,
Most, if not all, religions include a promise of eternal life. Of course, in most cases the promise includes a requirement to follow what that specific religion or branch of said religion requires to attain eternal life.
Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?
If not, why do so many accept the promise of eternal life?
Tcg
The promise of eternal life.
Moderator: Moderators
- Tcg
- Savant
- Posts: 8495
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:01 am
- Location: Third Stone
- Has thanked: 2147 times
- Been thanked: 2295 times
The promise of eternal life.
Post #1To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3187
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:32 am
- Has thanked: 1510 times
- Been thanked: 824 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #2I've always found it interesting on how people of various beliefs, that have 'seen the other side', often see the other side as their POV describes.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:36 am ,
Most, if not all, religions include a promise of eternal life. Of course, in most cases the promise includes a requirement to follow what that specific religion or branch of said religion requires to attain eternal life.
Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?
If not, why do so many accept the promise of eternal life?
Tcg
Besides that, I think there are those that have 'experiences' that many could (and do) attribute to the afterlife. Rather or not it is remains - and will always remain - to be seen.
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
As far as 'the promise', it stands to reason, to me, anything that contemplates eternity would create an after life to appease their lack of understanding of said 'eternity'.
Have a great, potentially godless, day!
- Tcg
- Savant
- Posts: 8495
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:01 am
- Location: Third Stone
- Has thanked: 2147 times
- Been thanked: 2295 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #3Well sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3187
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:32 am
- Has thanked: 1510 times
- Been thanked: 824 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #4It doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Have a great, potentially godless, day!
- Tcg
- Savant
- Posts: 8495
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:01 am
- Location: Third Stone
- Has thanked: 2147 times
- Been thanked: 2295 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #5I didn't ask if it was true or not, I asked, "Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?"nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:59 amIt doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3187
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:32 am
- Has thanked: 1510 times
- Been thanked: 824 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #6And as I said, evidence exists in the experiences of others. Rather or not they can be trusted in another matter.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:02 amI didn't ask if it was true or not, I asked, "Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?"nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:59 amIt doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Tcg
Have a great, potentially godless, day!
- Tcg
- Savant
- Posts: 8495
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:01 am
- Location: Third Stone
- Has thanked: 2147 times
- Been thanked: 2295 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #7I didn't ask about "experiences of others", I asked about verifiable evidence.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:05 amAnd as I said, evidence exists in the experiences of others. Rather or not they can be trusted in another matter.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:02 amI didn't ask if it was true or not, I asked, "Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?"nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:59 amIt doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Tcg
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
-
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3187
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:32 am
- Has thanked: 1510 times
- Been thanked: 824 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #8You asked about verifiable evidence. The only evidence I've seen are the experiences of others. If you choose not to accept those as verifiable evidence, that's your call, of course.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:07 amI didn't ask about "experiences of others", I asked about verifiable evidence.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:05 amAnd as I said, evidence exists in the experiences of others. Rather or not they can be trusted in another matter.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:02 amI didn't ask if it was true or not, I asked, "Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?"nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:59 amIt doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Tcg
Tcg
Have a great, potentially godless, day!
- Tcg
- Savant
- Posts: 8495
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:01 am
- Location: Third Stone
- Has thanked: 2147 times
- Been thanked: 2295 times
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #9What are the experiences of others that you consider to be verifiable evidence?nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:12 amYou asked about verifiable evidence. The only evidence I've seen are the experiences of others. If you choose not to accept those as verifiable evidence, that's your call, of course.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:07 amI didn't ask about "experiences of others", I asked about verifiable evidence.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:05 amAnd as I said, evidence exists in the experiences of others. Rather or not they can be trusted in another matter.Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:02 amI didn't ask if it was true or not, I asked, "Can the promise of eternal life be supported with verifiable evidence?"nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:59 amIt doesn't mean it's true, you're right. But it doesn't mean it's not true, either. What it does mean, in some fashion, is this concept allows the belief of an afterlife to continue and sometimes grow (at least in modern times).Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:53 amWell sure something of us will exist after our death. This doesn't mean the promise many religions make about a conscious eternal life are true. Heck, when I cut my toenails, they end up somewhere, but I can't use them to think or feel or anything else.nobspeople wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:43 am
As energy can't be created nor destroyed, as we're all energy of some type, it stands to reason that, at least on the energy level, we will 'live forever'. Rather or not this correlates to people being able to 'consciously experience living forever' is unknown.
Tcg
Maybe 'the afterlife' isn't what many religions think it is, while still existing?
Tcg
Tcg
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- Veridican
- Banned
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2022 2:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
- Has thanked: 19 times
- Been thanked: 26 times
- Contact:
Re: The promise of eternal life.
Post #10You keep droning on with that request, but you haven't even defined "life." I think we can agree that death is the absence of life, so we have death defined. But if you can't define life, then no one can even attempt to give you what you're looking for.
18. The followers said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be."
19. Jesus said, "Have you discovered the beginning, then, so that you are seeking the end? For where the beginning is the end will be. Blessings on one who stands at the beginning: That one will know the end and will not taste death."
Gospel of Thomas, v. 18-19 (Meyer, 1992 ed.)
All for Christ and only for Christ!