sullster

I have observed that the eternal life belief doesn't seem to give as much comfort to the theists as one would think. I have family members who are firm believers, who are suffering depression and grief from the passing of a Father.

I know grief is a natural aspect of human consciousness, but I expected that eternal life believers should be less troubled. I have witnessed just the opposite and I don't understand. It seems to me that if you REALLY believed that your relative is living somewhere else, then why all the tears and grief? Is it not the same as having someone go on a trip? They are just out of view, but alive somewhere else. You don't grieve when someone travels to another area from you.

I am disappointed with the theists. For all their ranting and posturing, it seems they really don't believe a major tenet of their religion. Why all the crying and depression? What gives?

Phishfood

because they miss them...
i certainly do get lonely and miss people and am unhappy when they're gone. especially gone permanently. you can be happy for someone, think they're gonig to a better place, and still be upset when they leave. just think of parents when their kids leave the house. my mom had severe ENS, still does, but its not like she hates that im at college or thinks i dont exist anymore.

-Pf

Jehanne

They really do not believe in an afterlife (or their religion, for that matter), are full of doubts and insecurity (“Is it really true?�?) and either respectful of or disdain atheism, the philosophy that they know “deep down�? to be true but are too traumatized to admit and embrace "the light".

MsChutzpah

Me and a couple of friends were discussing this very thing the other night. I said that IF the believers REALLY, REALLY, reeeeeaallly did believe in heaven, and they REALLY did believe they were going there when they die, that death would not be any big deal, and they'd rejoice when a loved one told them they were on their way to 'gloryland'.
I've found that the most vocal, die-hard believers to be the ones with the worst fears with regards to death and dying.
I simply do not believe very many truly believe; but like everything else with religion, it is merely wishful thinking.

Jehanne

There are people like that! (Ever listen to the 9/11 tapes of the airplanes before they hit the Towers?)

advancedatheist

Christians portray god as an entity which literally cannot receive enough worship, ever, no matter how tedious it becomes to its worshippers. Yet they think it's good that they are condemned to spend eternity in god's presence. It sounds like a punishment to me, along the lines of a proverb about the unpleasant justice of getting what you foolishly wish for.

sullster

Thanks for thinking about the same issue. I agree with your conclusion and if I were a priest or a fundy minister, I would be very angry with any depressed and grieving believers.

"How dare they be sad when we all KNOW that Grandma is happily in heaven." "To think otherwise is the sin of doubt and thou shalt be burned forever because of thine doubt".- Hypothetical cleryman lines.

Philippe*

I don't want to be rude but if they truly believe that the person is now in bliss and happiness, do they cry for the deceased or for themselves, because they feel themselves alone, abandoned, the loved person is no more here close to them ?

Philippe

sullster

You are not rude.

Perhaps they all cry because they are happy. Tears of happiness because the loved one is in bliss. That would at least be consistent with the belief.

Crying for their own problems seems so selfish. I am sure that the preacher men and priests would not want to see such an attitude shown by TRUE believers. Hellfire awaits you know.

Philippe*

It was the same with some members of my catholic family at a funeral, actually I doubt they truly believed that the deceased was now happy in heaven, they just hope and would like it is true. I even doubt this day whether the priest himself believed what he said, but that's another point.

Philippe