Do you believe in life after death?

Monday 02nd March, 03:00 AM JST

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likeitis at 05:42 PM JST - 8th March

Sorry JustTheFacts, but I took your post as implying there was no God and no afterlife because there no hard proof of either.
JustTheFacts at 05:44 PM JST - 8th March

To the contary. Absolute certainty is a fool's gold.
likeitis at 05:48 PM JST - 8th March

To the contary. Absolute certainty is a fool's gold.

I agree. I would offer you a high five, but I am not absolutely certain you are really there, and I do not want to be embarrassed later.
YangYong at 06:11 PM JST - 8th March

I'll take an absolute from science over the supernatural, metaphysical high fives or not.
Nessie at 09:24 PM JST - 8th March

The problem with evolution is in essence you believe that something comes from nothing.

I don't quite follow you. Something comes from whatever was before it. It sounds like you're saying, "How can a lake freeze into ice? There was no ice before." Well, ice reflects a change in the form and nature of matter. Life also reflects a change in the form and nature of matter. And please don't bring up the nonsequitur of chaos. The laws of thermodynamics do not apply locally. Order can arise spontaneously. That's not the same as saying something came from nothing.

http://www.asktheatheist.com/question/thermodynamicsstumpya
sailwind at 09:52 PM JST - 8th March

We all come from the original matter that created the universe. That very matter that was scattered during the big bang, then through the minuscle force of gravity fell back upon itself as gas balls. Gas balls who through the expanse of time that we cannot even comprehend became so heavy as to ignite a nuclear furnace inside and created light and blew out ever more matter as the newly born star began life. That matter eventually also settled around the new born star and became planets and those who were born in the goldilocks zone in their orbits began the process that created life. Millions of those planets were life found a foothold, some developed lifeforms that became self aware and began asking the hard questions, "Why am I here?" "What happens when I die?".

There also millions of new stars forming and planets being created. when our sun goes supernova our matter will once again be blown out into space, captured by another gravity well pulled into another gas ball being compressed into a nuclear furnance, starting the whole creation cycle once more in the never ending cycle of death and rebirth that is our universe.

Is there life after after death? Yes, we marvel at it everytime we look up into the night sky and understand that cycle. Our matter will become part of the universe again and just maybe, maybe a hundred billion years from now one or two of those stray atoms that once made me "me" will be the one that tips the balance in a newly formed planet around a common yellow star to spark the seed of intelligent life there so they can ask the same questions we are asking now.

There is life in the universe other than ours and it all come from the same basic star stuff that we all are made of and will return to again.

I marvel at that. Some call it God behind it, some call it cold science, I call it humbling myself.
Theophilus at 04:46 AM JST - 9th March

"Or rather, what important questions are you not asking. If 'The problem with evolution is in essence you believe that something comes from nothing' and that therefore there must be a 'grand Creator or "Master Designer"', - where did the grand Creator come from? Nothing? How can belief that some omnipotent, omniscient master being was 'always there' or just popped out of nothing, be a 'more reasonable response' than surmising that the original bunch of chaotic molecules was 'always there' or just popped out of nothing and over an unimaginable period of time organised themselves merely by obeying the observable laws of science?"

Because the order, majesty, beauty and design of our universe makes a statement of order, such as that it is the design of someone not just random occurences. Just look at where our Earth is located in relation to the sun, if it's orbit were closer or more far off it would not be in a position to support life.

Surmising that the original bunch of chaotic molecules was 'always there' goes well for someone who does not want there to be a God who orchestrated creation. Or for someone who's idea of God does not fit into a man-made set of scientific evaluation data. But the molecules had to come from somewhere, the fact that we have a universe beckons us to ask the question where did it come from. It is a bit of a stretch to try and grasp the infinite with a finite mind don't you think?

Interesting responses...but I am saddened that some of you are looking to science to explain all of life. Can one scientifically explain the depths of the heart? Can science explain the problem of pain and suffering, wars and genocide, hate and love?

Atheism provides no hope, no chance for fulfilling happiness. Just the world as it is now...pain and sorrow and then in the end, nothing. The bible offers hope and promises fulfilled, it offers eternal life in Christ Jesus. It offeres freedom from the power of Sin (Sin if you look into can explain the problems and stuggles of life). Most importantly it offers you ultimate satisfaction in the search for lasting joy, all other happiness fades, but the God of the Bible offers everlasting peace and increasing joy in God's presence.

