Wishing for an afterlife

[Rhiannon]

Recently this came up on another thread and it might be interesting to look at it further.

Why do some people desperately want there to be some kind of continuation of life after death?

[torridon]

Recently this came up on another thread and it might be interesting to look at it further.

Why do some people desperately want there to be some kind of continuation of life after death?

We all want to avoid death, its built deep into us.  There again, by 'afterlife', people usually imagine not a continuation of this earthly life, but a real hunky dory one, with all the best bits of this life but without all the downsides.  Ah, if only ...

[Brownie]

Peace is what I think most people want, an absence of stress, illness etc.  If a person is ill, stressed and very unhappy for a long period of time they will travel to a place of bliss in their mind (or attempt to).  A belief in the afterlife is akin to this, different for everyone.

[ippy]

I never think of an afterlife, other than when it's mentioned by others, can't think of any rational or logical reason why there should be any such thing, there's no evidence that would support this idea.

Chris Hitchens summed this afterlife idea up some years back when he compared, along with several other religious ideas, heaven as being ruled over by the equivalent of a leader of North Korea, that you can never get away from etc, etc.(you can still find it on YouTube). 

ippy

 

[floo]

Recently this came up on another thread and it might be interesting to look at it further.

Why do some people desperately want there to be some kind of continuation of life after death?

Goodness knows, I certainly don't.

[Shaker]

Goodness knows, I certainly don't.

I don't either, and never have. The reasons behind the desire for post mortem existence aren't far to seek - you don't have to be a professor of psychology to work it out, and the arguments against are numerous and compelling - but I've never had such a desire. It's one of those many things that to me is so self-evidently fantastical that it's not worth the head room.

In the meantime I prefer to get on with loving the life I do have and everything in it rather than speculating idly about another which is so utterly implausible.

[Brownie]

I never think of an afterlife, other than when it's mentioned by others, can't think of any rational or logical reason why there should be any such thing, there's no evidence that would support this idea.

Chris Hitchens summed this afterlife idea up some years back when he compared, along with several other religious ideas, heaven as being ruled over by the equivalent of a leader of North Korea, that you can never get away from etc, etc.(you can still find it on YouTube). 

That would hardly be perfect peace, I doubt many Christian believers (& others), think of it like that.  I certainly never have.  We don't have a clue what the afterlife will be, if it exists.  The important thing is to live life the best you can while still alive (which I see that Shaker has said in different words) - but it is difficult for some people who seem to have more than their fair share of troubles.
ippy

[Bramble]

I find it fascinating that whereas for most religions some sort of afterlife is a major selling point, in Buddhism it's the big nightmare that practitioners strive to put an end to. That said, I've noticed that many Buddhists are in no great hurry to do so and seem to look forward to being reborn with as much enthusiasm as Christians might hope for a future in heaven!

[Udayana]

That's very unfair. If they didn't desire life and suffering they wouldn't be born or reborn.

As far as I am concerned, when you die the whole universe is erased too.

[ippy]

Chris puts it over in a far more eloquent way than I could, I know that's difficult to believe, but I'll see if I can find it on YouTube anyway and get you a link.

Got it Brownie, go to YouTube enter into their search box: Chris Hitchens Religion: A Celestial North Korea.

The above will take you to our Lord Chris, Hallowed be his name.

Regards ippy

[Rhiannon]

I'd desperately like another go at this life. I screwed up so badly in so many ways and I'd love another shot at it, to produce something fulfilling and meaningful.

Ain't gonna happen though.

[ekim]

Recently this came up on another thread and it might be interesting to look at it further.

Why do some people desperately want there to be some kind of continuation of life after death?

Perhaps it is the same motive which causes people with a life threatening illness to desperately want a continuation of life before death.  There are some, of course, who see death as a happy release from the trials and tribulations of living.

[Udayana]

I'd desperately like another go at this life. I screwed up so badly in so many ways and I'd love another shot at it, to produce something fulfilling and meaningful.

Ain't gonna happen though.

Such a glutton for punishment  But you'll have lived this life ... if there is anything else it should be different.. a new set of mistakes?

