I’m not a religious person at all, and lately I’ve been having a lot of dreams where I end up dying. I’m about to graduate from college and go through a big life transition, so I understand the psychological reasons for these kinds of dreams, but it still scares the bejeezus out of me. For those of you that aren’t religious, how do you deal with thoughts of nothingness or nonexistence? Several people I’ve talked to say that they believe “nothing” happens when we die, and it doesn’t really bother them. Am I just weird?
For simplification purposes, I believe nothing happens when you die. I don’t understand how that really affects my life. If I am eating a delicious ice cream cone, I don’t fret over the fact that once eaten I will no longer have it. In fact this makes me enjoy it all the more. Everything is impermanent. Worrying doesn’t make this not so.
I believe that ‘nothing’ happens after we die and it used to bother me alot. On the one hand you tell yourself whats the point doing anything if you wont remember your family, experiences friends in the afterlife? It all seems rather pointless.
On the other hand it makes you realize how precious life is because our time is limited. Now I find great pleasure in building strong relationships and experiencing the most possible while I’m alive. Although I beleive there will one day be nothingness it doesnt nor should it stop me from living contently in the present.
As a final note I want to add how annoying it is when ppl ask me why I dont steal, rape and kill because I dont believe in God and the afterlife. Firstly it annoys me because they only belive spiritual ppl can be humanitary and secondly those ppl bother me because the type of person that needs to fear God in order to stop your from killing,stealing, raping,cheating and that says alot about you.
Wether your religious or not you have to understand that “something” created or started everything. Hopefully, when we kick the bucket we will be given some insight about what it all means.
only god knows.
Nothing happens as there is nobody to die in the first place. Your social self (YOU) is an illusion created by mind; those who achieve enlightment in buddhist sense see that clearly.
Nick: Would you expound on that further? Philosophical arguments aside, consciousness and experience are all I’ve got, “illusion” or no. Unless that illusory social self gives way to some form of alternative knowledge or experience, classifying it as illusory doesn’t really make me feel any better.
purplehosh: Are you religious? How would you imagine that a ‘secular’ afterlife would have come into being? How would that work? Just curious as to your ideas on the subject.
You are an idiot. If “you” don’t exist, why post? Why even breathe? I love these fools that spend their time denying reality while experiencing it. Oh, don’t respond Nick – what would be the point, as you and I are not “really” here anyway? Asshole.
I die and because I believe in God, Jesus, and the forgiveness of sins, I go to heaven. I play about 18 holes of the best golf I can imagine, play everyday with everyone who means something to me, all while I toss back a couple of ice cold beers.
I die and because I took advantage of religion or didn’t repent and I go to hell. I play golf like I do now days, get stuck behind 5-somes, and my beer is warm.
Read the Bible. It gives all the details of what happened in the beginning all the way through the end. I know when I die I will go to heaven and live eternally with God. I know this because I too have repented my sins and am saved.
Huck, since what Nick posted is a primary driver of Buddhist philosphy are Buddhists all idiots and assholes too?
I like that interpretation! I don’t remember much of the various religious views on the afterlife but one thing that sticks clearly in my head is that all the theories/dogmas involved the absence of God. Isn’t that pretty much like day to day living now for the vast majority of people? I’ll still hit a damn straight ball, and it’ll still only go about 40 yards (gopher-killers I call 'em).
To nephorm: Philosophical discussions are a waste of time here, the real life experience is all that matters. No need to believe what I say, there is a way to directly experience it called zazen meditation as practiced in zen tradition. From practicing zazen one can clearly see how the thoughts arise, how you begin associate yourself with your thoughts… When I say you, I mean your social self, which is a product of social conditioning and memories. If you prefer the explanation from the point of modern science, check out the books ‘Consciousness Explained’ by Dennett and ‘Meme Machine’ by Blackmore.
To huck: You totally misunderstood what I wanted to say. Explaining it to somebody like yourself would be a total waste of my time at this stage.
To Teela and others: I am not religious. There was a period of time where I really struggled with that, and tried my best to somehow ‘generate’ faith in myself. I failed miserably in that regard. I don’t think that I’m ever going to put myself through that again. So the ‘Jesus Argument’ doesn’t make me feel any better about dying.
You will never experience death, for if there is nothing, there is no experience, and if there is something, there was no real death
when you sleep dreamlessly, do you care?
You start to decompose and stink…Eventually you atrophy to the point where you are only bones…Death is not condusive to building muscle
It’s a good thing I like my beer warm!
I am not religious in the sense that I think 1 specific religion is right and everybody else is wrong.That idea is ludicrous! One of my best friends is a nazarene christian youth pastor and he gives me very good insight on his particular sect of christianity. The thing that is ridiculous is that different sects of christians don’t agree on the other sects doctrines thus infering that they are wrong and are going to hell. Silly, Silly Silly! I am not quite sure how a secular afterlife would work. I am hoping we will just get to find out what else is out there, referring to the universe, who created it all, obtain a higher level of understanding about what else is out there, and what our goal on earth was supposed to be. We really don’t have it all figured out. Just as we once thought the world was flat and religious groups would kill people if they thought differently, things we do and think today are not right either. My biggest qualm agianst the heaven/hell idea is that their has to be something said for those of us who live a good moral life. There has to be something said for those of us who respect other people, work hard through life, and try to make the world a better place. Any system that says lifetime rapists, killers, theives, or whatever is on the same level as people who restrained from these vicious acts is wrong! Hopefully, that will come into play in a “secular” afterlife. Maybe, all the rapists will be asigned to but-wiping duty or something like that. I think that would be fair!! Who knows?
I honestly think people today try to complicate religion and God so much to make it seem too difficult and use this as an excuse not to believe. Like I said the Bible is the book to everything, even though you may not understand why, not everything is meant to be understood. God has a plan and giving us the choice to trust in him to make it all work. Maybe try reading the Bible or just read a little everyday. I don’t expect people to understand it at first, but have an open mind but eventually, believe it or not, you will start to understand what God is saying and what he wants from you.
Fine. Have an open mind to the thought that God doesnt exist.
I know you might not be able to understand it at first but just accept without questioning anything.
Fuck you and your condescending attitude.