emotional

The reason I want certainty is that I have so little of it.

My stated belief in God is all make-believe. There is so much suffering and injustice in the world, with such a display of indifference, that the existence of an all-loving God seems unlikely. If His goodness and love are hidden, and reserved for the afterlife alone, how good is He? Atheism explains the situation of this world much better.

It's only fear of death that's pulling me Godwards. Fear of death is the one dark cloud that overshadows my atheism. Either I am somehow brought to stop fearing death (but I doubt it can be done, after more than 12 years of attempts to treat it), or I believe in some sort of atheistic afterlife (how oxymoronic that sounds!).

Help me come back to my senses. Help me come back to atheism where I belong. Help me get rid of my fear of death somehow. I don't really believe in God, I'm an atheist, it's just fear of death that's making me cling to Biblical fantasies. I've had enough of saying words and thinking thoughts I don't really believe.

Dr Rick

Why fear death? Seriously, is non-existence really that bad? I don't recall any pain or suffering before I was born, so it's pretty unlikely that a return to non-existence will be any less pleasant.

Besides, peaceful non-existence sure seems a lot better than heaven, which, depending on the version you buy, involves either having to deal with a lot of sexually inexperienced women and permanent priapism, or forever singing praise to a divine maniacal murderer.

emotional

I can't explain why, but the thought of having my entire consciousness switched off gives me the willies. Trying to imagine what "nothing" will be like just sends my head reeling, like a computer dividing by zero.

BadBadBad

Come on emotional. Don't get all huffy and emotional on us. If we point out that your ideas are, well, rediculous, don't take it personally. You're ideas aren't permanently attached to your personality. If your ideas are shown to be rediculous, drop them.

"What I believe is true because I believe it is true?" Are you God? Oh, sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Here's some certainty for you. You're going to live. You're going to pay taxes. Then you're going to die. Stop worrying about death and life after death. You'll be dead. Any existence beyond life is at best beyond your comprehension. So live and be happy. Forget about all this religious non-sense from people who think they have their finger on the pulse of God. They don't have a clue either.

livius drusus

This thread was split from God the Project Manager in GRD. As you were.

emotional

I did that. Very reluctantly, but I did that.



Oh, if only I could. If only I could will myself to stop worrying about those things. If only it were as easy as switching a button. But it isn't. That's why I was pulled godwards in the first place. There's no logic and no evidence for the existence of God, but it does have the appeal of promising an afterlife. If I could just leave my fear of death behind, I'd be a completely fulfilled atheist, just like I used to be in the not-so-far past.

You're right, and I've already forgotten it all. I apologise for getting angry with you previously.

Viti

emotional, the only way to get over fear of death...fear of anything...is to face that fear, in my opinion.

Try listing in detail exactly what it is you are afraid of involving death...post it here if you wish, then analyze those fears. Can't hurt to try can it? You can't be any more afraid. Do you feel that somehow you will be able to perceive things when you're dead? Maybe it's the visualizing being dead when you're alive causing the issue.

emotional

Can you imagine a total nothingness? Can you imagine your entire consciousness switched off? Can you imagine the whole universe being nought? I'm so full of my "I" that imagining the "I" switched off is just unthinkable. Objectively the universe will keep on existing after I am gone, but subjectively, when the "I" is gone, when the subject is snuffed out, the universe will be no more. That's what scares me so.

Viti

Does it scare you to think about the time before you were born? Have you ever had surgery? Were you scared of being under anesthesia?

I am trying to get a handle on your feelings her, not ridicule. I can imagine total nothingness of course, but it does not affect me in any way emotionally so I can't empathize...will need to learn more

emotional

Yes, it does.



I've had surgery, but not full anesthesia.