Is believing in an afterlife stupid?

[morrisseyshair]

Believing in an afterlife seems like fairy tales for adults. Something to make people feel good because being dead for eternity is too scary a thought, so we made up this nice story about an afterlife when it's far more likely it goes dark and that's it.

[76561199675426607]

No, it is not. These psychoanalytical dismissals are stupid. You can make those up about anything. For example: "Being skeptical about the unknown is just a way to feel secure and in control by pretending you know what exists and what does not".

[sleeps]

it's not as stupid given the context of past lives millennias ago because, you know, it's that harsh but also immoral making things even harder and even unfair.

[Riruru]

Nothing is known about what happens after death. But I do find it strange how most people and religions in almost all the parts of the world believe in some kind of afterlife, be it heaven or reincarnation. So basically until we know for certain, no idea is stupid.

[76561199094198998]

Only if it's the wrong one.

'Stupid' is a little harsh.

[Pierce Dalton]

One way or another, we're just believers. Some believe that nothing happens after death, some believe that X or Y happens.

[ℭycaleo]

How do you feel about you never existed before you were born?

[Electric Cupcake]

There's very little, if any verifiable or empirical evidence of it.

But what evidence is there against it?

When such metaphysics are involved, I must defer to the Stoics. And Sir Terry.

YouTube™ Video: Terry Pratchett: Shaking Hands With Death 

Views: 313,700

AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER. Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night. The End. 12th March 2015 .

[76561199094198998]

Originally posted by Synburn:

How do you feel about you never existed before you were born?

Your physical arrangement of particles and waveforms predates your existence as a concept, and is mathematically certain to reoccur one way or another.

To be clear, this includes the information that contains your personality. A billion lookalikes might be made, but you will always reoccur exactly as you are. Eventually. This is a mathematical certainty.

The speculation of the existence of some kind of god machine that speeds this process up enormously is ... speculation. Whether it's real or not.

[Person]

Stupid feels quite strong here. While we can't really say for sure that there is an afterlife, believing that there is one is how some people cope with loss. I'm sure people wouldn't want to think their dead pet or loved one is stuck floating in an endless void with nothing to do. People would obviously want to believe that there is one to make dealing with grief just a little easier.

[Sixtyfivekills]

I thought after life was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Afterlife was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
And then I saw that place
Now I'm a believer
And not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in afterlife
OOOOOOOO
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave it if I tried

[ṼṏẌṏḭḊ]

Yes.

[DoomsDay]

stupid is as stupid does, everything men says is name game, fact.

[TwisterCat]

No, mister, I don't believe it is. I suppose we'll all see, eventually, anyhow. No use a-talkin' 'bout it, not like this at least.

All it really does is serve to bring people down, in-exchange for ~ not much, really.

[Angel]

You may not find the answers you're looking for as people don't know for sure.
That's why they call religion and the afterlife "faith".

But if you live embracing what the world and life provides, be loved and be happy, you may have already found heaven.

[76561199094198998]

Originally posted by TwisterCat:

No, mister, I don't believe it is. I suppose we'll all see, eventually, anyhow. No use a-talkin' 'bout it, not like this at least.

All it really does is serve to bring people down, in-exchange for ~ not much, really.

Hope seems valuable, Mr. Morgman. Or is this something you have forgotten in long years of outlawsmanship and robbery?

Etc.