RE: Problem dealing with death as an atheist
June 11, 2011 at 6:51 pm
(June 11, 2011 at 6:31 pm)The Magic Pudding Wrote: (June 11, 2011 at 6:09 pm)Ace Otana Wrote: Don't get it. What point does that argument make?
It is an argument against taking comfort in this particular comforting platitude.
People try to comfort themselves with the universe existed before I was born and that didn't hurt, so it will be just the same when I'm dead.
It's not really satisfying though is it, I don't want to be dead, I know it won't hurt after I'm dead, I still don't like it.
I can't say it's my view, but it could be argued the universe had a purpose before I was born, working up to me, when I'm dead it has none.
Personally I don't take comfort in any of the comforters, circle of life sounds nice but I'd rather be line stretching into infinity.
I would like to live for hundreds of years, and to be more than just a biological speck. To see everything, to watch so much time pass and still be young and active as anything. But I will not delude myself like so many others do. I continue to see reality for what it is. I've accepted it.
We don't have to like the situation that we are in, we can either accept it or hide from it. To me, death isn't so bad, you won't even be aware that you're dead. You'll be beyond space and time, as such things will no longer have any meaning to you.
If there is an comfort I can offer anyone who fears death is that. It is a state where fear, anger, lust for vengeance and all other unpleasantness do not exist. Such things will no longer have any meaning to you.
Also, you can be sure that you won't be going alone. Death is a club we'll all be joining.
We can prolong death, even by hundreds of years. It's just we haven't quite developed the technology yet.