Atheists and Agnostics...

[Frimost]

Let's say on the basis of a "what if" scenario:
How much would you change you're life or lifestyle if you a found out beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt that an afterlife existed, that there was a God and/or devil, if you saw a demon or angel and knew you were neither hallucinating nor seeing an illusion. How would that change you and your beliefs and actions in your day to day life.

Personally, I am not all that religious, but if I found out the opposite, if it could be proved beyond a reasonable (or unreasonable doubt) somehow that there was absolutely nothing after you die then I would be very, very, very, very depressed. After that I would probably, when given the opportunity be more selfish and less principled (steal and so forth).

So now that I got the ball rolling and answered your likely retort to my original question let's hear yours.

 

[Never]

I'd think for many agnostics any 'definite' answer would be a relief – yet, something of a let down. I think a number of atheists would be pissed.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

if I found out the opposite, if it could be proved beyond a reasonable (or unreasonable doubt) somehow that there was absolutely nothing after you die then I would be very, very, very, very depressed. After that I would probably, when given the opportunity be more selfish and less principled (steal and so forth).

You've just explained why 98% of the world believe in God, and why the concept of a Final Judgement was first imagined.

 

[70/30]

leave 'em alone and let 'em all go to hell.

 

[Never]

I've never understood why the lack of an afterlife depresses people. You're born, you live, and you die. It's so simple and complete, why add more to it? Paradoxically, it seems that the people who dislike life the most want there to be an afterlife the most. (not a hard and fast rule people, I'm just talking off the cuff)

 

[Lasher]

I'd find it difficult to believe that most people would change how they live regardless.

And even if we do know that there is an afterlife of some sort, does your hypothical include knowing which religion has got the right answers?

As an example, if John Calvin is right it doesn't matter how you live, the day you're born (and more than likely before that) it's already been pre-determined whether or not you're one of the saved and it doesn't matter a single damn bit how you actually live your life.

 

[WaxNWane]

My behavior wouldn't change a bit. I treat people (and for that matter, animals) well because I think it's the right thing to do, not because I fear damnation or lack of an afterlife.

To me, *that's* moral behavior - doing something because you respect another's right to not be fucked with.

But, while I don't need dogma to determine my behavior, I don't knock anyone else's right to follow any of the flavors. I wish that attitude was always returned.

 

[phrodeau]

I'm an atheist, and I've known beyond a reasonable doubt for some time that an afterlife will exist for me.

My influence on this board may not be much, but I assure you there are those I have influenced in my life. My words, my deeds, my ideals, my biases, my values and my expressions of love will live on well after my body, in the lives of those I've reached. They in turn will pass along the part of me worth preserving to others.

We are all conduits between the generations. I try to only carry the good stuff.

I remember my departed loved ones. My surviving loved ones will remember me. Think about that word, "re-member".

 

[Laurel]

My behavior wouldn't change a bit. I treat people (and for that matter, animals) well because I think it's the right thing to do, not because I fear damnation or lack of an afterlife.

To me, *that's* moral behavior - doing something because you respect another's right to not be fucked with.

But, while I don't need dogma to determine my behavior, I don't knock anyone else's right to follow any of the flavors. I wish that attitude was always returned.

What he said.

 

[Sillyman]

There are good reasons to be a selfless individual regardless of whether or not a big invisible man in the sky will send you to a place of eternal torment if you don't do what he says because he loves you.

 

[Frimost]

What would probably piss me off the most would not so much be about whether I myself had a happy afterlife or not. But that millions of absolutely corrupt evil people throughout history were rewarded with wonderful lives and rich and fulfilling experiences only to die happy and unpunished for their crimes.

 

[Wrong Element]

Personally, I am not all that religious, but if I found out the opposite, if it could be proved beyond a reasonable (or unreasonable doubt) somehow that there was absolutely nothing after you die then I would be very, very, very, very depressed. After that I would probably, when given the opportunity be more selfish and less principled (steal and so forth).

Speaking only for my lapsed Catholic self, I can say that fear of punishment in a hypothetical afterlife is not the reason why I don't commit crimes or try not to intentionally treat people like shit. One can have a code of ethics that is not religiously based.

 

[ksmybuttons]

My influence on this board may not be much, but I assure you there are those I have influenced in my life. My words, my deeds, my ideals, my biases, my values and my expressions of love will live on well after my body, in the lives of those I've reached. They in turn will pass along the part of me worth preserving to others.

We are all conduits between the generations. I try to only carry the good stuff.

I remember my departed loved ones. My surviving loved ones will remember me. Think about that word, "re-member".

I agree with you, phrodeau. That is a basis of the Jewish faith.

Personally, I find that the labels of athiest or agnostic are rather a waste of energy. I believe that it really doesn't matter. My responsibility to myself and to others is to live the best that I can with the light I have at the time and religious belief really doesn't matter.

I will leave behind the people that I have had an impact on and it will have collateral affects, both damage and good, long after I am gone.

 

[Rubyfruit]

My behavior wouldn't change a bit. I treat people (and for that matter, animals) well because I think it's the right thing to do, not because I fear damnation or lack of an afterlife.

To me, *that's* moral behavior - doing something because you respect another's right to not be fucked with.

But, while I don't need dogma to determine my behavior, I don't knock anyone else's right to follow any of the flavors. I wish that attitude was always returned.

Ditto.

I'm an atheist and I wouldn't change a thing, and that's saying a lot.

 

[Frimost]

Overall I think I'm a good person but if I thought, if I knew that there was no afterlife I think I would fixate on the inequity of good people who have terrible lives and dying (many times horribly and much to early). And evil disgusting slime-balls having wonderful charmed lives and living long after their victims expire without any retribution or any hand to tip the scales in the final analyses. No justice = no peace (of mind)
So that would probably at some point question some things in life, like why bother with many things, You know?

So far not very many people have posted any responses to the original question, mostly just comments on my answer.

BTW-I’ve seen to many weird and unexplainable things with my own eyes to think there is absolutely nothing in the great beyond. It may be totally different from what we all think it is but I don’t think for one second that there is nothing in the afterlife, at least not for everyone that is (who gets to have an afterlife and who doesn’t is beyond me so don’t bother asking).

 

[Wrong Element]

So far not very many people have posted any responses to the original question, mostly just comments on my answer.

Well, I don't know that my behavior would really change all that much, as I try to live by the Golden Rule anyway. If I absolutely knew that there was an afterlife, I assume that I might lose some of the normal human fear of death.

 

[riff]

I believe in an afterlife- but not in the traditional heaven or hell sense.

I just think there is a change of form. Not exactly reincarnation.... not to say I don't think it is possible or impossible. I just think we change form.

Or maybe not even that. Maybe everything that we traditionally think of as "afterlife" is really more like a "commonlife" and is all going on right now and we are all connected and shit.

Hard to say. All I know is right now, here I am.

I do think we are part of something that extends beyond our common concepts of self. Omniself? Oversoul? I am not schooled in these things. I know what many of the major religions say.

I just think different from some of them I guess. Just the way I am right now.