How I deal with no afterlife

[Alex K]

I kind of went through all the angsty angst, about being mortal and there being no life after death, during puberty. Now it's just normality to me.

[brewer]

So the special ones still get fried unless they step and fetch. Nice "all everything" deity ya got there.

Well, it's true that if you want to be saved it's his way or no way, but he doesn't force us.  He doesn't drag anyone to be with him.  My choice is to follow him.

bold mine

Except through threat, intimidation and fear. Again, not much of an "all everything" deity.

[Gemini]

The universe doesn't have to optimized for sentient beings for us to evolve. It just has to be not optimized against us. 

With no metaphysical interest or principle favoring or precluding the development of sentient beings, it stands to reason that less-than-optimized sentient beings will develop.

The way stated it in your previous post, it sounds like you were saying that we would be better adapted to life in this world if we were not sentient beings.

I should have said, "optimized for the happiness of sentient beings." I'm terrible about assuming context 

[Thumpalumpacus]

You need to become an absolute servant of God, according to holy books. No egotistical or pleasant activities, only work/suffering for the ideals of religion.

Very few can handle so much stress. But there are people who manage to endure such ideals. Price tag for immortality/eternity is unbearable.

And what are you buying but even more subservience?

I'd argue that you're not buying anything -- you're being force-fed it and lack the gumption to clench your teeth.

[Macoleco]

I dont see why dying and rotting demenas the value of your life.

We are bodies, bodies of meat, blood, and bones.

Dying is normal, and rotting is a natural process. What matters is what you do with life.

[Faith No More]

Well, it's true that if you want to be saved it's his way or no way, but he doesn't force us.  He doesn't drag anyone to be with him.  My choice is to follow him.

Hmm...if someone I thought was special was heading for eternal damnation, I'd drag them away kicking and screaming.

[Edwardo Piet]

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.

Kernel. You are an awesome member.

And I have returned to AF, how are you doing?

[SuperMarioGamer]

I dont see why dying and rotting demenas the value of your life.

We are bodies, bodies of meat, blood, and bones.

Dying is normal, and rotting is a natural process. What matters is what you do with life.

I said it demeans the value of me as a human being since it is treating me like nothing more than a biological recyclable material.  I am here for a while, then forever rot and decay since it is a part of the cycle of nature.  I am nothing more than some biological material just here to live and be recycled in the end and that, to me, is utterly insulting and demeaning of me as a human being.

Some would say that it is not since I came about through billions of years and that should somehow be the opposite of demeaning. They would also say that I am a once in a lifetime and that should be the greatest thing.  But it still doesn't matter.  The fact still remains that I will just forever rot and decay when I die and that, to me, is still the most insulting and demeaning thing.

Therefore, it doesn't matter how much I choose to focus on the good about this, the fact will always remain that I will just forever rot and decay and that will always get to me. But thankfully, I remain undecided on the issue as to whether the eternal blissful afterlife (heaven) exists or not.

If I knew that there was no afterlife, then I would be absolutely enraged right now since I would feel utterly insulted and demeaned by the very fact that I would forever rot and decay when I die. Therefore, there is actually no reason for me to feel insulted and demeaned because why feel so over something that is unknown to me?

Why be upset over something that may or may not even be true according to my undecided agnostic worldview?

[Losty]

I dont see why dying and rotting demenas the value of your life.

We are bodies, bodies of meat, blood, and bones.

Dying is normal, and rotting is a natural process. What matters is what you do with life.

I said it demeans the value of me as a human being since it is treating me like nothing more than a biological recyclable material.  I am here for a while, then forever rot and decay since it is a part of the cycle of nature.  I am nothing more than some biological material just here to live and be recycled in the end and that, to me, is utterly insulting and demeaning of me as a human being.

Some would say that it is not since I came about through billions of years and that should somehow be the opposite of demeaning.  They would also say that I am a once in a lifetime and that should be the greatest thing.  But it still doesn't matter.  The fact still remains that I will just forever rot and decay when I die and that, to me, is still the most insulting and demeaning thing.

Therefore, it doesn't matter how much I choose to focus on the good about this, the fact will always remain that I will just forever rot and decay and that will always get to me.

What is treating you that way? Reality is demeaning and insulting you? What world do you live in?

[Macoleco]

I dont see why dying and rotting demenas the value of your life.

We are bodies, bodies of meat, blood, and bones.

Dying is normal, and rotting is a natural process. What matters is what you do with life.

I said it demeans the value of me as a human being since it is treating me like nothing more than a biological recyclable material.  I am here for a while, then forever rot and decay since it is a part of the cycle of nature.  I am nothing more than some biological material just here to live and be recycled in the end and that, to me, is utterly insulting and demeaning of me as a human being.

Some would say that it is not since I came about through billions of years and that should somehow be the opposite of demeaning.  They would also say that I am a once in a lifetime and that should be the greatest thing.  But it still doesn't matter.  The fact still remains that I will just forever rot and decay when I die and that, to me, is still the most insulting and demeaning thing.

Therefore, it doesn't matter how much I choose to focus on the good about this, the fact will always remain that I will just forever rot and decay and that will always get to me.  But thankfully, I remain undecided on the issue as to whether the eternal blissful afterlife (heaven) exists or not.

If I knew that there was no afterlife, then I would be absolutely enraged right now since I would feel utterly insulted and demeaned by the very fact that I would forever rot and decay when I die.  Therefore, there is actually no reason for me to feel insulted and demeaned because why feel so over something that is unknown to me?

Why be upset over something that may or may not even be true according to my undecided agnostic worldview?

You are defining yourself as a piece of biological compund.

Humans are more than that. Remember that we think. We are not a mindless sponge in the sea.

Thoughts, feelings and ideas are abstract. And our value is there, within our thoughts. 

Look around you. Almost everything in the universe is inert, an only us can think (as far as we know). That is where why we are so awesome. Do not dimish what you are. If there are gods in this universe, it us. The only difference is we evntually die.