Can we stop saying that atheists are afraid to believe in god? [Spirituality & Religion]

Who the heck wouldn't want to believe that death is not the end and that we'll be reunited with our loved ones?

It seems to me that in fact fear is one of the strongest motivators TO believe in a god which soothes the terrors of death, oblivion and separation.

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NeloAngelo · 26-30, M

I've always hated the idea of heaven. that after you die you can be reunited with family and friends. I've had close friends and family pass on and believing that that's it. i'll never see them again while painful makes it feel more important that i keep there memory alive. and i cherrish more the people that remain because my time with them is finite.

i believe if heaven is real then there's no point in grieving and takes the impact of someone passing on away. "oh such and such died? whatever. i'll see them when i pass on eventually."

Pikachu

@NeloAngelo

I don't think that's really borne out by reality though. Theists who believe they will be reunited after they die still grieve over the deaths of friends and family. Evidently the belief that there is an afterlife only goes so far in blunting the pain of separation and loss.

Silverwings · 70-79, F

@NeloAngelo It is amazing that you "hate the idea of heaven" , it seems from your writing that you do not ever wish to see your loved ones again, am I reading that right? It also seems that the memory is more important that the real person, and if you are human and you really care about someone it is normal for you to grieve, even though for a Christian that departure is only for a time.

Silverwings · 70-79, F

@Pikachu the human part of us does indeed grieve the loss of our loved ones, as well as grieving for those who refuse to believe.

NeloAngelo · 26-30, M

@Silverwings I'd give anything to see them again. but its knowing and accepting i never will that makes it important to remember them.

if i accept heaven is true then dying doesn't mean anything. a loved one dying would only be as emotional as them moving far away. mourning there passing also would seem pointless because there in some sort of paradise. we should't grieve we should celebrate.

Pikachu

@NeloAngelo

if i accept heaven is true then dying doesn't mean anything

But obviously that's not true. I understand your reasoning but your conclusion is simply not shown to be true in real life. Theists DO grieve for the loss of people they love so evidently a belief in an afterlife does not, in practice trivialize death.

So given that, why wouldn't you want to believe?

NeloAngelo · 26-30, M

@Pikachu time with loved ones is limited. i want to treasure it while it lasts. if there's a heaven then theres an infinite afterlife i can spend with them i can put off seeing them for a day/week/year next thing i know they're gone.

Pikachu

@NeloAngelo

Here's the problem i see with your reasoning.

On the basis that this life is all we get you determine that it's valuable to spend as much quality time with the people you love as you can.
Given that you believe that there is a limited about of time, you feel an afterlife devalues the time we have together here.

My response is: Well so what?

If you knew that you would get to see your loved ones again and have infinity with them and that, that might result in not spending as much time with them on this earth, WHY would that mean you wouldn't want there to be an afterlife where you are all reunited?

I can understand if you would be fearful to believe that because it could jeopardize the time you spend with loved ones now, but why wouldn't you want an afterlife to be true? Which is what we're talking about in this thread. Why wouldn't an atheist want to know that they'll see their loved ones again?

NeloAngelo · 26-30, M

I don't want an afterlife. all my dreams/aspirations are motivated by the belief that this is it. this is all we get. living life to the fullest.

hoping for an afterlife takes that away from me. wanting something doesn't make it true either. to me heaven is a lie meant to make those who have lost loved ones feel better. its a beautiful lie but i would always choose a harsh truth over a beautiful lie.

either way i suppose we'll find out soon enough.

Pikachu

@NeloAngelo

How does hoping but not knowing that there's an afterlife take anything away at all?

And if you did KNOW that there was an afterlife, why wouldn't you want that?