Parinoia to Phobia

[Cheesevixen]

So I tried having a serious discussion with my sister the other day, and I'll give you the gist of some of the questions I asked her (That I am also asking you guys as well). Tell me what you think:

I started off with and oldie buyt a goody
Do you believe in an after life?

If religion didn't exist how would you feel about your life being almost insignificant?

How do you deal with the fact you could die at any moment, and in 50 years no one would even remember your name?

She replied to most of these questions with "ignorance is bliss" Maybe picking up on the fact I may think about these things too much. (I have a disorder close to OCD where my brain triggers every so often during the day to scenarios where I or my loved ones could die or get hurt.)

Now understand I didn't want to make this a God thing. I wanted opinions excluding people who fall back on the comfort that there is an after life. Especially since many scientist believe we are as insignificant as a piece of dust floating in the air.

So say there was no comfort of an after life.....how do you or would you deal with living such a small percentage of life (mostly in distress or surrounded by travesty) and stay positive about it?

My sister also said that without religion people would be evil. I of course disagreed because we do have these things called laws, but again.....not making this a God debate.

And in case I lost some of you just read the high lighted portion. I've been told I am difficult to read when I post threads.

[RainingOasis]

So I tried having a serious discussion with my sister the other day, and I'll give you the gist of some of the questions I asked her (That I am also asking you guys as well). Tell me what you think:

I started off with and oldie buyt a goody
Do you believe in an after life?

If religion didn't exist how would you feel about your life being almost insignificant?

How do you deal with the fact you could die at any moment, and in 50 years no one would even remember your name?

She replied to most of these questions with "ignorance is bliss" Maybe picking up on the fact I may think about these things too much. (I have a disorder close to OCD where my brain triggers every so often during the day to scenarios where I or my loved ones could die or get hurt.)

Now understand I didn't want to make this a God thing. I wanted opinions excluding people who fall back on the comfort that there is an after life. Especially since many scientist believe we are as insignificant as a piece of dust floating in the air.



My sister also said that without religion people would be evil. I of course disagreed because we do have these things called laws, but again.....not making this a God debate.

And in case I lost some of you just read the high lighted portion. I've been told I am difficult to read when I post threads.

Sounds like your sis is either too afraid to answer the questions or she doesn't care to know, sorry if I came off a little blunt. It blends in with the background a bit but I read it. Q1: yeah I do but I'm not religous (I have my reasons, don't feel like explaining them) Q2: not believing in religion doesn't make your life insignificant Q3: people die it's life and as long as I can look it myself in the mirror in the morning and be proud of who I am it's cool if no one remembers me. Religion doesn't make people good or evil people make that choice (same thing applies to laws) It's all about how you look at things you can either look at all the negative or look at all the positive or both it's your choice how you live your life. There's always a positive side of life you just have to look for it. As for the scientist thing eh that's what they believe doesn't mean it's true.

[loaf]

When I die, I die and then I'm no more.

[Joxsjua]

To answer the 1st question I do believe something happen with our essence after one dies. It's not going to be the patented mainstream idea of heaven or hell, but we cannot deny there are forces out there that we can not comprehend or fathom.
[editor's note] It's been proven that thought changes our genetics.. when a molecule get distributed to a beetle or leaf even, maybe there's a possibility a dormant gene could lie within the next to carry you around. Woohoo, beetlejuice beetlejuice beetlejuice![end note]

Let's face it, organized religion has started almost if not every war throughout history. Definitely has hurt many people along the way as well: women, oppressed people, the World Trade Organization... I am fine knowing that my life is insignificant; it's more of a way of life, or a train of thought and the natural ability to think healthier and more positive towards everything. The brain can not distinguish the difference between something that is real or not real. The bible states "not to kill thy neighbor" and is a good example: Say a person imagined killing there neighbor and never acted on it; they are still guilty for have living it in their head. That person imagined killing a person therefore it became a reality for them.
You can't forget that there's nothing in the bible that says that God & evolution can not co-exist. Many scientist agree with this as well and write books on Genesis being explain by harmonizing it with science. Except maybe the people who seem to have the patent on God.

Don't get me wrong, you should not take everything that bible to heart. Or else there would be some very bigoted sects with their back-water-voodoo concept of God and slavery and violent beatings to near death would still be a popular idea:
Exodus 21:20-21

King James Version (KJV)
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money(property).

It's should be taken as a book of guidelines yet people seem to think that their translation is the right one. A good example of this would be Grimm's Fairy Tales published in 1812, but by the time it is legible in "English" it had been translated 5 times.
All major religions boil down to the same morale messages. The question is; did you get the message??

I have many Muslim friends as well(from Pakistan) and ask them about all the parts where the Qur'an states "Kill the Infidels?" and they mildly reply "No one actually follows that, it's out dated and is not rational." "That is only for extremists and is frowned upon by the majority."

So it boils down to the natural ability to think healthy and learn cohesion. I have no problem dieing and not being remembered; wouldn't that make me a narcissist?
And don't worry Cheesevixen, don't sweat those if they claim not to be able to "read you well" in your threads. It's possible they have evolved into internet conforming chronies.
!f yUh t!p3 lyk3 d!hs, DON'T TALK TO ME
lol

[Cheesevixen]

The bible states "not to kill thy neighbor" and is a good example: Say a person imagined killing there neighbor and never acted on it; they are still guilty for have living it in their head. That person imagined killing a person therefore it became a reality for them.