Also .. if it was this life again .. you wouldn't have any memory of it, so could hardly get pleasure from not making the same mistakes or any other comparison

[Rhiannon]

Such a glutton for punishment  But you'll have lived this life ... if there is anything else it should be different.. a new set of mistakes?

Also .. if it was this life again .. you wouldn't have any memory of it, so could hardly get pleasure from not making the same mistakes or any other comparison

I was feeling a bit out of sorts when I posted that.

You're right, there would be nothing to compare it to, although I would still like to have another shot at making the most of the time I've wasted. But if we assume life is a journey in many ways mine has been a rich one, and is only getting richer.

[Shaker]

Such a glutton for punishment  But you'll have lived this life ... if there is anything else it should be different.. a new set of mistakes?

Reminds me of the Peter Cook gag: "Oh, I remember all the mistakes I've ever made in my life. Given a second chance I'm sure I could repeat them all almost perfectly."

[Rhiannon]

Well yeah, I'm always reminded of Rodney Trotter on reincarnation: if there is such a thing knowing my luck I'll come back as me.

[ippy]

I'd desperately like another go at this life. I screwed up so badly in so many ways and I'd love another shot at it, to produce something fulfilling and meaningful.

Ain't gonna happen though.

Everybody screws up from time to time Rhi, the only ones that haven't are better at lieing than most, we all have that knot in the stomach, if only I had done 'x', it's called being human.

When you get up tomorrow morning have a look into the mirror and be like me, think to yourself, 'wow,' you devil I don't know how you do it' and always carry a pen for the autograph hunters.

ippy

[Owlswing]

I find it fascinating that whereas for most religions some sort of afterlife is a major selling point, in Buddhism it's the big nightmare that practitioners strive to put an end to. That said, I've noticed that many Buddhists are in no great hurry to do so and seem to look forward to being reborn with as much enthusiasm as Christians might hope for a future in heaven!

I think that there is a vast difference between "life after death", an afterlife, and what Buddhists and some Pagans believe in which, as you stated above, rebirth.

Many Pagans believe in the circle of life, birth, life, death and rebirth, I am one of them.

I believe that at death the essence of what makes me me will pass to the Summerlands, where it will rest, take stock of the experiences of the life just ended, learn from thiose experiences and await rebirth.

This, to me, is the explanation of things like deja vu and what is seen during past life regressions.

OK - you can now all point out that I am talking bollocks on a par with some of Sassy's and Spuds and ~TW~'s - but hey, it's my belief, but, unlike those previously mentioned, I am NOT asking you to accept it as proven fact.

[Rhiannon]

Everybody screws up from time to time Rhi, the only ones that haven't are better at lieing than most, we all have that knot in the stomach, if only I had done 'x', it's called being human.

When you get up tomorrow morning have a look into the mirror and be like me, think to yourself, 'wow,' you devil I don't know how you do it' and always carry a pen for the autograph hunters.

ippy

Ippy, you are an absolute sweetheart. 

[Brownie]

He is, always brings a smile to my face too.
I have a feeling that we would repeat our mistakes, or some of them (& make some new ones), if we had life over again.  Every circumstance would have to be different for us to do everything differently and then we wouldn't be who we are.  So it's pointless to speculate.

[floo]

I suppose it is just remotely possible we have many lives and move on from one to another forever. 

[Rhiannon]

I like the idea of parallel universes with lots of Rhiannons doing different things. Somewhere I'm responsible for world peace and lokoking after all the cats.

[Shaker]

I like the idea of parallel universes with lots of Rhiannons doing different things. Somewhere I'm responsible for world peace and lokoking after all the cats.

Knock yourself out with the world peace business if you want - the cats are my job.

[Rhiannon]

Knock yourself out with the world peace business if you want - the cats are my job.

Until they develop opposable thumbs. Then I think you'll find they are mine.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I like the idea of parallel universes with lots of Rhiannons doing different things. Somewhere I'm responsible for world peace and lokoking after all the cats.

Lokoking? Is that something one can do in a parallel universe?........This universe is pretty light on lokokers.