Ultimately I think the subtext of it is, “I’m really scared of the uncertainty of existence and want a circular explanation to ease my anxiety about death”. The rest springs from that fundamental fear because someone claiming to have that answer can sell it for any price including blind loyalty.
I have always been a little bit jealous of people who can be sold on religion. It must be nice to have the comfort that comes with it, especially if you’re the type to ignore all the rules and think that you’re going to the good place just because you had faith.
I am not scared of dying exactly, I’m afraid that something might come after when I just want to sleep. What if a religion got it right? Good place or bad, I’m not down with that. I want finality in my end.
I guess that’s true for many. However, there is also a possibility to face it and then “handle it” by taking Pascal’s wager.
In my opinion non-existence is in the center of the fear. If you stop existing after death whatever you decide to do now doesn’t matter any more. If you believe in existence after death (part of most religions) and it makes you happy, why not?
True that there are extremist sects of almost any religions and religion is a common cause of fights but I think that’s more rare nowadays and many mainstream religious organizations preach peace and tolerance.
I actually think the way you are framing non-existence is exactly what I mean. I’m happy my existence and my choices are ultimately inconsequential. I can define my own meaning because all meaning is arbitrary. That difference in perspective is the key.
That feeling of freedom works only if you believe in non-existence after death. The thought that ones choices are inconsequential might (in some people) also lead to harmful behavior (eg harming later generations with environmental destruction etc). I don’t mean to say it’s going to happen, I just think on a society level it could lead to just as many issues as religious beliefs.
However, whatever one believes it shouldn’t be due to doctrine, it should be the result of an active thought process.
To me you have it completely backwards. The fear comes from the unwillingness to accept the possibility of non-existence and ultimately the pointlessness of one’s life that pins oneself into needing to believe in an afterlife. Its not that I believe there’s nothing after, it’s that I dont give a fuck either way
I don’t care enough to argue the point anymore so I’ll just leave it at, if anyone believes in an afterlife, I encourage them to get there as soon as they can.
Ultimately I think the subtext of it is, “I’m really scared of the uncertainty of existence and want a circular explanation to ease my anxiety about death”. The rest springs from that fundamental fear because someone claiming to have that answer can sell it for any price including blind loyalty.
I have always been a little bit jealous of people who can be sold on religion. It must be nice to have the comfort that comes with it, especially if you’re the type to ignore all the rules and think that you’re going to the good place just because you had faith.
I am not scared of dying exactly, I’m afraid that something might come after when I just want to sleep. What if a religion got it right? Good place or bad, I’m not down with that. I want finality in my end.
That’s a legitimate fear IMO.
Never insinuated it wasnt a real fear. Just that it was being used against those who haven’t faced it
I guess that’s true for many. However, there is also a possibility to face it and then “handle it” by taking Pascal’s wager.
In my opinion non-existence is in the center of the fear. If you stop existing after death whatever you decide to do now doesn’t matter any more. If you believe in existence after death (part of most religions) and it makes you happy, why not?
True that there are extremist sects of almost any religions and religion is a common cause of fights but I think that’s more rare nowadays and many mainstream religious organizations preach peace and tolerance.
I actually think the way you are framing non-existence is exactly what I mean. I’m happy my existence and my choices are ultimately inconsequential. I can define my own meaning because all meaning is arbitrary. That difference in perspective is the key.
That feeling of freedom works only if you believe in non-existence after death. The thought that ones choices are inconsequential might (in some people) also lead to harmful behavior (eg harming later generations with environmental destruction etc). I don’t mean to say it’s going to happen, I just think on a society level it could lead to just as many issues as religious beliefs.
However, whatever one believes it shouldn’t be due to doctrine, it should be the result of an active thought process.
To me you have it completely backwards. The fear comes from the unwillingness to accept the possibility of non-existence and ultimately the pointlessness of one’s life that pins oneself into needing to believe in an afterlife. Its not that I believe there’s nothing after, it’s that I dont give a fuck either way
It’s good that you don’t give a fuck but not everyone is able to be that way. So if you give fucks and a religion makes you feel better, why not?
I don’t care enough to argue the point anymore so I’ll just leave it at, if anyone believes in an afterlife, I encourage them to get there as soon as they can.