dont decieve yourself for this is the way God created you. What you need to do is be still and listen and know there is a God.

 

[Carl]

*To atheist: what will you feel AFTER death *

Words on a tombstone:

Here lies that atheist so-and-so;
all dressed up and no place to go.

 

[Carl]

SPOKENWORD

The atheist e.g. does not fear judgement nor punishment.

So much the worse for them. Had they such fears, they might not be largest proportion of any prison population … which they usually are.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Carl:

SPOKENWORD

The atheist e.g. does not fear judgement nor punishment.

So much the worse for them. Had they such fears, they might not be largest proportion of any prison population … which they usually are.

Thanks Carl,BUT they will when they face God on judgement day. God Bless.

 

[ahimsaman72]

UnknownCloud:

This is what makes Buddhism wise, but also why it isn’t true. In this sense, buddhism isn’t a ‘religion’, but it is often treated as such. What Easterners dislike about Christianity is what I dislike about Eastern thought - that it gets dragged into simplistic ‘rules’ and ‘canons’.
I still practice Zen, because Zen is not a religion. Zen, like many Buddhists sects, is simply a way to live - but it has no real beginning or end in and of itself - it is wisdom, and totally at the feet of Jesus who was himself more ‘zen’ than ‘jewish’.
Christianity is worthless unless its revelation came from God - unless its path was paved by Truth Himself. As St. Paul said, ‘If Jesus was not raised form the dead, our faith is in vain…’
Christianity is not just a way, it is either The Way, and other ways imitate it imperfectly, or it is not. It is either the Faith that man needs or it is not.
With respect to Cherubino’s experience (thank you for sharing that btw), I can certainly relate to that. However, once I felt at peace - I still yearned to know why there are flowers, why my experience was so beautiful no art (no forms) can imitate it, and why I am still alive. Being at peace doesn’t mean the end of thought, although it may mean the end of indulgence.

I know its somewhat futile to argue over what Buddhism holds as actual (I guess I can’t call it truth), but I would like to know how Buddhism could claim ‘no soul’ or ‘no self’ when such an idea is so rigidly impressed upon us, and so intangible in its nature that no one really knows what a ‘soul’ actually is, how can such a thing be negated if it is, in essense, misunderstood to begin with? Surely, one must know what it is he is avoiding if it is to truly be avoided.

Pax

Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

Buddhism can be a philosophy or religion. I believe it is more a philosophy myself. It’s considered a religion because it has some similarities to other religions. There’s a founder - there’s religious texts, etc. It is both at the same time.

I agree that Buddhism and its practice of meditation is a practice - it is a way to live. But that very fact gives it religious overtones. It is a “religion” to those who practice devotional Buddhism, such as Pure Land or Sokka Gokkai. It is a philosophy to Mahayanists.

It is many things to many people. It’s not culture bound like Judaism for example. It can be assimilated into any culture and adaptable.

I’m Christian myself. I have found the philosophy of Buddhism and the practice of meditation very helpful and insightful. There are Catholic monks who also practice meditation and appreciate the efforts and wisdom of Buddhist monks. They have shared services and meditation practices.

Thich Nhat Hanh himself has practiced with Catholic monks. Thomas Merton was a great fan of Thich Nhat Hanh.

It shouldn’t be so dismissed. There’s much to learn.

Peace…

 

[ahimsaman72]

Carl:

SPOKENWORD

The atheist e.g. does not fear judgement nor punishment.

So much the worse for them. Had they such fears, they might not be largest proportion of any prison population … which they usually are.

I believe you have stereotyped atheists here. Have you any proof to back up your assertion?

 

[AnAtheist]

ahimsaman72:

I believe you have stereotyped atheists here. Have you any proof to back up your assertion?

I guess he hasn’t: Here is some interesting statistic on the religion of prison inmates in England and Wales: adherents.com/misc/adh_prison3.html

Check out the 31.3.2000 e.g.:
0.2% Atheists
17.3% Roman Catholics

Now what?

Granted there are 0.1% Agnostics and 31.6% “no religion”, whatever that means. The report states it is most likely a calculation error, but anyway let’s assume for a minute they are all atheists… Makes 31.9% atheists and thus 68.1% criminals believing in some sort of god.

Excuse me for a minute while I laugh.

 

[AnAtheist]

SPOKENWORD:

Thanks Carl,BUT they will when they face God on judgement day. God Bless.

@CARL: Yes, fear will keep them in line.

@SPOKENWORD et al: I do not fear your god, and I do not listen to your god’s adversary. Just as you do not fear the wrath of Thor or listen to the deceptions of Loki. You can only impress people with that kind of reasoning who are part of your belief system. It does not work on outsiders.