I don't believe there is a heaven and I sure don't want to think that there could be a hell (Surely a loving God wouldn't be that cruel). Of course, I can't really say that I believe in God either (which probably explains why I don't believe in heaven or hell).
I believe that when you die, that that is it. You are unconscious for eternity; once your body dies, so do you. In fact, once you die, I believe that more often than not, you cease to exist in spirit. The down side is, you don't get to experience happiness. The benefit is, you never ever experience unhappiness either. I see that as a paradise, and in a way it is. I could be mistaken, but I think there are certain religions that also view this state of being (or the way I see it - the lack there of) as paradise; if I remember correctly, it could be the Hindu religion, in which such a concept is believed - they see it as being "in perfect equilibrium". I am not Hindu by any means (or whatever religion it is that actually believes this), but I can plainly see where they are coming from.
Before I could see it that way, however, I had to adjust my concept of 'paradise'. Some see paradise as a place of complete joy and no suffering. I just see paradise as being in a state completely free of suffering of any form. But you are not just free from suffering, you are free from even the slightest annoyances. You are also free from every aggravation in between, from a great deal of pain, and even unimaginable torment. If you think about it, the lack of all these unpleasant experiences (no matter how mild or severe) is bliss!
I believe happiness is merely life's way of compensating for hardship (unhappiness). In fact, it makes all but the severest hardships worth it. Like the joy of getting a drink when you are thirsty; food when you are hungry; and you-know-what when you are aroused in some other way   - satisfying our thirst for joy and happiness is also pleasurable and makes life worth living. It is a more preferable experience to be thirsty and have it quenched, than not being thirsty. On the other hand, having a thirst that is not quenched is the worst thing you can have. It can be hell on Earth. It's definitely better to not have a thirst than to have one that goes unquenched. 
Not being loved when we thirst for love is one atrocity I can think of. However, to have your thirst for love quenched is among the greatest of pleasures in the world. I guess that's why many (including myself) would rather have this thirst in the hopes of having it fulfilled, even at the grave risk of never having it quenched.
With every friendship that I have ever had, with every pleasure I have ever enjoyed, with every good thing that has ever happened to me - those are each pieces of happiness that I have gotten to experience, that have complimented my life, and justified my reason for wanting to continue living this life. I am grateful for all this happiness that I have, indeed, experienced in my life, and that which I may have yet to experience before I die.
However, I don't need to be happy, once I am in a state where I can never be unhappy (which is where I believe we all go to when we die). Therefore, I have accepted an afterlife of non-existence. The lack of being subjected to suffering or hardship is paradise enough for me - especially, considering all the atrocities in this world, and the horrible suffering that many people have to endure. I do not need to list them, for we know all too well of some of the worst, even if we cannot fully grasp the hell on Earth that they are.
There are some things in life worse than death.
- the Fuchian
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
|
|
read more blogs!
|
JimNastics
|
Jun 19 @ 10:17PM
|
|
My beliefs are VERY similar to your with a couple important differences.
#1) I enjoy life, a LOT. I savor every day as I know they are unfortunately limited
and should not be wasted. What sheer joys to view a rainbow, or a sunset,
to smell a gardenia or a hayacinth, to taste a mango or chocolate, to feel a
lover's lips on mine, to share the companionship and laughter of a friend.
These things and more are cherished and certainly make life worthwhile.
The torment, ridicule and pain help us appreciate the reverse all the more.
#2) I believe in mankind. Not any particular person, but the net of mankind.
I feel that the future is bright and that one of the purposes of our lives is to
make things better for the next generation that inherits the earth. While some
could argue that things are worse (and in some ways they are), overall life
has improved dramatically.
#3) To me life is SO MUCH better, than non-existence.
|
|
The_Boy_Next_Door
|
Jun 19 @ 10:25PM
|
|
|
I believe that more often than not, you cease to exist in spirit. If you don't believe in God, then you must believe somewhat in Science, Spirits do exist, Ghosts, whater you wnat to call them, way to much data to dipute that fact, When I die, I will be a Ghost, a spirit, whater, I will mess with people, forever, You know like hide their car keys, or hide one shoe. it's going to be a great after life  
|
|
jnwaco
|
Jun 19 @ 10:34PM
|
|
Well written! I definitely respect your opinion, and have had those thoughts before.
But... when I look up into the sky, see a baby, watch my bermuda continually, perpetually, unceasingly creep into the cracks in my driveway... I have to wonder who or what started it all. Perhaps humans simply can't comprehend something without a beginning and an end. Scientists tell us that the universe is likely finite (soccer field shaped, don't ask me how they know). When you think about the odds of life occurring, the resiliance of life, it's just hard for me personally to not see something larger for us after death.
But that's just me.
|
|
Godless
|
Jun 19 @ 11:01PM
|
|
|
I do believe that is the kindest and most thought driven way anyone has expressed this thought, which is identical to my own way of thinking on all matters discussed here. Thanks, I really enjoyed reading it, which is part and parcel to why we all express ourselves... to leave an impression on someone else, if nothing more than understanding.
|
|
fuchia04
|
Jun 19 @ 11:23PM
|
|
Quote:
My beliefs are VERY similar to your with a couple important differences.
