Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Elation · 08-26-2004, 10:15 PM

Whether theist or atheist, please answer the question.

Frequently at these boards we discuss the existence or nonexistence of some kind of afterlife. Temporarily disregarding whether or not one exists, do you want and afterlife to exist? If yes, what kind of afterlife would it have to be? Whether yes or no, what are your reasons?

MilitantModerate · 08-26-2004, 10:19 PM

I don't so much want an after life but rather an 'apres vie'.

/apologies to Douglas Adams

WCH · 08-26-2004, 10:20 PM

I would like one. I don't believe there is one, and that's a little depressing; I just don't want to cease existing. Reincarnation, Heaven, Valhalla, whatever... as long as it's not just over.

Then again, if it's over, you're not around to be depressed about it.

wildernesse · 08-26-2004, 10:27 PM

I don't know. I would like to be able to always be around the people I love--the security of knowing that I will never have to lose my parents or husband (for example) and the bliss of being able to know that people who I've loved still know me and share in my life after they are gone. It's always incredibly sad for me to think of all the life that people miss out on once they die, and all the experiences that will not be shared.

I take the don't know part back--I would like that kind of afterlife (well, really continuing awareness after death) very much.

_Naturalist_ · 08-26-2004, 10:40 PM

It all depends on what it would be like. I don't even know what I would want it to be, but perhaps a place where I can have a harem of Jessica Alba look-a-likes, a place where lasagna and pizza are abundant, a place where the library contains all there is to know about the cosmos, a place where coca-cola flows like water and is healthy, a place without reality TV (the producers and participators never reached this place, they seem to have ended up "downstairs"), a place where people don't have a perverse need to steal from, backstab, beat up, torture or kill other people (not that it would be possible to kill someone there but still)... I don't know. As long as I don't have to play the harp for all eternity, I suppose.

But really, would it be possible to instead get to be semi-immortal, so I could, say, "freeze" my age at where I am now (27) but still live "forever" here on earth? Because that would not be bad either, as I see it.

DougP · 08-26-2004, 10:41 PM

The concept of afterlife is a bit odd. I answered No. So let me explain. First of all, i answered no, because I really dont care whether or not there is an afterlife, because I am living in the "current life" right now, and it does not effect me whether or not I will go somewhere else after my time here ends. Second of all, if there is an "afterlife" can someone explain to me how it is not just "life" somewhere else?

Yahzi · 08-26-2004, 11:01 PM

Um... how can any rational person vote for any option other than "It depends on what it would be?"

Well, of course it does.

I'm sorry, but I think your poll is badly constructed. You might find it profitable to recreate it.

Dyrwen · 08-26-2004, 11:11 PM

I've always been in favor of eternal life, even if it is after my own life is complete.

However impossible that might be, given the question, doesn't mean I can't "want" there to be one, even if I don't believe there is.

Miss Anne Thrope · 08-26-2004, 11:27 PM

Even if there were an afterlife I wouldn't want it, and I'm going to tell you why.

I'm the result of twenty-six years of non-stop experience at being alive. I sit here behind these eyes and by will alone the universe moves around me. (Your perception may differ.) I get to interact with the scenery and those who inhabit it. Whoever I am, it's the weight of all that interacting. A mind heavily conditioned sitting inside the skull of a primate that wears pants, which mingles with other primates that - usually, also wear pants - that's all I know how to be. I wouldn't want it any other way.

If I die all that ceases. All that experience I've acquired is suddenly made null. What ever life might proceed this one, it won't be ME living it.

Fuck the afterlife. I don't want it.

queser · 08-27-2004, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Secular Elation

Temporarily disregarding whether or not one exists, do you want and afterlife to exist? If yes, what kind of afterlife would it have to be? Whether yes or no, what are your reasons?

one fact is clear and that is whatever we think, do or want will not influence whether there is an afterlife or not

though, yes i want one, and i want one where these things occur amongst other things:

justice (all the suckers who got away here will get what they deserve eventually)
happiness
no boredom
new pleasures, meaning things i cannot imagine that will be given for pure enjoyment
peace

etc. etc.

