If there is no afterlife, is there a point to living a moral, selfless life?

[Renae]

But you see that's just it. If you have faith then no, you not allowed to 'step outside' of it, you are not allow to question your beliefs at all.

When the religious and believers do this, it's an attempt to cherry pick just what your own terms are...for your faith. Much of what is not followed

in the scriptures like murder and slavery, has been progress from secular humanism and cannot be arrived at by stepping outside your faith. Either

you have it...or you don't.

Yes, faith and reason do struggle for some rather ridiculous reasons. Faith is a feeling, call it emotional or spiritual or whatever you want.

Reason is logic and science which requires logic and science. So, don't forget will you ? Math is the work of the devil.

I don't have the faith required to be an Atheist see.

 

[iguanaman]

If oblivion is next, you're right. If it's not, then well...

If we are not from this Earth it might be possible otherwise it is not. Every living thing on Earth dies. Look around and you can see the wisdom of that.

 

[Renae]

If we are not from this Earth it might be possible otherwise it is not. Every living thing on Earth dies. Look around and you can see the wisdom of that.

I get that everything dies, where in did I doubt this fact?

 

[iguanaman]

I get that everything dies, where in did I doubt this fact?

There you go then. Are you from Earth? The most troubling thing to me about religion is that it attempts to say we are not and we live our life on a alien planet.

 

[Spartacus FPV]

I don't have the faith required to be an Atheist see.

What faith is required for atheism? Atheism is a lack of belief, a failure to be convinced, there are no propositions that atheists hold that can be based on faith.

You are an atheist in respect to every god you do not believe in, is that faith to you? Are you making the mistake of projection?

Either you have good reasons for what you believe or you don't.

 

[Renae]

What faith is required for atheism? Atheism is a lack of belief, a failure to be convinced, there are no propositions that atheists hold that can be based on faith.

You are an atheist in respect to every god you do not believe in, is that faith to you? Are you making the mistake of projection?

Either you have good reasons for what you believe or you don't.

Hehe, you have to have a lot of faith that from nothingness came chaos, and from chaos came order and from order rose life and from that life rose sentient life.

 

[Spartacus FPV]

Hehe, you have to have a lot of faith that from nothingness came chaos, and from chaos came order and from order rose life and from that life rose sentient life.

This is not a requirement of atheism of any given god on offer.

As I said, you are an atheist in respect to Ganesha if you are no Hindu, do you believe that "from nothingness came chaos, and from chaos came order and from order rose life and from that life rose sentient life"?

You seem to want to project beliefs onto atheists when they by definition lack belief in the deity in discussion.

What makes you think I believe that from nothingness came chaos? Then order? Do you even understand the big bang theory? Do you deny evolution by natural selection?

 

[ecofarm]

Nice theory but it's not true...best of the best, as well as their influence, are soon forgotten...new characters come on the scene and change the world as it was once known...our fleeting existence in the eons of time makes us feel that our lives lack meaning...so it is with every generation and as it will continue in this world...

You misunderstand. It's not about remembering an individual. It's about an individual's good acts continuing to influence the world after the person's physical death. An evil act is discarded, eventually burnt up and meaningless. A good act lives forever; it multiplies and butterflyes.

 

[Daisy]

You misunderstand. It's not about remembering an individual. It's about an individual's good acts continuing to influence the world after the person's physical death. An evil act is discarded, eventually burnt up and meaningless. A good act lives forever. It multiplies and butterflyes.

No, I did not misunderstand at all and I stand by my statement...one dies, another comes on the scene, only to erase most, if not all their predecessor accomplished...history verifies that fact...life as we know it is vanity...a striving after the wind...Eccl. 1...

 

[ecofarm]

No, I did not misunderstand at all and I stand by my statement...one dies, another comes on the scene, only to erase most, if not all their predecessor accomplished...history verifies that fact...life as we know it is vanity...a striving after the wind...Eccl. 1...

If you didn't misunderstand, why did you believe remembering an individual was pertinent.

 

[Daisy]

If you didn't understand, why did you believe remembering an individual was pertinent.

Where did I say that?

 

[Renae]

This is not a requirement of atheism of any given god on offer.

As I said, you are an atheist in respect to Ganesha if you are no Hindu, do you believe that "from nothingness came chaos, and from chaos came order and from order rose life and from that life rose sentient life"?

You seem to want to project beliefs onto atheists when they by definition lack belief in the deity in discussion.

What makes you think I believe that from nothingness came chaos? Then order? Do you even understand the big bang theory? Do you deny evolution by natural selection?

Spartacus, It is impossible that anything exists. There should be NOTHING.

 

[Pedestrian]

Didn't say it was, however, if you live yourlife as faithfully to the Teachings of Jesus, well...

.....well...there goes capitalism.

 

[Pedestrian]

That is the opinion of a far right evangelical radical Christian. So I give that opinion no credibility.

At one time the Catholic church banned the bible and still holds Mary as the model of Catholic worship.

 

[ElChupacabra]

I ask this in all sincerity, if it's your born, you live, you die and return to a state of utter oblivion... what's the point of living for anyone but yourself? Do the hedonist have the right of it? Is the real bit of life to get what you can, live wild and die when life isn't worth it anymore? After all, the moment you "cease" it won't matter if you were Mother Teresa or the most wild party kid.

I've struggled with that question, as a believer, "what if I'm wrong". Was my mothers death more tragic at such a young age, or a blessing to her not to deal with the crap of life? As an example.

If there is an afterlife, be it the "Heaven for the good, Hell for the bad" or some other post-death existence, does that make the injustices of the world less in the end, the actions of your life have more meaning?