I know that some of you may just disregard this or call it out as a "fallacy," but for others I ask that you at least look into what the Bible has to say as well as research both sides of the creation/evolution debate.
Nessie at 02:48 PM JST - 9th March

Because the order, majesty, beauty and design of our universe makes a statement of order, such as that it is the design of someone not just random occurences. Just look at where our Earth is located in relation to the sun, if it's orbit were closer or more far off it would not be in a position to support life.

Read up on the anthropic fallacy, Theo.

But the molecules had to come from somewhere

So your argument is that something can't come from nothing because something had to come from something. I hope you recognize that this is hardly a logical tour de force.

Can one scientifically explain the depths of the heart? Can science explain the problem of pain and suffering, wars and genocide, hate and love?

When these are posed as scientific questions, then yes, science can explain them. But by calling them problems, you tip your hand. Why do you assume that they're problems. Why can't they just be the way things are? It's assigning purpose where there may not be purpose. Why does it rain? Because the grass wants it to rain? I don't think so.

Most importantly it offers you ultimate satisfaction in the search for lasting joy, all other happiness fades, but the God of the Bible offers everlasting peace and increasing joy in God's presence. I know that some of you may just disregard this or call it out as a "fallacy," but for others I ask that you at least look into what the Bible has to say as well as research both sides of the creation/evolution debate.

Not just a fallacy. A fallacy based on wishful thinking. Truth claims cannot be based on wishful thinking. And from your posts above, I would say that I'm probably a bit better versed in both sides of what you call the creation/evolution debate.
cleo at 04:07 PM JST - 9th March

Theophilus -

You still haven't answered the question, If there has to be a Creator because the universe couldn't come into being without one, where did the Creator come from? Who or what created it? How is it easier to believe that an all-knowing, all-powerful being was 'always there' than it is to believe that the atoms and molecules were 'always there'?

the order, majesty, beauty and design of our universe makes a statement of order, such as that it is the design of someone not just random occurences.

The order comes from the observable laws of science. Majesty, beauty and design are all in the mind of the beholder and can be said not to exist outside of human emotion.

Just look at where our Earth is located in relation to the sun, if it's orbit were closer or more far off it would not be in a position to support life.

See Nessie and the anthropic fallacy.

There are conceivably an infinite number of star systems with planets in different goldilocks zones, that could well support different kinds of life. And an infinite number of star systems with planets incapable of supporting any kind of life, or affecting our lives in any way whatsoever. What are they? God just doodling? Having a bad day? Cosmic graffiti? And what's with all the space debris flying around and crashing into things, making craters? God playing bowls? Poor design? Stuff He forgot to clear away after He'd finished playing? Or could it be...just the way things are?

Atheism provides no hope, no chance for fulfilling happiness.

I don't agree.

The bible offers hope ... it offers eternal life ...It offeres freedom ... Most importantly it offers you ultimate satisfaction

Last week I had a lady on my doorstep offering me 10% per month interest on an investment of 50 man. I didn't believe her, either.
Nessie at 05:16 PM JST - 9th March

At the very least, Theo should acknowledge, based on posters like Cleo, that there are plenty of people who have arrived at conclusions different from his but certainly not for want of thought.
YangYong at 08:22 PM JST - 11th March

There is no life after death. No god. Just what we make of who and what we are.
techall at 08:27 PM JST - 11th March

Hedge your bets. You can believe there is no life after death but better to live like there is.
USARonin at 05:27 AM JST - 12th March

By definition 'faith' is belief in things unseen or unknowable... God, your 'significant other's' professed (physical) love for you and only you... Well, you know how that last one went.

Heh, heh...

Science that.
jessssicaaa at 08:32 PM JST - 8th April

Whether there is life after death or not, God or no god, re-incarnation or no re-incarnation etc, i recon you live this life and stop thinking about what will happen after you die, cause you'll find out eventually lol live for today not for tomorrow ;]
Sarge at 08:43 PM JST - 8th April

"You can believe there is no life afer death but better to live like there is"

If only more people did that...