How will you explain to your children...

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

In a world where there's no scientific proof of God's existence and of life after death how will you explain to your children why you brought them into the world and why they will have to die?

Like this:

'Look round you, dear. See the sky? See the trees? See all the people? THIS is why your mum and I brought you into the world - it's exciting and wonderful and scary, all at the same time and we wanted someone to share it with. But the world is also full of mysteries that need to be figured out, and to do that, we need all the help we can get.

No, sweet one, no one lasts forever. Remember how the leaves turn colour in the autumn and die, but how new leaves come every spring? Everything alive has to do that, to make room for more living things. There will come a time when Mummy and Daddy won't be here anymore, but - in a sense - we will be alive in you, just as you will be alive in your own kids.'

It may not be perfect, but it's a damned sight better than, 'If you don't be good, the man in the sky will set you on fire.'

Boru

[tokutter]

I am not having children.

Maelstrom....your new avatar reminds of somebody.......can't quite put my finger on it......

[downbeatplumb]

I think they will figure all that shit out on their own, I did. One thing I won't do is lie to my children.

But what if truth is so terrifying that they won't be able to handle it?

Mine handled it ok.

[bladevalant546]

I would tell them to true there is no emprical evidence to suggest that there is or isnt a diety, and the question about afterlife falls into that catagory. That is the intellectually honest answer.

[DeistPaladin]

In a world where there's no scientific proof of God's existence and of life after death how will you explain to your children why you brought them into the world and why they will have to die?

By the way, these are two different issues you bring up.

There may be a god and no afterlife (aka Judaism)
There may be an afterlife but no god (aka Buddhism)

Curiously, my wife and I represent this division. I'm a deist who doesn't believe in an afterlife. She's an atheist who believes in ghosts.

[Faith No More]

I would tell them to true there is no emprical evidence to suggest that there is or isnt a diety, and the question about afterlife falls into that catagory. That is the intellectually honest answer.

As per the afterlife, one must first demonstrate the existence of a soul. Given all of the evidence that we have of the physical brain structure determining what we call the "self," and the lack of positive evidence put forth for the soul, the claims are definitely not on equal footing. Treating them as equal claims is not the intellectually honest approach.

[bladevalant546]

I would tell them to true there is no emprical evidence to suggest that there is or isnt a diety, and the question about afterlife falls into that catagory. That is the intellectually honest answer.

As per the afterlife, one must first demonstrate the existence of a soul. Given all of the evidence that we have of the physical brain structure determining what we call the "self," and the lack of positive evidence put forth for the soul, the claims are definitely not on equal footing. Treating them as equal claims is not the intellectually honest approach.

When you put it that way, I suppose if the concept of afterlife is dependant of a soul, which all situations is the case. I suppose I stand corrected. Glad people out there can keep me accountable at times.

[Heir Apparent]

To quote the legendary band Alice In Chains:

"Some say we are born into the grave."

Everyone dies, but not everyone lives, see. I'm totally fine with dying and that being it, but I'll be damned if I don't tear shit up in life before I go out.

I suppose if I had kids, l would just tell them they get one shot at life and they can live it however they'll enjoy it. No deity or afterlife required. Such beliefs only cheapen the value of this life, which to me is the biggest "sin" of all, besides taking someone else's life.

[Mister Agenda]

In a world where there's no scientific proof of God's existence and of life after death how will you explain to your children why you brought them into the world and why they will have to die?

I'm glad I was born, glad to be alive, and what point is there to complaining it might not last as long as I would like?

I suspect children have to be taught they're going to keep living after they die before they can get upset at finding out that they don't get to keep living after they die.

[Cinjin]

What's this? Another shit and runner who thinks he's got something profound to say?

dimaniac

...not a big surprise. theists are sheep ... just ask one.