A question for atheists/non-believer's

[Disney1fan2002]

I hope this is not too personal a question, but I have been wanting to ask this for awhile, to satisfy my own curiosity.

If you do not believe in a God, Heaven or an After-life, then when someone you love passes on, what gives you comfort?

I am not the most religious person I know, but I have Faith, and when my mom died 10 years ago, if I did not have the belief that my mom was called "home" to God, and she was in Heaven, having a much better life than down here, I think I would of gone mad with grief.

I question sometimes IF it all exists, and what it comes down to is just the belief is comforting. So, when I die, there may just be blackness. I'll be dead. It is getting through my daily life while I am alive. I just don't know how I would of dealt with the death of 2 brother's and my dad this past year and a half if I truly believed they were just gone. I really do have fun imagining the whole group of them up There together. Reunited.

I am not posting this to start a religious debate. I am genuinely interested in how a person who has no belief in God or Heaven finds comfort. If you are offended by the queston, I am sorry, it is not my intent.

 

[GEM]

I'm not offended at all.

Well, I honestly believe that death is the end. I don't believe there's anything after that. So, what gives me comfort is all the wonderful memories and good times we shared, the happy moments that person had while alive, the lasting impact they made, etc.. Also, if the person was suffering, the knowledge that the suffering is over.

 

[snoopy]

What an interesting question.

I don't exactly KNOW what I believe in, but I definately don't believe its all black when you die. That is just too difficult for me to accept, so I don't.

 

[pfishgirl]

Well, I don't believe in God, Satan, Heaven or Hell. I actually choose to believe in several Gods and Goddess. I am a Nature Freak..haha..always have been and I got kicked out of Sunday School for asking too many of the wrong questions.. In my opinion, they were questions the teacher couldn't answer so what better thing to do then kick me out.. right??

Ok so anyway, what comforts me is actually my memories. My Grandma and I were very close and when she passed I was a Mess... But then I remember knowing all the fun things we did and shared and noone can take those from me. I treasure the pictures and the cards. I miss her dearly yes, but it helps to think of the Happiness she gave me while she was still alive..

Hope this helps !!

 

[totalia]

I hope this is not too personal a question, but I have been wanting to ask this for awhile, to satisfy my own curiosity.

If you do not believe in a God, Heaven or an After-life, then when someone you love passes on, what gives you comfort?

I am not the most religious person I know, but I have Faith, and when my mom died 10 years ago, if I did not have the belief that my mom was called "home" to God, and she was in Heaven, having a much better life than down here, I think I would of gone mad with grief.

I question sometimes IF it all exists, and what it comes down to is just the belief is comforting. So, when I die, there may just be blackness. I'll be dead. It is getting through my daily life while I am alive. I just don't know how I would of dealt with the death of 2 brother's and my dad this past year and a half if I truly believed they were just gone. I really do have fun imagining the whole group of them up There together. Reunited.

I am not posting this to start a religious debate. I am genuinely interested in how a person who has no belief in God or Heaven finds comfort. If you are offended by the queston, I am sorry, it is not my intent.

No offence taken. I believe that a person never really leaves. Science tells us that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it only changes form.

Therefore, those I love are never really gone since everything is made of energy. The energy that made them is still around so they are never really gone. The knowledge that I am still a part of all life instead of looking on it from some place where I am basking in some gods glory is far more comforting than any religion could ever give me.

 

[chadfromdallas]

If you do not believe in a God, Heaven or an After-life, then when someone you love passes on, what gives you comfort?

Memories. Believe it or not, I laugh and smile at funerals, remembering the great times I spent with the person.

I do not believe in an afterlife, but would like to be proven wrong

 

[Micca]

The spirit of a person is kept alive by their loved ones and the influences they left behind.

 

[Beth76]

If you do not believe in a God, Heaven or an After-life, then when someone you love passes on, what gives you comfort?
.

Well, I have often wondered why are people who believe in God comforted by the fact that they may be in heaven. Most of the people that I know who have died were old and sick. So I was comforted by the fact that they were not suffering anymore and had lived a long life. But I do know is that if one of my children die, there is NO god or whatever that would "comfort" me. I don't care what "his plan" is.

My theory is that people believe in their "god" in order to make them feel better about tragedies and death. How would you respond to that?

 

[phillybeth]

I'm not offended at all.

Well, I honestly believe that death is the end. I don't believe there's anything after that. So, what gives me comfort is all the wonderful memories and good times we shared, the happy moments that person had while alive, the lasting impact they made, etc.. Also, if the person was suffering, the knowledge that the suffering is over.

