Do you really think we need religion to believe in an afterlife?

[GaSSPaNiCC]

Is it really necessary to rely on relgion for one to have belief in an afterlife?

[Duke]

No.

[GaSSPaNiCC]

Well how many atheists on these boards, actually consider the possibility of there being one?

[Duke]

Zero. Next?

[GaSSPaNiCC]

soooo what's the harm in starting a discussion?

[Phil153]

[ QUOTE ]
Zero. Next?

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, one.

There's certainly a possibility, although I think it's quite unlikely. And of course you don't need organized religion for it.

As far as religion and spirituality goes, the only thing I have a problem with is the offensively retarded belief in a personal God who can be petitioned, and beyond that howlers like Mohammed's ascension to Heaven, Jesus' rising from the dead, Vishnu's all powerfulness, Noah's flood, Xenu's hydrogen bomb explosion, people getting turned into pillars of salt, etc

But take all that stuff out and you can't rule out some things.

[GaSSPaNiCC]

Ya i agree but that doesn't mean one should totally rule out the possibility of there being an afterlife, or a spiritual essence to the human being.

[Duke]

[ QUOTE ]
Ya i agree but that doesn't mean one should totally rule out the possibility of there being an afterlife, or a spiritual essence to the human being.

[/ QUOTE ]

Define what you specifically mean by each of these terms. I guess I take a different approach and group these things.

[madnak]

[ QUOTE ]
Well how many atheists on these boards, actually consider the possibility of there being one?

[/ QUOTE ]

I do, and I'd even put the probability pretty high (maybe 20%). But I think it's very unlikely that we can know anything about an afterlife, if one exists, and I don't think the simplistic view of an afterlife as a "reward" or "punishment" for our actions here is realistic. So I think of it as a complete unknown.

[GaSSPaNiCC]

Well are you familiar with books like Irreducible Mind, The Afterlife Experiments, What Happens When We Die, or Entangled Minds? The list could go on, but the point is there is actually research being conducted scientifically, or has been already conducted in what one might consider a controversial area.