AFTERLIFE, XYZ

[Drich]

If this is what you want to see for yourself... Then A/S/K for it. Ask him to show you what is in store for you. One way or another I promise He will grant your request.

"And if he doesn't, Thena, then it's your fault because you're not doing it right."

Silly sod.

Sorry for your loss Thena. Stay strong.

Unless she is a highlander (the last one) or a douche bag vampire (immortal) God will most certainly show her what is in the after life. Just not a return trip home.

[Pyrrho]

I'm not aware of any evidence that suggests that consciousness can continue after the brain dies. 
I'm not aware of any verifiable accounts of supernatural occurrences taking place, at any point in time, ever and I have never witnessed a such an occurrence, personally. 
I have no reason to think that something supernatural occurs after death, for those reasons.

I've never heard of any respected individual seriously claiming that they encountered Santa or the Easter bunny, but large numbers of respected people, with no mental illnesses, have seriously testified to having supernatural experiences and encounters with God.  Do these testimonies open you up in any to the possibility of the supernatural and/or life after death?  Or must you personally verify and test their claims by natural means?

Large numbers of Hindus testify to having encounters with various Hindu gods.  Does that mean that the Hindu gods exist?  If not, then such "experiences" count as nothing for the existence of any god.

[Athene]

I wasn't attempting to discover anything when I composed this thread. I was challenging the idea that atheists
lack belief as a matter of rebellion, willfulness, anger etc. I was suggesting  that some atheists would very much like to believe that the loved ones they've lost could somehow continue after death, and carry on somewhere they are safe and loved.

So you do not believe that some atheist are rebellious and/or angry ect., they all have reasonable reasons for not believing. I'm not speaking of reasonable to them specifically, but reasonable in general.
I'm sure that many non-believes would hope for an eternal life of bliss for their loved ones, what I find hard to believe especially after being here for over 5 years that anyone believing they are an atheist would hope for something like an after life of any kind, doesn't seem to fit into their logical thinking. As for non-believers in this case I'm referring to those who actually do not profess to be an atheist, people who go through life without concern for God or atheism.


 I agree that is part of what separates myself from atheist, however I believe (as I have identified them above) many non-believers want something like an after life if for nothing more than to help them cope with death. They may at least fain the belief in an after life, such as ghosts, spirits and ect. that might be conjured up or some other such belief. Not trying to derail this thread but, it's the only thing that comes to mind at the moment, some atheist believe through hope in dark matter and dark energy, there is no evidence for these things period, neither have be observed even in a lab. They have become a necessity to hold the big bang theory together. Like I said it's I only presented this as an example and want argue this point guys, I don't want to derail this thread.


Thank you, one will be changing the design of a demilune table to fit what I desire, the other will be a time consuming newish (nothing new under the sun) design for a large media center cabinet, having modern function with an older world appearance, I look forward to the challenge. I like to use the older type designs for modern functions.

GC

GC, your post is mixed in with my quote. I only point this out to avoid confusion.

I think you have hope confused with wishful thinking but, you are correct. I don't hope for an afterlife, since I don't believe there is a possibility of one existing. I don't anticipate that there might be one. I simply wished it was
possible.

Don't worry about derailing my thread. These things go off in different directions all the time. 

Btw, the irony of you being a carpenter is not lost on me. Ha!

[Athene]

No, the only reactions testimonies of supernatural encounters get from me are a raised eyebrow or a polite nod. I believe that people making these sort of claims are confused or mistaken. Also....people lie sometimes.
I wouldn't bother trying to personally verify and test their claims by the standards of reality.

I think that you're being biased as to whom you will believe or not.  I'm trying to imagine how many intelligent and responsible people are lying about experiencing the supernatural, especially when so many of them believe it's a sin to lie.  It would also be hard to be mistaken about these type of encounters.  According to your statement, it seems you dismiss these claims out of hand because you've already decided they're not true.  I've tried to keep an open mind, and I have changed my opinions on some things since I joined this forum.  I believe it's good to keep an open mind and not let your biases cloud you opinions.

The bias is not towards who I will or won't believe, so much as it's towards what I will or won't believe. I'm not sure it's appropriate to even label such consideration bias, due to the fact that I'm not favoring explanations based in reality over supernatural claims. Reality is all that there is.

Suppose I were at a car dealership and looking to purchase a vehicle. The salesman states that he has two vehicles available that would suit my needs. One is Chevy Malibu, which I'm permitted to test drive. Upon my returning to the lot, the salesmen tells me the other vehicle available to purchase is an invisible time machine. He tells me that he personally uses one as his primary mode of transportation and that it's the smoothest, most comfortable ride ever...but I'm not allowed to witness him use his. He then, cheerily informs that I am welcome to test drive the invisible time machine that's available....if and when I'm able to find it.

If I were to purchase the Chevy, would you suggest that my decision was based upon bias, or something else?

[Spooky]

Indeed.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Lek]

The bias is not towards who I will or won't believe, so much as it's towards what I will or won't believe. I'm not sure it's appropriate to even label such consideration bias, due to the fact that I'm not favoring explanations based in reality over supernatural claims. Reality is all that there is.

Suppose I were at a car dealership and looking to purchase a vehicle. The salesman states that he has two vehicles available that would suit my needs. One is Chevy Malibu, which I'm permitted to test drive. Upon my returning to the lot, the salesmen tells me the other vehicle available to purchase is an invisible time machine. He tells me that he personally uses one as his primary mode of transportation and that it's the smoothest, most comfortable ride ever...but I'm not allowed to witness him use his. He then, cheerily informs that I am welcome to test drive the invisible time machine that's available....if and when I'm able to find it.

If I were to purchase the Chevy, would you suggest that my decision was based upon bias, or something else?

I hear you loud and clear. If you don't believe Jesus, his witnesses, and other reputable people's experiences in the supernatural, you're sure not going to believe me. I agree with you on one thing, though. I don't think anybody is going to come back from life after death and tell you about it.