Couldn't say it better myself!

 

[Cyndiu]

Well, I honestly believe that death is the end. I don't believe there's anything after that. So, what gives me comfort is all the wonderful memories and good times we shared, the happy moments that person had while alive, the lasting impact they made, etc..

My thoughts exactly. I grieve for the loss just as much as anyone I think, but being a very practical person (impossibly practical as my mom always says), I guess I am able to come to acceptance fairly soon. Having said that, I lost a very close friend 4 years ago January 20th and whenever I think of him for more than a moment I tear up. Here I go...

 

[sorcerormickey]

I don't exactly KNOW what I believe in, but I definately don't believe its all black when you die. That is just too difficult for me to accept, so I don't.

MTE. Is there something else out there? I hope so, but have no idea what.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I'm not offended at all.

Well, I honestly believe that death is the end. I don't believe there's anything after that. So, what gives me comfort is all the wonderful memories and good times we shared, the happy moments that person had while alive, the lasting impact they made, etc.. Also, if the person was suffering, the knowledge that the suffering is over.

Very eloquent and my thoughts exactly. There just isn't anything more to add to that. Thanks Gem.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I have often thought about what happens when we die...if anything. I can understand why people want to believe in "heaven" but I just don't think there is such a place. I tend to believe that death is the end.

I felt a sense of relief when my g-ma passed because I knew her suffering was over. I had said my goodbye and sat with her two days before she died and I saw the pain she was going through. I think of her often and remember the time we shared and how much she loved me. That helps comfort me.

My g-pa's death was sudden and therefore harder to except. The rest of my family took comfort in their belief that he and g-ma were together again in heaven but I couldn't...it didn't feel right...it's hard to explain.

Anyway...I guess people just need to believe in something to get them through

 

[dcentity2000]

Interesting topic



Rich::

 

[DMickey28]

I honestly don't know.

I am trying to learn more about God. The idea that it's just black and darkness to me scares me soo much. I think something goes on... something more, I just don't know what.

 

[BWVDenise]

I like the way Beth said it.

My theory is that people believe in their "god" in order to make them feel better about tragedies and death. How would you respond to that?

I'd add my own thoughts, but I just can't express them well.

 

[Immelman]

" I don't know, and you don't know either" is my mantra. but I don't believe in the bible, heaven or hell, a god or a devil. we're learning way too much information about the universe to think that god created it. my 11 year old asks me where god came from. I can't answer basic logic like that. the bible was written in an age where the earth was flat and the sun revolved around us. I don't need to be comforted, death is a fact of life, and it's amazing we've made it to the point we evolved a frontal lobe to comprehend life and death. it's the greatest mystery there is, and we'll find out when we get there. are there dinosaurs in heaven? who knows? I've had too many paranormal experiences to believe that it's black, maybe we change form. who knows? live a pretty clean life, teach your childrem morality, and hope for the best.

 

[grinningghost]

I have always questioned things like this. I do not practice a specific religion for this reason. I do think of myself as spiritual though. I feel as others do, that life contains energy, and energy must change form, not completely dissipate.

I do pray and believe in a higher power, I just tend to find all the pageantry of organized religion unnecessary. I find comfort in knowing that nobody really knows what happens after death, and I can only hope that there is something wonderful waiting, be it Heaven or something else.

I also have a tough time with "near death" experiences. Being sort of a realist, I tend to go with the "brain playing tricks" theory, but then again, I don't really know, so I don't completely deny it's possible to be something more.

 

[Amberle3]

I'm not offended at all.

Well, I honestly believe that death is the end. I don't believe there's anything after that. So, what gives me comfort is all the wonderful memories and good times we shared, the happy moments that person had while alive, the lasting impact they made, etc.. Also, if the person was suffering, the knowledge that the suffering is over.

What she said.

That and the knowledge that eventually all things die, it's just the way things work. It's not as though my loved ones are going to live forever, as much as I might like that to happen.

Although I have to admit to having one or two occurances that makes me question things a little bit. But in general I'm pretty content with believing that "gone" is "gone".

 

[dcentity2000]

One of the interesting things to do with this is the "near-death experience" phenomenon.

Patients who nearly or temporarily died reported seeing a white light, feeling utter bliss and a feeling of movement. Clinical test simulating the chemical changes caused in the situations replicated the light and movement - but never the bliss.

Of course, the whole thing went up the chute after a load of people came forward and reported having had their experiences in hell which was largely full of things too horrible to post here.

Goodness knows.

Now I'll stop blathering on all off topic



Rich::