Thread: Do you believe in a 'Afterlife'?

I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.

-Carl Sagan

<3 Carl Sagan

Originally Posted by Conkt

One must be extremely arrogant to believe there is a system in place allowing them, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot of the universe, to live forever. Besides, eternity is a long time; you wouldn't want it.

The human body is a very intelligent biological organism that we do not understand rather than something insignificant. Absolute arrogance or stupidity would be associating such intelligence and complexity with something meaningless such as a insignificant dot. Consciousness as we experience it is something quite valuable. Life as a human is quite amazing if you care to notice. Just because the universe is so large doesn't mean we are not important. Just because the universe is so infinite doesn't mean we don't have a life of our own within it. There's just as many lifeforms of intelligence functioning below us. In comparison to things like bacteria we are highly evolved beings.

As for not wanting to live forever. That is more shortsighted nonsense and a childlike attitude. Any intelligent person worth their salt certainly wants to live forever if possible. In fact that's the ultimate goal of every decent alchemist throughout history. Anyone that doesn't want to live forever has not yet understood how to appreciate life and it's diversity. Has not yet understood about it's infinite possibility. Only a fool chooses death over eternal life.

Is there an afterlife? It's a logical conclusion from the information avaliable today. Unbiased research would lead you in that general direction.

Originally Posted by Praise

The human body is a very intelligent biological organism that we do not understand rather than something insignificant. Absolute arrogance or stupidity would be associating such intelligence and complexity with something meaningless such as a insignificant dot. Consciousness as we experience it is something quite valuable. Life as a human is quite amazing if you care to notice. Just because the universe is so large doesn't mean we are not important. Just because the universe is so infinite doesn't mean we don't have a life of our own within it. There's just as many lifeforms of intelligence functioning below us. In comparison to things like bacteria we are highly evolved beings.

As for not wanting to live forever. That is more shortsighted nonsense and a childlike attitude. Any intelligent person worth their salt certainly wants to live forever if possible. In fact that's the ultimate goal of every decent alchemist throughout history. Anyone that doesn't want to live forever has not yet understood how to appreciate life and it's diversity. Has not yet understood about it's infinite possibility. Only a fool chooses death over eternal life.

Is there an afterlife? It's a logical conclusion from the information avaliable today. Unbiased research would lead you in that general direction.

Evidence and sources would be much appreciated here, seeing as how I have seen absolutely no reliable evidence to support the notion of an afterlife.

Even if I gave you sources you would complain about them with a closed mind. That's why I give you none.

Originally Posted by Praise

Even if I gave you sources you would complain about them with a closed mind. That's why I give you none.

I'm perfectly open to new ideas, and while I do not presently believe, things change. I would do little more than analyze them critically and as logically as possible, whilst doing my best to maintain an open mind and unbiased view. Believe it or not, I would love to believe in the afterlife, but as I stated, I have not yet come across any convincing arguments or scientific evidence.

EDIT: and just a note on close-mindedness:

I'm perfectly open to new ideas, and while I do not presently believe, things change. I would do little more than analyze them critically and as logically as possible, whilst doing my best to maintain an open mind and unbiased view. Believe it or not, I would love to believe in the afterlife, but as I stated, I have not yet come across any convincing arguments or scientific evidence.

If you haven't come across any sources. That's your own problem. If you are happy in your ignorance thinking you are balanced that is not my business either.