View Poll Results: Do you want an afterlife to exist?
Yes.	11	11.96%
No.	18	19.57%
Yes, but only if it was finite.	5	5.43%
Depends on what it would be.	53	57.61%
Other answer (please elaborate)	5	5.43%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

08-26-2004, 10:15 PM	#1
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	Do you WANT an afterlife? Whether theist or atheist, please answer the question. Frequently at these boards we discuss the existence or nonexistence of some kind of afterlife. Temporarily disregarding whether or not one exists, do you want and afterlife to exist? If yes, what kind of afterlife would it have to be? Whether yes or no, what are your reasons?

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08-26-2004, 10:19 PM	#2
MilitantModerate Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 603	I don't so much want an after life but rather an 'apres vie'. /apologies to Douglas Adams

08-26-2004, 10:20 PM	#3
WCH Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 6,290	I would like one. I don't believe there is one, and that's a little depressing; I just don't want to cease existing. Reincarnation, Heaven, Valhalla, whatever... as long as it's not just over. Then again, if it's over, you're not around to be depressed about it.

08-26-2004, 10:27 PM	#4
wildernesse Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,578	I don't know. I would like to be able to always be around the people I love--the security of knowing that I will never have to lose my parents or husband (for example) and the bliss of being able to know that people who I've loved still know me and share in my life after they are gone. It's always incredibly sad for me to think of all the life that people miss out on once they die, and all the experiences that will not be shared. I take the don't know part back--I would like that kind of afterlife (well, really continuing awareness after death) very much.

08-26-2004, 10:40 PM	#5
_Naturalist_ Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 5,914	It all depends on what it would be like. I don't even know what I would want it to be, but perhaps a place where I can have a harem of Jessica Alba look-a-likes, a place where lasagna and pizza are abundant, a place where the library contains all there is to know about the cosmos, a place where coca-cola flows like water and is healthy, a place without reality TV (the producers and participators never reached this place, they seem to have ended up "downstairs"), a place where people don't have a perverse need to steal from, backstab, beat up, torture or kill other people (not that it would be possible to kill someone there but still)... I don't know. As long as I don't have to play the harp for all eternity, I suppose. But really, would it be possible to instead get to be semi-immortal, so I could, say, "freeze" my age at where I am now (27) but still live "forever" here on earth? Because that would not be bad either, as I see it.

08-26-2004, 10:41 PM	#6
DougP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,441	The concept of afterlife is a bit odd. I answered No. So let me explain. First of all, i answered no, because I really dont care whether or not there is an afterlife, because I am living in the "current life" right now, and it does not effect me whether or not I will go somewhere else after my time here ends. Second of all, if there is an "afterlife" can someone explain to me how it is not just "life" somewhere else?

08-26-2004, 11:01 PM	#7
Yahzi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Worshipping at Greyline's feet Posts: 7,438	Um... how can any rational person vote for any option other than "It depends on what it would be?" Well, of course it does. I'm sorry, but I think your poll is badly constructed. You might find it profitable to recreate it.

08-26-2004, 11:11 PM	#8
Dyrwen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Olympia, WA, U$A Posts: 680	I've always been in favor of eternal life, even if it is after my own life is complete. However impossible that might be, given the question, doesn't mean I can't "want" there to be one, even if I don't believe there is.

08-26-2004, 11:27 PM	#9
Miss Anne Thrope Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: monkey planet Posts: 129	Even if there were an afterlife I wouldn't want it, and I'm going to tell you why. I'm the result of twenty-six years of non-stop experience at being alive. I sit here behind these eyes and by will alone the universe moves around me. (Your perception may differ.) I get to interact with the scenery and those who inhabit it. Whoever I am, it's the weight of all that interacting. A mind heavily conditioned sitting inside the skull of a primate that wears pants, which mingles with other primates that - usually, also wear pants - that's all I know how to be. I wouldn't want it any other way. If I die all that ceases. All that experience I've acquired is suddenly made null. What ever life might proceed this one, it won't be ME living it. Fuck the afterlife. I don't want it.

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