I do not know what to believe when it comes to life after death. There is no way people will ever know so it is useless to wonder. Of course I wonder anyway, but I do not see how there will ever be proof of anything after death and until there is I do not believe in any of it. I would like to think we are reincarnated because that seems the most likely situation, but I do not believe people are. Recycling lives is an interesting thought, and that what you did in a past life somehow influences interests in this life. An afterlife, like heaven or hell, I do not believe in. Again, it is just as possible as reincarnation given what we know, which is nothing, but it seems pretty impossible and silly. There have been too many people to be in one place forever.
Because of my lack of faith in an afterlife I believe it is very important to take advantage of the life we have now and be remembered for what we accomplished in it. It is sad to think that once we die, we disappear and only live on in people's memories and the lasting impact of our actions but we know that as much is true. When a person dies, their memory is not wiped from the earth and they are never thought of again. People "live on" that way, but that is not living. The actual person has no part in that once they die, and if that is all that death is, I'll be a little disappointed. But also dead, so I guess not.
I believe ( or lack belief) in these things because I am not religious and life after death generally revolves around religion. Even though I am Jewish, I do not believe in God. I believe in science and proof and life after death has not shown me any. I am open to ideas though because nobody knows and possibly never will, making is cruelly interesting. Apparently though, not believing in any life after death due to lack of evidence is very Jewish. Odd.
I do not think that not believing in an after life has shaped my life in any way. If anything, it has put me more in charge of my life. I figure, I do not know what happens after I die and if this is the only life I get I should live it how I want to, have fun, and not live according to other people's standards. Also, I act because I want to, not because it will get me into heaven or a higher caste in my next life. I try and be a good person for my own reasons.
I think "religious people" would find the Holy Bible and other religious texts as proof of an afterlife. They have faith and they don't need science to back it up. I guess in this case, seeing isn't believing. Some people just believe in an afterlife because it brings them comfort and they don't need proof. I do agree that we are left in people's memories, but it's not everlasting. And like you said, it isn't living. Very well written and I enjoyed reading it. :)
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your "Recycling Lives" idea and I had to read it twice because I think I was reading it a little too literally.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your point about how after we die we live on in memory, nut once we're dead, there isn't much we can do to change that memory, but also we wont care too much since we're dead. Believing that there is life after death is a good reason to act like a good person, and though one would hope people would act good regardless, that isn't always true. But, like you, I act the way I do because I want to and until someone shows me a golden gate floating on clouds with a line of people waiting to get it, I'll keep acting that way.