And don't worry Cheesevixen, don't sweat those if they claim not to be able to "read you well" in your threads. It's possible they have evolved into internet conforming chronies.
l

Honestly I wish I could've quoted all of it, but Im sure it woulda been a bible fight, but you made some excellent points. You are one smart cookie, but I wanted to concentrate on the one quote that REALLY caught my eye. The passage above pretty much deems I am going to hell. It's no fault of mine. I can't help the way my mind thinks. The imagery of the horrible thoughts I have are common and I have just learned to deal with them. They all include murder and rape or things of that nature. I guess in some ways in the orthodoxed mind I will be going to hell. However, these images and thoughts only last seconds and I don't dwell on them, and I most certainly do not act them out. The only way I can explain it to people without this disorder is read up on post partum depression. It's like that, but everyday for years and deals with everyone. Hopefully if there is a God I don't get punished for those issues.

My issues is how to DEAL with this ^^^^^^ How do normal people act and think when it comes to the gruesome life issues. Cuz I deal with them daily. Losing my religion if u will <-----yeah


Absolutely enjoyed reading your post.

[Joxsjua]

My issues is how to DEAL with this ^^^^^^ How do normal people act and think when it comes to the gruesome life issues. Cuz I deal with them daily. Losing my religion if u will <-----yeah

The most disturbing to me is the reward system belief. If you do something good now you'll get a rewarded in the after-life. That the only reason for me to do good in this world is so that I get a prize?! That just seemed like a really sick idea to me and if a person holds this to be true it would only create a world of sociopaths. I read this one book called "The Psychopath Test" and in it describes how to professions with the highest percentage of social paths are politicians and jobs with high ranking people with influence like CEOs. They crave that people approve of them so that they can use other for a greater purpose.
Unfortunately that is how a lot of people function: there's no reason to be naturally good/helpful unless I believe I am going to get a reward.

[Unknown Entity]

Do you believe in an after life?
I don't really know. It's nice to think so, but at the same time... I'd rather simply cease to be. I've always sort of liked the idea that my dead close relatives and friends would watch over me from the "other side", but I also believe things are left to chance and not because a "ghost" did it for me. It's more of a hope thing, that not only they've gone to a better place and that they're still with me (despite how selfish that might be).

If religion didn't exist how would you feel about your life being almost insignificant?
I already believe that... somewhat. My existence is based entirely on an act of love and some chemical reactions. But in a way, that act of love is selfish. I didn't ask to be brought into this world. It's just as selfish as wanting your dead relatives to watch over you instead of pass on.

That said, I've been given life, and I plan on taking it for a ride of my own. I'm glad to be here, and I want to do as much as I can before I get too old.

As for my part in the entire universe? With all those other galaxies and universes and places beyond that we will ever reach? I'm pretty ****ing small. Not even a burp could rattle more than the air around me.

How do you deal with the fact you could die at any moment, and in fifty years no one would even remember your name?
I don't have to deal with it. Trillions of people before me have died, and very few have been remembered. I don't expect to be remembered.

If I died tomorrow, I wouldn't have any regrets. I'd ache for my family and how they must be feeling, but I might not even feel that. I might cease to exist entirely.

[Rowan]

To answer the 1st question I do believe something happen with our essence after one dies. It's not going to be the patented mainstream idea of heaven or hell, but we cannot deny there are forces out there that we can not comprehend or fathom.

The most important thing to remember is that just because we dont have an answer for something, that doesnt give us reason or evidence to believe it could have been a god. That seems to be the main thought process of a typical believer in god. If we dont have an answer to something, it needs to be researched and speculated, its not a reason to believe that some god did it.

do you believe in an afterlife?
Theres absolutely no way to prove that there is. Having said that, I cant be absolutley sure that there isn't. Its nice to think that there is, but I cant believe in something with no way of knowing whether or not its true. Having said that, noone can be absolutley certain of anything. When it comes to god and religion, I don't feel the claims about the existence of god have met their burden of proof. In fact, there is copious amounts of evidence contrary to those beliefs.

If religion didn't exist how would you feel about your life being almost insignificant?
Woah, who said religion is required to make a life significant? Isn't it enough to appreciate the fact that you're alive? Are you saying my life is insignificant because I dont have any religious beliefs? If you think religion is the reason that you should be alive, then I think you need to sit back and evaluate whats really important about living.


How do you deal with the fact you could die at any moment, and in fifty years no one would even remember your name?
Chop wood, Carry water.

[Joxsjua]

The most important thing to remember is that just because we dont have an answer for something, that doesnt give us reason or evidence to believe it could have been a god. That seems to be the main thought process of a typical believer in god. If we dont have an answer to something, it needs to be researched and speculated, its not a reason to believe that some god did it.

I was going for energy can not be destroyed, just converted, law of conservation of energy.

[Heartless Angel]

Do you believe in an after life?

Nope. I believe, and honestly, hope there isn't. Eternity would get dull pretty damned quick.

If religion didn't exist how would you feel about your life being almost insignificant?

I'm agnostic atheist, so I already believe my life is utterly insignificant. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't need to feel important to enjoy my time before it runs out.

How do you deal with the fact you could die at any moment, and in 50 years no one would even remember your name?

Death is the inevitable conclusion of all life. Again, nothing that bothers me. If all goes well, people might remember me a bit longer than that. If not, so be it. I don't really care about people anyways.

My sister also said that without religion people would be evil. I of course disagreed because we do have these things called laws, but again.....not making this a God debate.

A relatively common belief with very little logical support. I'm not religious in any sense, and I still don't commit mass murder... often. Laws are a derivative of human nature, created by humans to allow humans to pursue their psychological needs safely, in a way that give more people a chance to do the same. Religion is much the same. In fact, morality itself is a part of an individual's self actualization, so in fact almost all normal people ultimately strive to be seen as 'good', because it makes them feel better about themselves.