Freethought & Rationalism Archive

cricket · 12-25-2002, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Even if you could choose how you spend eternity--if you believe you aren't locked into the traditional heavenly activity--how long are you going to go before you run out of things to interest you?

It would take a long time, for me.

I can't conceive of being bored, if I get to choose what I do. I'm sure it could happen in an eternity, but it doesn't happen to me, so far. I have only ever been bored if *trapped* (algebra class, for example)

Quote:

If you think you get bored on a rainy Saturday afternoon,

I never feel this way.

Quote:

These dilemmas are always unfairly phrased. What about the situation where I could live as long as I wanted UNTIL I got bored?

Even then, what if you waited a bit, mightnt your boredom pass? And even if you've "read all the books", mightnt you manage to invent stories to amuse yourself? And if you still felt bored, wouldn't it be comforting to know you might feel less bored in future? at least there is hope; once you kill yourself after a few billion years, it is certain that the good times are over. Your life might have felt endless, but once dead, your state is both endless and irreversible.

No heaven and harps for me, thanks, but if I get to do anything I want? I'd volunteer.

happyboy · 12-25-2002, 06:52 AM

yes, i imagine eternal life in heaven would get quite maddening after awhile; no escape from the endless boredom, nothing new to ever do, the same faces over and over again, the same hobbies grown stale, every sensation explored to the point where it no longer thrills, every possible bit knowledge learned, no more personal growth, no more reason to be. yes, it's the thought of eternal life that makes me glad i don't believe in an afterlife.

i'll enjoy fading away when i die. at least then i won't be bored and driven mad by the boredom.

happyboy

wade-w · 12-25-2002, 06:58 AM

I wholeheartedly agree, Diana.

10^trillion years is, in fact, just a drop in a bucket compared to eternity. Even after that much time has passed, you STILL have an eternity to look forward to; you may as well have just started. Its not just doing everything you could possibly want to do just once or twice, but over and over and over and over and over ad naseum.

The very idea is, to me, frightening.

B. H. Manners · 12-25-2002, 10:49 AM

diana,

You brought up a good point. One one surely become very bored and unhappy in such a state.

diana · 12-25-2002, 11:17 AM

Quote:

After this our second death will end eternal life

We appear to be working from different definitions of "eternal," Amos.

d

rainbow walking · 12-25-2002, 11:41 AM

I can think of many reasons why "indefinite" life would be desirable, but only in realistic terms, not the old crapola about some heavenly place dedicated to a non-existent sky daddy. Perhaps enough people endowed (naturally) with indefinite lifespans could, working together, create a utopia in reality.

Eternity is a non-concept that can only be relayed conceptually via second hand descriptors. It doesn't really exist, either...like the gods men have invented in their image, I don't see eternity as a factual prospectus of reality in any application.

(shrug) just my thoughts, be they ever so humble;^)

Greetings everyone and hope you have a merry end of december hiatus with the family and friends.

rw

HelenM · 12-25-2002, 03:21 PM

It's all about trust, diana. Christians trust that eternal life will be a joy rather than unendurable. They are open to it being a joy in a way they can't imagine at present. They don't rationalize "I can't imagine it being a joy therefore something is wrong with my theology". They just assume it's a joy they can't imagine at present.

Helen

HelenM · 12-25-2002, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rainbow walking:
<strong>Greetings everyone and hope you have a merry end of december hiatus with the family and friends.

rw</strong>

You too, rw! Welcome back!

(I also posted a greeting to you in GRD - I hope that doesn't count as 'spamming'

)

Helen

rainbow walking · 12-26-2002, 02:13 PM

Hoping you and yours are well

John

HelenM · 12-26-2002, 02:54 PM

Yes, thanks, very well! I hope the same for you

Helen

12-26-2002, 02:13 PM	#19
rainbow walking Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Erewhon Posts: 2,608	Hi Helen Hoping you and yours are well John

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-25-2002, 06:52 AM	#12
happyboy Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the border between here and there, WV Posts: 373	yes, i imagine eternal life in heaven would get quite maddening after awhile; no escape from the endless boredom, nothing new to ever do, the same faces over and over again, the same hobbies grown stale, every sensation explored to the point where it no longer thrills, every possible bit knowledge learned, no more personal growth, no more reason to be. yes, it's the thought of eternal life that makes me glad i don't believe in an afterlife. i'll enjoy fading away when i die. at least then i won't be bored and driven mad by the boredom. happyboy

12-25-2002, 06:58 AM	#13
wade-w Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Silver City, New Mexico Posts: 1,872	I wholeheartedly agree, Diana. 10^trillion years is, in fact, just a drop in a bucket compared to eternity. Even after that much time has passed, you STILL have an eternity to look forward to; you may as well have just started. Its not just doing everything you could possibly want to do just once or twice, but over and over and over and over and over ad naseum. The very idea is, to me, frightening.

12-25-2002, 10:49 AM	#14
B. H. Manners Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,213	diana, You brought up a good point. One one surely become very bored and unhappy in such a state.

12-25-2002, 11:41 AM	#16
rainbow walking Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Erewhon Posts: 2,608	I can think of many reasons why "indefinite" life would be desirable, but only in realistic terms, not the old crapola about some heavenly place dedicated to a non-existent sky daddy. Perhaps enough people endowed (naturally) with indefinite lifespans could, working together, create a utopia in reality. Eternity is a non-concept that can only be relayed conceptually via second hand descriptors. It doesn't really exist, either...like the gods men have invented in their image, I don't see eternity as a factual prospectus of reality in any application. (shrug) just my thoughts, be they ever so humble;^) Greetings everyone and hope you have a merry end of december hiatus with the family and friends. rw

12-25-2002, 03:21 PM	#17
HelenM Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ill Posts: 6,577	It's all about trust, diana. Christians trust that eternal life will be a joy rather than unendurable. They are open to it being a joy in a way they can't imagine at present. They don't rationalize "I can't imagine it being a joy therefore something is wrong with my theology". They just assume it's a joy they can't imagine at present. Helen

12-26-2002, 02:54 PM	#20
HelenM Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ill Posts: 6,577	Yes, thanks, very well! I hope the same for you Helen

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.