(November 11, 2008 at 9:14 pm)Jason Jarred Wrote: To hear people say "He's with <my grandmother> now, I'm sure they're happy together". What on Earth?? Grief is a terrible thing, but to delude ourselves into believing that they're still living somewhere - this has a huge affect on our lives. Wouldn't it be better to say "Hey was a great man, let us never forget him and make the most of the ideals that he and his wife lived by in life. Let's not allow their death to be devoid of meaning, and integrate the lessons that they learned throughout their lives into our own."
Why must we continue with this childish fantasy of life after death?
I don't think that we should, but the cremony and ritual was probably a part of your grandfather's and family's lives. Just no longer theirs. You have yours and they have theirs. My view on religion is that it shouldn't exist. I want no such ceremony or ritual as a part of my life or death.
(November 11, 2008 at 9:14 pm)Jason Jarred Wrote: My theory is that atheism helps us to confront life, to appreciate life more, to see the complexities and to avoid taking it for granted.
I think that atheism and religion both only help a personal veiw of life and either of those, depending upon the person, helps one appreciate it more. The problem only arises when one tries to dominate one over the other.
