joedad

Yes I would be and have been. And you're right, such an assertion is not very well "thought-out."

You should remember to distinguish, however, that most atheists probably do not have a belief in a personal and conscious afterlife. Doesn't this qualify as a huge difference? I think this is the thrust of Ipetrich's question.

And why do some christians make this fallacious connection between belief in a god and life having meaning? Surely one can give life a meaning/purpose without gods, or is this merely a distinguishing characteristic of fundies?

The best I've heard it argued, though not from fundies, is that suicide is wrong because salvation must be earned. So, among some christians, though not necessarily fundies, the meaning/purpose of life is to gain salvation I guess?

joe

[edited for spelling. Gotta use WORD.]

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: joedad ]</p>

Bree

Point well-made and well-taken, Helen .

brighid

Because there is no God and deep down they know it, so they aren't anxious to "meet their Maker!"

Brighid

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: brighid ]</p>

Mad Kally

What are you talking about. The subject is about why fundies won't commit suicide. They usually think they will go to hell. I don't believe in fictional creatures.

HelenM

I did say maybe

Good point

I need to remember that!

Thanks for your comment Goliath. I take your point about atheism not being a worldview - I should not have said that, after being here so long!

Nevertheless I disagree that my comment falls flat on its face simply for that reason. I think I can restate it as "would you see that as a well thought-out, meaningful, analysis of the implications of the worldview of any atheist?"

In which case their worldviews can all be different but to a theist who would make a comment like I theorized, they all would be meaningless because they all lack what gives any worldview meaning.

Anyway it's not something I'd say, just to be clear. Although I do still make mistakes, evidently, like saying "the atheist worldview"...sorry folks, I do pay attention; it was a slip of my brain and fingers...

take care
Helen

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: HelenM ]</p>

lpetrich

I'd be totally baffled; I'd wonder what the point of that comment was.

HelenM

That's interesting...

In that case do you mind if I ask what the point of your post that opened this thread was?

(And so I don't just get a 'yes' or 'no' answer: if you don't mind me asking, would you tell me what it was?)

Helen

phlebas

Well, I don't wanna speak for lpetrich, but...

There is a difference. Your standard-issue Christian believes that there is some amazing place waiting for him and all those like him after death. It's going to make mortal life seem like excruciating pain. Your happiest Earthly moments will be like getting your toenails ripped off with salt-covered tweezers compared to Heaven.

Your standard-issue atheist believes that when you die, there is no "better place" waiting for them. So it behooves us atheists to get the most out of this life that we can, 'cause it's probably a one-shot deal.

So, if Heaven is such great shakes, why do the people who believe they're going there drag their heels about starting the trip? And can I say that might be the first time I've used all three of "they're/there/their" in one sentence?

Anyway, since I think this is my only trip through this whole existence thing, I'm not looking forward to having to get off the bus. But for those who think the bus sucks compared to the magic happy fun candy factory that is it's destination, why wouldn't they step on the gas?

I see joedad said much the same, but with fewer words

lpetrich

That was my whole point. If one will be so much happier after one dies, then why not send oneself there? And why act as if one was afraid to go there?

ashibaka

A religion that encourages its followers to commit suicide will very quickly have no followers. Call it a natural selection of religions

That's not a very nice thing to say... X_x The analogy still makes sense, so don't prod the incorrect wording.