Why do you believe in the evolution theory? (2)

[Viren]

I don't follow. Could you explain?

In one way we are completely unique individuals, but there there's another identity that is part of the whole. Like snowflakes each is completely unique, but it's still made out of H2O. It all depends on how you see yourself.

If you only see yourself as a singular separate individual you're missing a lot of what you actually are.

 

[Saricharity]

That's a pretty insulting way to look down on the people that don't belong to your particular group.

It isn't meant to be insulting. It just is profoundly sad.
I could not imagine living my life each day knowing at the end of my life, I would simply cease to exist. It just simply makes my heart sad. What purpose would there be to life and what reason would there be to live. Just statements and not questions really.

 

[bhsmte]

In one way we are completely unique individuals, but there there's another identity that is part of the whole.

What other identity are you referring to?

What exactly is this "whole" you speak of?

 

[Viren]

What other identity are you referring to?

What exactly is this "whole" you speak of?

The universe. We didn't pop out of nothing. I think it's logical to assume that we are part of the universe.

 

[Booko]

It isn't meant to be insulting. It just is profoundly sad.
I could not imagine living my life each day knowing at the end of my life, I would simply cease to exist. It just simply makes my heart sad. What purpose would there be to life and what reason would there be to live. Just statements and not questions really.

I lived it for many years, so I don't have to imagine. For many it makes life worth living in the present. We have to do what we can in this life. There is no making up for it later.

The purpose in life can be no different from a theist's - to leave the world a bit better than we found it. To help others. To learn and grow as a person.

Why does there have to be some afterlife for this life to have purpose?

So what if my ego is destroyed upon death? It's not like I would notice anything to be sad about.

As it happens I have been a theist for many years, and do believe there is life after death. But if my religion had taught there isn't, it still wouldn't have bothered me.

fwiw, I don't find your questions offensive at all. It's a pretty common divide between those who have always believed, and those who don't or previously didn't.

I can't tell you how many theists over the years I've talked to, suggesting talking to atheists about how praying to non-existent Beings will get them faith or singing the glories of the afterlife is pretty much pointless. If you don't understand that, it's natural enough for anyone who hasn't been an atheist, but believe me when I say it is true, because I'm very much in earnest.

If you want to talk to atheists, it's best to start where they are standing - not where you are.

 

[bhsmte]

The universe. We didn't pop out of nothing. I think it's logical to assume that we are part of the universe.

Well, as Neil Degrasse puts it; we are made of star dust, but I don't see what that has to do with whether we have an existence, in an afterlife.

 

[Viren]

Well, as Neil Degrasse puts it; we are made of star dust, but I don't see what that has to do with whether we have an existence, in an afterlife.

The universe is a lot more than stardust.

 

[crjmurray]

It isn't meant to be insulting. It just is profoundly sad.
I could not imagine living my life each day knowing at the end of my life, I would simply cease to exist. It just simply makes my heart sad. What purpose would there be to life and what reason would there be to live. Just statements and not questions really.

Purpose? Tomorrow I could bring my girlfriend flowers and make her happy. That seems like a good purpose. In the next week or so I could track down a person that is wanted for a violent crime and bring him before a court. That seems like a good purpose. Hell, I could take my boat out and spend the day looking at wildlife. That's a fine purpose. I fail to understand how people like you believe that I somehow think my life has no purpose.

 

[bhsmte]

It isn't meant to be insulting. It just is profoundly sad.
I could not imagine living my life each day knowing at the end of my life, I would simply cease to exist. It just simply makes my heart sad. What purpose would there be to life and what reason would there be to live. Just statements and not questions really.

Life would have no purpose without an afterlife?

Wow, talk about sad.

 

[bhsmte]

The universe is a lot more than stardust.

Still don't see how any of this relates to having an existence in an afterlife.

 

[Davian]

And death means what to you? That you cease to exist?

Yes.

 

[Davian]

How profoundly sad to live with no hope.

I have never known anything different.

It could also be considered sad to have devoted one's life to a folly.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

In one way we are completely unique individuals, but there there's another identity that is part of the whole. Like snowflakes each is completely unique, but it's still made out of H2O. It all depends on how you see yourself.

