If the afterlife is a lie, why do we believe in it?

Question

Basically there are two sides to that question:

We all do not know if their is an afterlife, we just take it on faith. Do you think it is better to transform yourself into thinking that their is an afterlife so that you can have some sense of humanity?

On the flip side, do you think people take life for granted, because of their faith? Such as not giving 100% in their life or killing someone, because they know they will be judged or redeemed in the afterlife?

Answer 1

Even without God, without an afterlife and without judgment... I would continue to live by my own moral standards. Killing is wrong... even without God-dictated objective morality. I need neither religion, nor man-made law, nor ridiculous social criteria, to tell me if something is wrong or sinful



No, I dont think faith is a handicap. Maybe for some people. I think faith is rather freeing, though.



People have inhibitions in life... religious or not. Nobody lives to their full potential or indulge in every desire. Partly because of morality, partly because of any other number of things.



We are animals. That doesnt negate a soul... but it does remind us that animals fear. We fear rejection and denial in every caveat of desire, we fear that gluttony would do more damage.



I am not of the mentality that we should live how we want and risk there not being an afterlife against damnation. Nor am I in favor of blind obedience to rules that dont necessarily have a moral message, or a misinterpreted message... to such a degree that it hinders happiness.

Answer 2

I think that the idea of the afterlife is there because people see how unfair life is and because of that they need to believe that somewhere there is justice.



For example (im gonna use christianity because it is the religion i am most familiar with):



If someone is really poor and lives on the streets in 'this' life, the hope is that in the afterlife he will get his reward for all the rubbish he had to deal with in 'this' life and go to heaven.



I don't believe in the afterlife. Some would believe this makes me scared of death, but instead i believe that those who don't have faith in the after life are just getting on with life and whatever happens happens, instead of worrying about some judging that will happen after we die.



Also, on the same note, what makes us so different from animals which do not have an afterlife, and why should some being have the right to determine whether i spend eternity in heaven/hell?



sorry for asking more questions....

Answer 3

There are four basic questions, in the life of a human being!



1. Where did I come from?

2. What is this place that I have been born into?

3. Who am I?

4. Where am I going?



If perchance a human being takes the time to discover the answer to the first three questions, 1., 2., 3., then the answer to the 4th question will be given to man automatically. If man doesn't take the time to investigate and discover the answer to the first three questions, man may never know the answer to the fourth question.



*footnote - The answer to all four questions must be resolved in this lifetime, for there will be no more chances. This is the final go around. This is the specific age we are presently living in. Wisdom is necessary to find the answers.

"Search well!"

*Does the above answer give your engine the added and necessary fuel to be more persistent in the journey that lies before you? Sometimes do humans need a push?



By the way, "Life" should never be taken for granted, for it's the greatest gift ever given to man.



"Peace be always with you."

Answer 4

Well I can not give you an answer based off of my personal opinion but I can give you a little knowledge from a book I read on ethics. Can't exactly remember the title unfortunately but I can tell you what my favorite part of it was that came from one of the most pessimistic philosopher's I have ever read. The philosopher I only know as and refer to as "Becker". Basically what Becker said was that humans invent god and religion (thus an afterlife) because they are afraid to accept their own mortality and that fact that there is no "meaning to life" and that we have no purpose. He also goes on to say that we will live out our lives, die in the end (alone nonetheless), and cease to exist but that this fact is much to harsh for the average person to accept or even imagine so they invent these "delusions" (and I am not calling them delusions this is just what he said) because we are afraid of nothing in the end.I personally don't believe that because of his philosophy in itself. If he is right, it doesn't matter because if I accepted that "truth" then I would be miserable with that fact but there nonetheless is a good reason why people would believe in the afterlife!

Answer 5

It is on the same level on if there is a God or not. There are questions that remain a mystery until we get there. Kind of like when we are children we have no concept of what an adult world view is like. Instead as children we insist our view is the right way even though are parents by their actions indicate otherwise. Only when we become adults do we understand what our parents were telling us.



It is unfortunate men do not realize they were made of immortal stuff and that is what we are. And that an ancient book did have all the answers but they willingly refused to believe it. Why wait until death to find out.



When right now experiences show us things like the lochness Monster, or Sasquatch, or Near Death Experiences, or Astral Projections. or ghosts, and yes even religions There is too much paranormal activity going on here for man to think he is alone and nothing else, but this world is reality.

Answer 6

It is not a lie - lies had a deliberation behind them. Afterlife is a myth. As you say there is no solid evidence for any for of afterlife, we take it on faith.



We do not need an afterlife to give us humanity. That comes from compassion and empathy (not sympathy, which is just another way of controlling). Indeed many atrocities have been committed in the name of the afterlife. Witches and homosexuals were burnt so it would purify their sole and allow them to go into an afterlife.



So lets just drop the unnecessary nonsence of afterlife and become hu-mane

Answer 7

This is so ironic because I was having the same exact thought just last week. I am so confused by this to. Sometimes I also think religion is just a comfort for people because the idea of dying is so terrifying. Good question to post, I hope you get some good answers too!

Answer 8

I think that for most people, the concept of taking 100%

responibility for your life on Earth is too much to handle.

Instead of living an exemplory life now, they assume that

all will be forgiven after they're dead and they'll be some

kind of Elysian Fields they can frolic around in. It's such

a strange concept, I've never understood how intellegent

people could believe this but that's just me.

Answer 9

If anyone knows the answer, then they know the meaning of life itself. Try and make the most of now because theres no contract guaranteeing an afterlife- only faith......

Answer 10

How do we know is a lie? You see, time is infinite and space too, if we die and to nothingness we wouldn¨t even be aware of time, so posibilitys of reborn are infinite



After death suposedly you go where you where before born, but who says you can¨t exist again?



The concept of a heaven, and a judgement seems out sense, but there are tons of concepts of afterlife but always the same idea



Something after we die



Why not? Everything natural in our universe pass to through infinite cycles to regenerate, and reincarnation idea seems to fit....



PD: And those who don´t believe in afterlife somehow we will be depressed in one way or another, because the idea living "Its all for nothing" somehow makes sense to them and yet they try to believe

Answer 11

People believe in many things, like God and the afterlife. My theory is that people wish to believe in God so that they have something to look up to, to honor. They believe in the afterlife because they wish to have a strong reason to live(do good deeds to get to the positive afterlife), and die (go to there afterlife). Personally, i believe in neither.

Answer 12

So that we can feel all this is worth it, all the pain and triumph.



I think people of faith disregard the present for the "afterlife", they think they're saved so this life doesn't really matter. Yes.

Answer 13

It is a theory - it has never been pr oven, nor has it ever been disproved. People believe in it because it sounds great and eases their fear of dying.



Because most people prefer to not think about things too much, I believe it is best that they have faith in a higher power.

Answer 14

if there is an after life or not, there is only one way to find out... personally I do not care. nor wish to know before it is my time. If it helps people, makes them happy if they believe it is there, then why not let them?

I think you should believe anything that makes you happy (if you do not hurt others with it ) and I do not think that ones faith keeps one form living to the fullest.

Answer 15

Because it provides comfort.... you've heard of the phrase 'ignorance is bliss.' That applies to the belief in an afterlife.

Answer 16

I hope there is no afterlife. But still want this one to recieve my best efforts at virtue. It is a personal choice you will have to make for yourself.

Answer 17

We choose to believe in things that comfort us.

What else can we do?

Peace!

Answer 18

some think ..there are 70 virgins waiting for them..if they blow you up.......where are all these virgins coming from ???

Answer 19

ourselves and each other. people seem to be afraid of that idea.

Answer 20

no problem... its not a lie....