esp if you’re one of the devout ones who think they’ve been really good
This is like saying that Atheists shouldn’t fear death because they know it will just be blank nothingness that they won’t perceive.
Fear of death doesn’t come from the logical part of our brains.
This is a stupid take. Of course they should fear death. It means the loss of everything they loved, even though they won’t experience said loss.
???
Totally not the same. Religious people believe the afterlife is better than real life and the OP was curious why they aren’t speed running to get to it.
A blank nothingness is not an upgrade for most people.
It is the same because a blank nothingness isn’t bad so atheists have no reason to fear death.
a blank nothingness isn’t bad
That’s a matter of opinion. The fact you cease to exist may very well be considered scary, even by atheists.
It’s relatively worse. If you have nothing you won’t be around to complain about it. But having a good life is totally better than simply not existing.
A blank nothingness might not technically be bad but there are plenty of ways that transitioning to that nothingness could be absolutely terrible. There are also many people living very enjoyable lives that want to keep the party going so to speak.
I for one am an atheist and madly in love with my wife. You bet your ass I’m gonna try and squeeze every last drop of goodness out of my life.
The good afterlife is only available to them if they have been “good people” while alive, and dying early is not being a “good person”. Also, after their death, they supposedly get “judged”, and everybody is going to worry about the X number of “sins” that they did during their life that might end them up in hell.
You don’t see any cognitive dissonance with that statement coming from an absolutely good and loving being?
Absolutely good and Absolutely just.
Not absolutely loving. Source: Bible
“I loved Jacob, but Esau I hated.” Malachi 1
That’s not true even for all of Christianity, let alone all religions…
For example orthodox Christians believe everyone goes to heaven, and that we are all bathed in unconditional love from God. Hell is finding yourself unworthy of that love because of how you lived.
Orthodox Christians believe that everyone has sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, that the punishment for sin is death, Jesus is the only way to The Father and the way or forgiveness of sins. It’s not everyone. If everyone went to heaven that would mean sin would go unpunished.
Punishment is a part of catholic dogma, and makes no sense if you think of God as absolutely good and loving.
If we have allowed our hearts to be purified, then God’s presence will be healing, joyful, and life-giving. If we refuse God’s healing embrace, then His love will burn like fire, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Deut 4:24, 9:3, Isa 33:14, Heb 12:23)
I’m not worried about dying. I believe if I’m here on earth I’m here for a reason and so I’m content to be here until such time as I’m not needed anymore. I enjoy being with my family and having a cup of tea with my wife, as someone here has already mentioned.
I know there are a lot of distinctions in religion but I don’t believe being “really good” is an option for humans. I believe being saved from our innate brokenness is the only way anyone could possibly go to heaven. I’m not particularly attracted to religious things or practices.
So yes, I’m excited to go be with God, but I’m not about to take matters into my own hands. It would fly in the face of humbling yourself before the Almighty.
So god made you broken to the point you cannot be a good person. Then god punishes you for being broken?
I grew up in a Catholic family. This is pretty much it. It’s an abusive relationship. I mean, it’s fiction, but it’s abusive.
For real. I grew up in both a cult, and with eastern orthodoxy. Where they believe the soul of the child chooses the parents. This however is only perpetuated by parents telling their kid to follow their orders. “If you disagree, you shouldn’t have chosen us as your family.”
Religion is a tool to control people and inherently abusive.
Confuckinggratulations
You just reinvented the concept of Shahadat in Islam
Religion has crafted their rules to make sure they maintain control. They can’t control dead people.
