(May 9, 2012 at 11:06 am)Shell B Wrote: To be honest, there have been times when I have been jealous of people who can delude themselves into thinking there is a pleasant parent figure waiting for them to croak so they can spend eternity in a nice, happy place. However, you can't force yourself into believing this stuff. You'll have to find comfort in the things that you do believe.

Yah another friend said that too; don't find a religion out of fear.

Well, I think most people find religion out of fear or at least a lot of them do. The difference is, they believe in it. If you can't believe in it, it's not going to help you.

They way I look at it is death is beautiful. Death gives us finite liftimes, which makes our lives ever more precious. Death means you have to live each moment to the fullest. Death returns that which we are comprised of to the cosmos from which we came. Death brings peace from the struggles of life. Death is nothing to be feared.

(To clarify, I am talking about the concept of death in which all of our lives must end. I am not referring to each individual death which can be terrible under certain circumstandes, i.e. at a very young age.)

(May 9, 2012 at 11:33 am)Shell B Wrote: Well, I think most people find religion out of fear or at least a lot of them do. The difference is, they believe in it. If you can't believe in it, it's not going to help you.

Good point. All good points and advice.

I too wish I could fool myself with religion. If I do begin to practise Buddhism it will be as an atheist and i'll use it to help me live a better life. Karma is definitely real, to some extent and in this realm; good choices lead to good things and the same goes for the opposite.

(May 9, 2012 at 12:38 pm)constantgamer247 Wrote: Karma is definitely real, to some extent and in this realm; good choices lead to good things and the same goes for the opposite.

Forgive me if I don't take your word on that.

(May 9, 2012 at 12:43 pm)Napoleon Wrote:

(May 9, 2012 at 12:38 pm)constantgamer247 Wrote: Karma is definitely real, to some extent and in this realm; good choices lead to good things and the same goes for the opposite.

Forgive me if I don't take your word on that.

I can see how everything in life is ultimately random. Do you believe in cause and effect?

(May 9, 2012 at 10:53 am)Shell B Wrote: Also, none of us can say with 100% certainty what happens when you die, so you'll just have to wait for that.

We return back to the default state of oblivion. Its the only thing I am certain about.

Its pretty much the unwritten fact humanity refuses to accept while its currently alive. Shows our immature our species as a whole is.

(May 9, 2012 at 2:05 pm)Welsh cake Wrote:

(May 9, 2012 at 10:53 am)Shell B Wrote: Also, none of us can say with 100% certainty what happens when you die, so you'll just have to wait for that.

We return back to the default state of oblivion. Its the only thing I am certain about.

Its pretty much the unwritten fact humanity refuses to accept while its currently alive. Shows our immature our species as a whole is.

You dont find it sad your consciousness and expirences and memories will end, be gone and like they never happened?

Quote:We return back to the default state of oblivion. Its the only thing I am certain about.

Its pretty much the unwritten fact humanity refuses to accept while its currently alive. Shows our immature our species as a whole is.

We can guess that with a certain level of confidence, but really, how the hell do we know we don't turn into light or something? It's illogical, but possible. There is currently no way of knowing what occurs after death. I tend to agree with your assessment, but I make no assertions, as I have no experience on the subject.

(May 9, 2012 at 12:53 pm)constantgamer247 Wrote: Do you believe in cause and effect?

To what extent? Do I believe that being a good person ultimately leads to increased luck? No.