Religion

NYC Liberal

(20,453 posts)

9. Believing this is the only life I've got makes me appreciate it more, not less.

Mon Dec 24, 2012, 06:04 PM

Dec 2012

And I can't just make myself "believe" something because it would be nice if it were true.

I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking.

The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.

—Carl Sagan

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Atheist parents comfort children about death without talk of God or heaven [View all] cleanhippie Dec 2012 OP

Thanks for posting this. nt ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #1

Your welcome! Happy whatever-you-celebrate-or-not to you and yours. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #2

Ramen Paulie Dec 2012 #3

I have been an Atheist for as long as I have memory... Walk away Dec 2012 #4

exactly-- well said NoMoreWarNow Dec 2012 #13

And our secular training is returned to our parents. no_hypocrisy Dec 2012 #5

I wonder if you'll get skepticscott Dec 2012 #6

Thank you for posting this! Still Blue in PDX Dec 2012 #7

K&R SunSeeker Dec 2012 #8

Believing this is the only life I've got makes me appreciate it more, not less. NYC Liberal Dec 2012 #9

How sad. They have no hope Gman Dec 2012 #10

eh, what? NoMoreWarNow Dec 2012 #14

No hope of what, exactly? Mariana Dec 2012 #17

Their hope is in their own hands. Deep13 Dec 2012 #28

Whats even sadder about how some raise their children... cleanhippie Dec 2012 #32

What is even sadder is that LARED Dec 2012 #34

Exactly! Thanks and Merry Christmas to all Gman Dec 2012 #35

Great coherence, Gman! cleanhippie Dec 2012 #40

Perfect example of my point. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #39

You had a point? NT LARED Dec 2012 #41

Exactly. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #43

What is your problem? LARED Dec 2012 #45

I am a LARED Dec 2012 #46

! cleanhippie Dec 2012 #47

I expected nothing less. nt LARED Dec 2012 #49

One gets what one deserves. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #50

I guess I must deserve a DU'er impersonating an arrogant thirteen year old. LARED Dec 2012 #56

You are impersonating an arrogant thirteen year old? cleanhippie Dec 2012 #57

Exactly. You don't 'indoctrinate' into Atheism Shadowflash Dec 2012 #55

Atheism is a default setting? LARED Dec 2012 #66

Religion is learned not something you are born believing. Shadowflash Dec 2012 #69

I can no more disprove that, than you can prove atheism is the "natural state" LARED Dec 2012 #70

How sad you lie to your children. Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #36

Not expecting an afterlife does not equal no hope. LeftishBrit Dec 2012 #38

And believing in an afterlife does not equal the surrender of control or meaning Leontius Dec 2012 #42

Its not your personal belief in an afterlife that is the problem. Its when groups who believe cleanhippie Dec 2012 #44

Do you have any idea of what this post was about? Leontius Dec 2012 #48

When one indoctrinates their child into a belief system that supercedes reality... cleanhippie Dec 2012 #51

Your prejudice is showing. Leontius Dec 2012 #60

Your ignorance is showing. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #61

Again not surprised that you fail to take notice when your prejudice is pointed out Leontius Dec 2012 #62

Did you say something? cleanhippie Dec 2012 #63

Excellent instead of facing the challenge as an adult you respond with more childish pique. Leontius Dec 2012 #64

Ha! Typical of you to try amnd turn it around. YOU are the one that went off the rails. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #65

You know you're right there is something in the Bible about 'suffering the little children'. Leontius Dec 2012 #68

Ahh, more insults. Yes, jesus is a proud Papa, I'm sure. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #71

And the hits just keep on coming Leontius Dec 2012 #72

And Jesus just keeps getting prouder! cleanhippie Dec 2012 #73

A Most Enlightening Piece 1ProudAtheist Dec 2012 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author PADemD Dec 2012 #18

Simple Answer 1ProudAtheist Dec 2012 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author PADemD Dec 2012 #24

Perhaps You Feel That 1ProudAtheist Dec 2012 #25

Hey, why did you delete and run away from your post? cleanhippie Dec 2012 #52

You base this question on the premise that religion or god is required for someone to be moral. Promethean Dec 2012 #20

I'm curious as to what "christians" base their morals on, it madmom Dec 2012 #21

Oh, haven't heard *that* one before... mr blur Dec 2012 #22

I Treat Orhers The Way I Wish They Would Treat Me Skraxx Dec 2012 #23

What kind of world do YOU want to live in? Warpy Dec 2012 #26

Irrelevant, there is no god regardless. Deep13 Dec 2012 #29

just doing the right thing? Skittles Dec 2012 #30

On what do you base your morals? cleanhippie Dec 2012 #33

We have none. We ate one of our kids for festivus last night. Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #37

I have no troubles with it. AtheistCrusader Dec 2012 #12

yep! NoMoreWarNow Dec 2012 #16

I think this part needs to be stressed more. Especially for the religious. LiberalFighter Dec 2012 #15

+1000 abelenkpe Dec 2012 #54

I agree, but we both know that will never happen. Gotta keep the lie alive. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #58

right, just tell the truth... Deep13 Dec 2012 #27

Great post! defacto7 Dec 2012 #31

Great article! Bjornsdotter Dec 2012 #53

Your welcome. cleanhippie Dec 2012 #59

It's not easy EvilAL Dec 2012 #67