I am not sure if I am posting this in the right place, but I wanted to ask some questions about the atheist's beliefs. In all seriousness, I am truely curious about it. I am not familiar atheists at all and have learned quite a bit from this site so far, but I am still unclear about a few things.
Hello, kimbalee. Your questions are welcome; I'm always glad to try to explain my viewpoints to someone who is sincerely curious. I hope my answers will be helpful to you.
- What do atheists believe happens to them when they die?
In all likelihood, nothing. Maybe there's some sort of afterlife or reincarnation system, and that would be nice, but I don't see anything to suggest that this is the case. I find it most probable that when we die, we just
stop.
You mentioned, in response to someone else, that you have a hard time understanding that notion. Let me see if I can explain. What do you think happens to all other living things in the world, besides humans, when they die? I was raised Christian, and was taught that animals don't have eternal souls, and don't go on to any afterlife when they die. I guess I still believe that, but just don't make a special exception for people.
I will say this, though: if I'm wrong, and there is an afterlife, I hope they let in cats. I love my kitty.
- What do they believe is beyond our solar system/galaxy? Doesn't something have to be out there? The galaxy just doesn't stop at a wall, it keeps going.... going to what?
Well, beyond the Milky Way galaxy, there are countless other galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, extending billions of light-years into space. And, as I understand it, space
itself is expanding, as it has been since the universe-as-we-know-it started up.
As to what is beyond the universe as a whole... well, as we understand space and time, there
is no "beyond the universe," per se. The universe, as far as we can tell currently, is all that is. There may be countless "parallel" universes lying close to our own but never intersecting, but that notion is largely speculation at this point.
- Don't you feel a little dissapointed that this is it, no other higher being at all?
That's an interesting way of looking at the world. I mean, I guess I
could be disappointed that reality doesn't meet with my preferred standards; I could feel disappointed that I wasn't born an heiress to a multi-billion dollar fortune. Or, for a more personal example, I'm a huge fantasy-genre geek. I love stories about magic and epic quests and dragons and unicorns and faeries and the like. I could be disappointed that those things don't exist in reality, that there aren't dragons and unicorns and wizards, or that there isn't a portal to another world in the back of my closet. I don't mean that facetiously; I would
love it if the world were like that. But it seems like something of a waste of energy to resent reality for not tailoring itself to my preferences. Instead, I read fantasy novels and play roleplaying games, and try to appreciate and enjoy the world for what it is, rather than being disappointed in what it isn't.
What is there to look forward to?
Tomorrow. The next day. Five hours from now, when I see my boyfriend. Everything there is. Life. The fact that life ends someday makes it
more precious and valuable, not less.
Again, this are genuine questions, please don't be offended. This are questions that have been swirling in my head.
They weren't offensive at all. In fact, I'm always glad to encounter someone who genuinely wants to understand the point of view of someone who thinks differently. If you have other questions, I hope you'll post them.
