I guess that’s true for many. However, there is also a possibility to face it and then “handle it” by taking Pascal’s wager.
In my opinion non-existence is in the center of the fear. If you stop existing after death whatever you decide to do now doesn’t matter any more. If you believe in existence after death (part of most religions) and it makes you happy, why not?
True that there are extremist sects of almost any religions and religion is a common cause of fights but I think that’s more rare nowadays and many mainstream religious organizations preach peace and tolerance.
I actually think the way you are framing non-existence is exactly what I mean. I’m happy my existence and my choices are ultimately inconsequential. I can define my own meaning because all meaning is arbitrary. That difference in perspective is the key.
That feeling of freedom works only if you believe in non-existence after death. The thought that ones choices are inconsequential might (in some people) also lead to harmful behavior (eg harming later generations with environmental destruction etc). I don’t mean to say it’s going to happen, I just think on a society level it could lead to just as many issues as religious beliefs.
However, whatever one believes it shouldn’t be due to doctrine, it should be the result of an active thought process.
To me you have it completely backwards. The fear comes from the unwillingness to accept the possibility of non-existence and ultimately the pointlessness of one’s life that pins oneself into needing to believe in an afterlife. Its not that I believe there’s nothing after, it’s that I dont give a fuck either way
I don’t care enough to argue the point anymore so I’ll just leave it at, if anyone believes in an afterlife, I encourage them to get there as soon as they can.
That’s a legitimate fear IMO.
Never insinuated it wasnt a real fear. Just that it was being used against those who haven’t faced it
I guess that’s true for many. However, there is also a possibility to face it and then “handle it” by taking Pascal’s wager.
In my opinion non-existence is in the center of the fear. If you stop existing after death whatever you decide to do now doesn’t matter any more. If you believe in existence after death (part of most religions) and it makes you happy, why not?
True that there are extremist sects of almost any religions and religion is a common cause of fights but I think that’s more rare nowadays and many mainstream religious organizations preach peace and tolerance.
I actually think the way you are framing non-existence is exactly what I mean. I’m happy my existence and my choices are ultimately inconsequential. I can define my own meaning because all meaning is arbitrary. That difference in perspective is the key.
That feeling of freedom works only if you believe in non-existence after death. The thought that ones choices are inconsequential might (in some people) also lead to harmful behavior (eg harming later generations with environmental destruction etc). I don’t mean to say it’s going to happen, I just think on a society level it could lead to just as many issues as religious beliefs.
However, whatever one believes it shouldn’t be due to doctrine, it should be the result of an active thought process.
To me you have it completely backwards. The fear comes from the unwillingness to accept the possibility of non-existence and ultimately the pointlessness of one’s life that pins oneself into needing to believe in an afterlife. Its not that I believe there’s nothing after, it’s that I dont give a fuck either way
It’s good that you don’t give a fuck but not everyone is able to be that way. So if you give fucks and a religion makes you feel better, why not?
I don’t care enough to argue the point anymore so I’ll just leave it at, if anyone believes in an afterlife, I encourage them to get there as soon as they can.
Sounds like more like an emotional response than not caring to me.