I am currently reading 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins. Pretty much says everything I feel on the subject in a much more coherent and intelligent way then I could
I am currently reading 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins. Pretty much says everything I feel on the subject in a much more coherent and intelligent way then I could
Just one man's opinion, though.
He doesn't actually know any more than you or me.
I see your point Oggy but Dawkins looks to cast doubt on why religion is held in such importance and has huge influence in world affairs and yet is based on nothing more than myth with any more credibility than believing in eg the Loch Ness monster. He does a very good job too.
I'm really tempted but I just wonder given that I don't believe in life after death that what I have left in this my only life is far too short to listen to them.
If you never learn about things just because you disagree with the premise the rest of the time you have left maybe somewhat empty and unfulfilled.
If by life after death we mean that when I am dead the atoms that currently help make up ShootersHillGuru are eventually randomly redistributed throughout the cosmos to end up for example in a leaf or rabbit or in my case more likely the big toenail of the then England centre forward then yes there is life after death. If by life after death we mean any of the notions associated with religious beliefs then no.
THIS .. Just how many redistributory 'big bangs' have there been ?
There's a time to live and a time to die When it's time to meet the maker There's a time to live but isn't it strange That as soon as you're born you're dying
- Steve Harris
Great song.
Great ALBUM
Gotta agree with that, about time The Clairvoyant was put back into the set. Donington next year would be a good place to start!
Re the subject in hand I'm pretty sure there's nothing afterwards but I would guess that a lot of people like me cling on to the belief we'll go on in some way or another as we don't like the idea that death is the absolute end of us. Whether the 'afterwards' is up there or down there is open to speculation.....
"The world is full of Kings and Queens Who blind your eyes then steal your dreams ...it's Heaven and Hell"
When you cut your finger nails, or your hair, do they go to heaven? Do they have any conscious thought? Or are they dead pieces of matter that will soon disappear from this world?! I believe the latter, and no reason to think the other parts of my body are any different!
the burden of proof is not with the believers as they havnt asked the question.
There is a God but i have no religion.
As for an after life ? not sure what that would be ? my wife is a Budhist so does she go to their heaven (eventually) and i wont be there as i dont have her beliefs (yes i know lucky her)
If I locked my young son in a room, with no tv/internet or contact with anyone, would he start praying to a God? Of course not as he has not been conditioned to believe there is a god or there is a concept of relgion, let alone life after death.
All that will remain after I die are the memories others have of me and some postings I have made on the internet.
In 1000s of years time after empires have risen, fallen, risen and fallen again all that will be left of so called civilisation will be tatty print outs of ancient "Charlton Life" threads that will be poured over by scholars for meaning.
The significance of SISS, ETCYT and LLLBH will be debated long into the night. The true meanings will be known only to the high priests of the new religion known as "clique"
Denying the divinity of the Great AFKA will become a crime punishable by burning.
Wars will be fought over which is the true path to enlightenment. Is it the Lib or the Oak?
Children will be told that if they do not eat all their food or go to bed the evil spirits known as SparrowsLaneLion and Bunny will get them.
There is no god but AFKA and Lookout is his prophet
If I locked my young son in a room, with no tv/internet or contact with anyone, would he start praying to a God? Of course not as he has not been conditioned to believe there is a god or there is a concept of relgion, let alone life after death.
All that will remain after I die are the memories others have of me and some postings I have made on the internet.
the burden of proof is not with the believers as they havnt asked the question...
You're quite right as far as people with their own private beliefs is concerned, as long as they seek only to keep those beliefs to themselves. However, for anyone who wants to convince a rational person of anything, then there is most definately a burden of proof. In this case need for proof, that has most definately remained unfulfilled and I confidently predict will continue to do so.
'Nice to see ya to see ya nice! Here's a song off 'Piece of Mind' this one, written about religion- or about washing your car, that's about as easy as opening a pair of curtains- song's called 'Revelations' this one!'
Comments
I enjoyed the 'God Delusion' but he was preaching to the converted. I'd be interested to know what non-atheists think of it.
I'm really tempted but I just wonder given that I don't believe in life after death that what I have left in this my only life is far too short to listen to them.
If you never learn about things just because you disagree with the premise the rest of the time you have left maybe somewhat empty and unfulfilled.
Re the subject in hand I'm pretty sure there's nothing afterwards but I would guess that a lot of people like me cling on to the belief we'll go on in some way or another as we don't like the idea that death is the absolute end of us. Whether the 'afterwards' is up there or down there is open to speculation.....
"The world is full of Kings and Queens
Who blind your eyes then steal your dreams
...it's Heaven and Hell"
Tony Iommi & Ronnie James Dio - 1980
There is a God but i have no religion.
As for an after life ? not sure what that would be ? my wife is a Budhist so does she go to their heaven (eventually) and i wont be there as i dont have her beliefs (yes i know lucky her)
On a more serious note I think that it's all a load of crap. To me death means death.
;o)
All that will remain after I die are the memories others have of me and some postings I have made on the internet.
The significance of SISS, ETCYT and LLLBH will be debated long into the night. The true meanings will be known only to the high priests of the new religion known as "clique"
Denying the divinity of the Great AFKA will become a crime punishable by burning.
Wars will be fought over which is the true path to enlightenment. Is it the Lib or the Oak?
Children will be told that if they do not eat all their food or go to bed the evil spirits known as SparrowsLaneLion and Bunny will get them.
There is no god but AFKA and Lookout is his prophet
As for me, I think that there is life after death. It's just that you don't get to live it yourself.
Pun of the day !!
Death after life= Gauranteed
Not spell checking after death =Guaranteed
Bruce Dickinson, Long Beach Arena, 1985