If I am special and have value as a human being, that creates a major conflict for me.  This conflict would be that for such a special and valuable person as myself to just forever rot and decay away would be the greatest insult to my value and specialness as a human being.

It would be utterly demeaning of my value and specialness.  It would be just tossing me away like trash.  So in order to resolve this conflict, I would have to deem myself as nothing special at all and of no value.  However, if I am immortal and do get to live forever in heaven, then there would be no conflict.

So, in short, if there is a heaven for me to live forever in, then I would deem myself as valuable and special since that conflict would not exist.  But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

This would also apply to the relationship I have with my own family and how I view other human beings.

(October 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm)SuperMarioGamer Wrote: If I am special and have value as a human being, that creates a major conflict for me.  This conflict would be that for such a special and valuable person as myself to just forever rot and decay away would be the greatest insult to my value and specialness as a human being.

It would be utterly demeaning of my value and specialness.  It would be just tossing me away like trash.  So in order to resolve this conflict, I would have to deem myself as nothing special at all and of no value.  However, if I am immortal and do get to live forever in heaven, then there would be no conflict.

So, in short, if there is a heaven for me to live forever in, then I would deem myself as valuable and special since that conflict would not exist.  But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

This would also apply to the relationship I have with my own family and how I view other human beings.

I would say that makes you a pessimist regarding  the limitations of this life. I myself am an optimist !

SuperMarioGamer, IMO, regardless of whatever beliefs we may hold, we do not know what happens when we die; all we have are theories.  As a result, I think we shouldn't let theories dictate the meaningfulness that we can create in our lifetimes.  Here's a favorite quote of mine:

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." Forest E. Witcraft

Never underestimate the impact you have on others. A simple action on your part could be very meaningful to someone else; it can help him or her exercise the courage to hold their head up high and embrace life's challenging adventure. Live long and prosper.

Quote: But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

What's your point?

(October 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm)SuperMarioGamer Wrote: If I am special and have value as a human being, that creates a major conflict for me.  This conflict would be that for such a special and valuable person as myself to just forever rot and decay away would be the greatest insult to my value and specialness as a human being.

It would be utterly demeaning of my value and specialness.  It would be just tossing me away like trash.  So in order to resolve this conflict, I would have to deem myself as nothing special at all and of no value.  However, if I am immortal and do get to live forever in heaven, then there would be no conflict.

So, in short, if there is a heaven for me to live forever in, then I would deem myself as valuable and special since that conflict would not exist.  But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

This would also apply to the relationship I have with my own family and how I view other human beings.

So you cope with no afterlife by telling yourself you're a piece of shit?

(October 18, 2016 at 9:34 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

Quote: But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

What's your point?

Again, that is to rid of that conflict I talked about.

Quote:So you cope with no afterlife by telling yourself you're a piece of shit?

Yes.

(October 18, 2016 at 9:42 pm)SuperMarioGamer Wrote:

(October 18, 2016 at 9:34 pm)Minimalist Wrote: What's your point?

Again, that is to rid of that conflict I talked about.

Quote:So you cope with no afterlife by telling yourself you're a piece of shit?

Yes.

Why? You can still live a full and dignified life without belief in an afterlife.

(October 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm)SuperMarioGamer Wrote: If I am special and have value as a human being, that creates a major conflict for me.  This conflict would be that for such a special and valuable person as myself to just forever rot and decay away would be the greatest insult to my value and specialness as a human being.

It would be utterly demeaning of my value and specialness.  It would be just tossing me away like trash.  So in order to resolve this conflict, I would have to deem myself as nothing special at all and of no value.  However, if I am immortal and do get to live forever in heaven, then there would be no conflict.

So, in short, if there is a heaven for me to live forever in, then I would deem myself as valuable and special since that conflict would not exist.  But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

This would also apply to the relationship I have with my own family and how I view other human beings.

Wow.  Has the opposite effect for me.  Since there is no extra innings in this life I've got to make it happen in the standard nine (if I'm lucky) and savor those all the more as the precious commodity they really are.

Even if there is an afterlife and a life after afterlife, this one will never ever repeat. Make it worth as much as you are able.

(October 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm)SuperMarioGamer Wrote: If I am special and have value as a human being, that creates a major conflict for me.  This conflict would be that for such a special and valuable person as myself to just forever rot and decay away would be the greatest insult to my value and specialness as a human being.

It would be utterly demeaning of my value and specialness.  It would be just tossing me away like trash.  So in order to resolve this conflict, I would have to deem myself as nothing special at all and of no value.  However, if I am immortal and do get to live forever in heaven, then there would be no conflict.

So, in short, if there is a heaven for me to live forever in, then I would deem myself as valuable and special since that conflict would not exist.  But if there is no afterlife, then I would just view myself as a piece of shit who might as well just die anyway.

This would also apply to the relationship I have with my own family and how I view other human beings.

My self-esteem is entirely disparate from my beliefs about the (non)existence of god(s). But if it helps you to think of yourself as a "piece of shit", more power to you.