#1) I enjoy life, a LOT.
reply:
Where in my blog post did I say that I did not enjoy life? In fact, in the third from last paragraph, you'll note that I mentioned I am grateful for all the happiness that I have ever experienced, and that it, in fact, justifies my desire to live. My point was simply, I see non-existence is paradise and that such a fate is okay with me.
Quote:
#2) I believe in mankind. Not any particular person, but the net of mankind.
reply:
I believe in mankind, too. I believe in humanity as well (if there's a difference in the two). To me, humanity is not telling a person that when they die, they are going to spend an eternity, suffering. I don't care what wrongs a person has committed, it is my belief that no one deserves to suffer for an eternity. A finite period of time maybe, but not for eternity, as some religions preach. Though it may seem otherwise with our history of leaders committing hideous acts against humanity, I don't believe anyone can possible commit so much evil in their finite period of time on this Earth, that they deserve to be punished forever.
To me, non-existence is better than a prospect of the inhumanity of anyone spending an eternity in torment.
Quote:
I feel that the future is bright and that one of the purposes of our lives is to
make things better for the next generation that inherits the earth.
reply:
I couldn't agree with you more. I'd hate to think we were creating a place that is worse off for the next generation.
Quote:
While some could argue that things are worse (and in some ways they are), overall life has improved dramatically.
reply:
Yes, life has improved for some of us, but for some people, life has gotten alot worse and will probably continue to do so. Think of people with severe depression, the homeless, the terminally ill. Everybody doesn't have it as comfortable as you may have it. Oh yeah... don't forget Darfar, Zimbabwe, Iraq... sure, life is wonderful here in America. But for people in these countries, life is miserable. Why do we, here in America, when we speak of the state of the world, think and act as if we are the only ones who exist in it. 
Quote:
#3) To me life is SO MUCH better, than non-existence.
reply:
For you and me maybe so... but for others maybe not. It depends on who you ask.
|
|
Alien_Hybrid8
|
Jun 20 @ 2:15AM
|
|
I understand your perspective on non-existence, and how the absence of suffering leads to bliss. But, if your non-existent, then you' couldn't experience suffering nor it's opposite. Bliss wouldn't matter to the non-existing group. they wouldn't have any reference point for the ...dare I say ..experience  . I think when it comes to the concept of complete non-existence, the universe has left us clues, as to whether that is indeed the truth. The Earth recyles. So, why then wouldn't the universe? Energy is energy, if the universe can recylce you...why wouldn't it? Your life force is energy. Your spiritual escence , all your life experiences, equate to energy ( consumption and production). I think you can use deciduous trees as an example. Every fall They lose their leaves and appear to be dead. But not they're not really dead... they're faking it.
The leaves grow back, they return. It's a clue left by nature. It's saying...see things aren't always as they appear.
|
|
thenewguy295
|
Jun 20 @ 2:23AM
|
|
So many people worry about what will happen after they die.....I worry about where I was before I was born.  Probably the same place in either case. So not much to worry about there if you don't believe in God. I guess we'll all find out (or not) when it's our time.
|
|
yashaenka
|
Jun 20 @ 8:04AM
|
|
Teachings on Nothing or the Yingyu Wu Jiao
I.
Nothing is Something;
Something is not Nothing.
II.
The exact Opposite is the exact Same;
The exact Same is not the exact Opposite.
III.
The universe has no boundaries,
for what is beyond them if they exist must be something.
IV.
Time never began because what would fall before time
must have been time.
V.
Everything is Something;
Nothing is Nothing.
VI.
Something can never be Nothing;
Life being Something, can never cease to exist;(become nothing)
Therefore there must be Something after death.
VII.
Nothing is perfect;
Something cannot be perfect.
VIII.
The Way is perfect;
Therefore the Way is nothing - nonexistent.
[My comment] Paradise is nonexistent, for even in nothingness some somethingness exist. Whether temporal as human kind or forever in nonexistance there is still a somethingness. Paradise lost is the cause and effect from striving, there is always a price to be paid...
|
|
fuchia04
|
Jun 20 @ 7:03PM
|
|
Quote:
But, if your non-existent, then you' couldn't experience suffering nor it's opposite. Bliss wouldn't matter to the non-existing group.
reply:
That's my whole point.  If you're non-existent, you can't experience suffering. But you're right though; it's not really bliss in the sense that it is something that we experience. What really matters is that you cannot (and therefore, will not) experience suffering. Think about, God forbid, a person that is in great torment (e.g. being burned alive in a fire, or being boiled in a pot of scalding hot grease). Of course, all he wants is for the agony to go away. He's not really too concerned with things like bliss; he just wants to be free of the pain. Fortunately, your body cannot withstand the extreme conditions of such environments and it will eventually die, mercifully absolving you from such suffering. But what if, God forbid, somehow, you didn't die, but you continued to experience the extreme cruelty of those conditions? In such a case, non-existence would be far more suitable.
- the Fuchian
|
|
|