The existence of an afterlife has no bearing on how I treat others or view life. in my time here I've learned that everything and everyone should be treated with respect and kindness wherever possible because it simply feels much better to do so than not. Conflict brings suffering, and it does not make sense to me as a way to spend my time or energy. As for life itself, how good of bad it is depends on the individual and how they deal with adversity or lack thereof. I've known people who had hard lives but appreciated what they learned from those experience. Other took those bad experiences and let them fester in their minds and corrupt how they view the world. If you're really present then you think about your actions, and how they affect others; from that awareness you act. I've always felt the meaning of life is what we make of it.

 

[Waddy]

Why is your own pleasure mutually exclusive with the pleasure of others?

That's not really how hedonism works. The true hedonist has no moral compass and doesn't care how his/her actions effect others so long as they get what they desire. In other words, hedonists live for their own pleasure, even at the expense of others. That doesn't sound like you.

 

[RAMOSS]

That's not really how hedonism works. The true hedonist has no moral compass and doesn't care how his/her actions effect others so long as they get what they desire. In other words, hedonists live for their own pleasure, even at the expense of others. That doesn't sound like you.

Would you care to back up that claim about hedonism? Would you show a source for that?

 

[SoulFire77]

You are in a small minority. I've never seen, heard or read this 'constant derision and verbal abuse by non-believers...' and in fact, have

experienced that and more from believers. Most non-believers and every single one I know, never verbally abused any believers for their faith.

They like me, only at times...will question it.

Interesting... Here is an example of what I am talking about: Name one television show that mocks or ridicules atheism or unbelievers?? Probably, you cannot do that. Yet, no television season would be complete with out at least one show that is deliberately insulting to people of faith.

Do you suppose it could be (I don't know...) non-believers who produce and consume this form of entertainment? Because there is apparently nothing funnier than an "angel of God" that swears, blasphemes, drinks, and tells dirty jokes - or the adventures of a man pretending to be a gay pastor... Why not? "Those stupid Christians and their moral standards..." Who cares if they are offended, right?

 

[soylentgreen]

Interesting... Here is an example of what I am talking about: Name one television show that mocks or ridicules atheism or unbelievers?? Probably, you cannot do that. Yet, no television season would be complete with out at least one show that is deliberately insulting to people of faith.

Do you suppose it could be (I don't know...) non-believers who produce and consume this form of entertainment? Because there is apparently nothing funnier than an "angel of God" that swears, blasphemes, drinks, and tells dirty jokes - or the adventures of a man pretending to be a gay pastor... Why not? "Those stupid Christians and their moral standards..." Who cares if they are offended, right?

You have a ridiculous religion and feel persecuted when others point that out. That just makes it even more laughable.

 

[Logicman]

There are no historical accounts of Jesus outside the bible. Not a single scribe, journalist anywhere or govt. wrote of any man named Jesus.

You haven't done your homework.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

https://jamesbishopblog.com/2015/04/05/extra-biblical-evidence-for-the-historical-jesus/

 

[Logicman]

All sources and even the good Doctor,'s are derived from hearsay.

Listen, the vast majority of ancient history is hearsay. You don't like the ancients doing bios and/or historical accounts, then throw your college history books in the trash.

There still exists no direct evidence of the existence of Jesus.

Wrong.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

https://jamesbishopblog.com/2015/04/05/extra-biblical-evidence-for-the-historical-jesus/

 

[soylentgreen]

Listen, the vast majority of ancient history is hearsay. You don't like the ancients doing bios and/or historical accounts, then throw your college history books in the trash.



Wrong.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

https://jamesbishopblog.com/2015/04/05/extra-biblical-evidence-for-the-historical-jesus/

You either never bother to read these links or just assume no one will. Once again you fail to quote any part that backs your claim. All references in your link are of people born long after this alleged jesus existed and are writing from second hand accounts. Not one is an actual witness to jesus existing.

 

[Logicman]

You either never bother to read these links or just assume no one will.

Nuts. You probably didn't even know those sources existed.

Not one is an actual witness to jesus existing.

Hey - you won't even believe when there are eyewitnesses, as we read about in the Gospels and Acts, etc., so spare me your Dr. No routine.

 

[OscarLevant]

You don't have any choice in the matter. The Word of God says it's either Christ or the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8, etc.). Your choice.



No. Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." And since there's no one without sin, then there's no stoning anyone anymore. Disappointed?

By the way, why are you Biblically illiterate? You want to come here and bad mouth God when you haven't even read the Bible? And who are you to bad mouth God anyway? You don't have any objective sense of morality. Yours is subjective moral relativism. Subjective moral relativism is different for different people. It changes over time and over cultures like people change their socks. There's no endearing or enduring foundation for it. You have no objective basis for bashing anybody's morality, especially God's.

These are only true for if you accept the premise that the Bible and it's teaching is the only path to spiritual salvation.

I don't accept that premise, and as such, I have a choice, and I choose another path.

I prefer the teachings of Lao Tzu, Siddartha, and others in the Eastern Philosophy arena.

It's rather silly to argue spirituality, it's personal, you have your beliefs, I have mine, and let's leave it at that.

 

[SoulFire77]

You have a ridiculous religion and feel persecuted when others point that out. That just makes it even more laughable.

Yes, and I'm sure you found Charlie Hedbo to be hilarious - but, I bet you ten dollars you wouldn't wear a t-shirt talking about how "ridiculous" the Prophet Mohammad was out in a crowd... No, because Islam deserves respect, right?