If you only see yourself as a singular separate individual you're missing a lot of what you actually are.

When my art teacher passed away her memorial service was held at a Nichiren Buddhist Temple, and what you wrote here reminds me of what the officiator said when speaking about how she would live on in the universe. It was about the interconnectivity of all of elements of life. I was 11 then so I didn't grasp all that was said, but there was definitely hopefulness and peace even though they didn't believe in the afterlife. If you've had a well-lived, well-loved life, those who love you carry you within them. In a way that belief actually gives me far more peace than the idea of an eternity in another realm.

This is probably a lame question, but why is it so sad to cease to exist after we die when we never mourn that we ceased to exist before we were born?

 

[crjmurray]

When my art teacher passed away her memorial service was held at a Nichiren Buddhist Temple, and what you wrote here reminds me of what the officiator said when speaking about how she would live on in the universe. It was about the interconnectivity of all of elements of life. I was 11 then so I didn't grasp all that was said, but there was definitely hopefulness and peace even though they didn't believe in the afterlife. If you've had a well-lived, well-loved life, those who love you carry you within them. In a way that belief actually gives me far more peace than the idea of an eternity in another realm.

This is probably a lame question, but why is it so sad to cease to exist after we die when we never mourn that we ceased to exist before we were born?

Just wanted to point out this great comment.

 

[Viren]

When my art teacher passed away her memorial service was held at a Nichiren Buddhist Temple, and what you wrote here reminds me of what the officiator said when speaking about how she would live on in the universe. It was about the interconnectivity of all of elements of life. I was 11 then so I didn't grasp all that was said, but there was definitely hopefulness and peace even though they didn't believe in the afterlife. If you've had a well-lived, well-loved life, those who love you carry you within them. In a way that belief actually gives me far more peace than the idea of an eternity in another realm.

This is probably a lame question, but why is it so sad to cease to exist after we die when we never mourn that we ceased to exist before we were born?

The only sad thing imo is taking life for granted and not seeing the beauty in it. Life is now and it will never be anywhere else.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

<edit>
If you want to talk to atheists, it's best to start where they are standing - not where you are.

True.

 

[JacksBratt]

Death.

Born once, die twice.

Born twice, die once.

 

[JacksBratt]

Probably.

That's the confidence I want to have when I close my eyes for the last time.

 

[JacksBratt]

The post below was completely expected in response to the post above, haha. I half laughed, but mainly cringed when I read it earlier because I knew what would happen. Though, I expected you to be quote mined with the rest of the post cut of entirely.



Do you believe Satan was involved with earlier misconceptions about science that Christians of the past fervently maintained but that we now know to be false? Or were previous generations of Christians honestly mistaken about their hermeneutics?

If you believe in Satan as a literal figure, have you ever considered the possibility that is it you and other creationists who have been manipulated and deceived by him? I appreciate that efforts have been made to find the science to substantiate your scriptural interpretations, but that science has been refuted. There is no tangible evidence of young earth creationism. Long before Darwin's time there were many theological scholars who believed Genesis was allegorical and held deeply profound truths about our nature and God's, but was not plenary or literal. Consider the acrimony and feuds between science and religion, and the fractures it has caused within the Christian community. One of the reasons Millennials are leaving the church today is because of a perceived antagonism between religion and science. Fortunately, improvement is being made with nearly 70% of evangelical Christians answering a poll that they did not see such a conflict.
I think there would be more unity amongst Christians and retention of believers if more saw the harmony between religion and science.

We have all been manipulated by Satan.

In the end, science and the biblical account will mesh like a dove tail joint.

There is so much that is going to happen in the next short while that will make you wonder what is real and what is not.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

I am curious. What evidence of life evolving do you find the most convincing to you?

As I've spent most of my time on this forum, examining the evidence which relates to Evolution : (a) Lines of Evidence, (b) Flood Geology, (c) Lines of Evidence (2) and currently (d) The Scientific Method & Macroevolution, I'd be interested to know what evidence of life evolving you don't find the most convincing?