A serious question for those who do not believe in God

[MaripositaII]

Originally Posted by FrankRN

The Catholic church does not promote christianity! I am glad I was not standing next to you when you reduced that one to writing. You know, the whole bolt of lightning thing scares me.

Yes, yes ... thank you! I almost forgot to mention this great notion modern Christians have that if I don't like the teachings of one religion I can just change. I love that God has given you guys so many choices. My fav is that if one does not like any of them, one can simply venture out on ones own ... or with a small group of like minded others. Who can tell what will end up sticking, right?

Just be careful of the Kool Aide.

That's the name of the game in the Bible Belt. I hear it so often that I simply smile and let them be.

Hey, were you referring to the big boy, Jim Jones there?

[FrankRN]

Originally Posted by Mercy

Well I'm older and I do have hope... hope that this life on earth is not the end. I have something to look forward to beyond this life. That Ris is the difference in the level of hope of belivers vs non belivers. For non belivers, this life is it and then you die. For a believer, we have the hope of eternal life with a heavenly father.

Eternal life ... where do I even begin. Actually, the notion of it is so absurd to me that I can't even bother. But I will say that to pin a lack of "hope" on a lack of something to look forward to after death is an aweful long S-T-R-E-C-H.

I have two children ages 12 and 16. I can tell you that the afterlife is about the furthest thing from their minds ... especially the 16 year old.

I was a psych nurse for several years and I can say with certainty that clinically, a lack of hope (dysthymia or depression) is rarely linked to religion, either for or against, and certainly not despair in regards to the afterlife or a lack thereof. And people with extremly strong religious convictions become just as depressed as the rest of us.

And if I were even marginally inclined to believe in an afterlife I would be in the line marked "47 Virgins".

[FrankRN]

Originally Posted by MaripositaII

That's the name of the game in the Bible Belt. I hear it so often that I simply smile and let them be.

Hey, were you referring to the big boy, Jim Jones there?

Just a few hundred years ago, after an excrutiating torture during which his confession and repentance were obtained, Mercy would have been tied to a stake and burned as a heritic for saying the the Catholic church does not promote Christianity. Thankfully, God has become a lot more tolerant and lets his followers worship whatever God they choose and in any manner they wish.

I took back the Kool Aide comment ... it was over the top even for me.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by FrankRN

The Catholic church does not promote christianity! I am glad I was not standing next to you when you reduced that one to writing. You know, the whole bolt of lightning thing scares me.

Yes, yes ... thank you! I almost forgot to mention this great notion modern Christians have that if I don't like the teachings of one religion I can just change. I love that God has given you guys so many choices. My fav is that if one does not like any of them, one can simply venture out on ones own ... or with a small group of like minded others. Who can tell what will end up sticking, right?

Just be careful of the Kool Aide.

Frank, some have posted on how intelligent you are, but post like these really show ignorance to me. And reading how your kids have no idea about an afterlife is a little sad to me. Have they not experience the death of a loved one yet? If not, we all know that they will. Are you just going to tell them, "well kids that's it, so much for old Bob, it was nice having him around..." I suspect that they are already familiar with thoughts of an afterlife and hopefully they will persue more answers as they mature.

[TJordan]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Frank, some have posted on how intelligent you are, but post like these really show ignorance to me. And reading how your kids have no idea about an afterlife is a little sad to me.

It was never said how they had no idea of an afterlife was it?

All that was said is that it is the furthest thing from their mind.




And then you judge people, calling them ignorant for what they believe?

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by TJordan

It was never said how they had no idea of an afterlife was it?

All that was said is that it is the furthest thing from their mind.




And then you judge people, calling them ignorant for what they believe?

Why don't you read all of the post first. Then you can fire off at me if you want. But at least do me the favor of that first.

[TJordan]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Why don't you read all of the post first. Then you can fire off at me if you want. But at least do me the favor of that first.

Okay, his POST showed ignorance.
Sorry

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Frank, some have posted on how intelligent you are, but post like these really show ignorance to me. And reading how your kids have no idea about an afterlife is a little sad to me. Have they not experience the death of a loved one yet? If not, we all know that they will. Are you just going to tell them, "well kids that's it, so much for old Bob, it was nice having him around..." I suspect that they are already familiar with thoughts of an afterlife and hopefully they will persue more answers as they mature.

As an agnostic with children, how do you think I feel reading this? I think this is an extremely judgment statement to make. If you are genuinely curious how I would approach explaining the loss of a loved one to my child, I'd be glad to, but I don't appreciate this disrespectful comment.

How would you feel if I said to you, "So what are you going to tell your kids when Uncle Bob dies? That he just 'magically' sprouted wings and flapped his way into heaven? That he had tea and crumpets with St. Peter and is now playing trumpet on a fluffy cloud?"

I think this thread would be a lot more pleasant if the participants (including me, mind you!) would put the shoe on the other foot before posting.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by StewartG

As an agnostic with children, how do you think I feel reading this? I think this is an extremely judgment statement to make. If you are genuinely curious how I would approach explaining the loss of a loved one to my child, I'd be glad to, but I don't appreciate this disrespectful comment.

How would you feel if I said to you, "So what are you going to tell your kids when Uncle Bob dies? That he just 'magically' sprouted wings and flapped his way into heaven? That he had tea and crumpets with St. Peter and is now playing trumpet on a fluffy cloud?"

I think this thread would be a lot more pleasant if the participants (including me, mind you!) would put the shoe on the other foot before posting.

I'm sure it does come across as judgemental and at some point, in any religious discussion the comments are going to cross that path. But it's just an honest statement. Stew, what did you guys tell your kids? What if, God forbid, you or your sweet wife was to pass. What would you tell your kids? My kids understand that God has created a place for us in Heavan and that one day we will be reunited together in a place with no death, and no suffering.

[Jacko]

I told my young child about Santa Claus....now, I pretty much let her in on the truth....as best I know it.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by Jacko

I told my young child about Santa Claus....now, I pretty much let her in on the truth.

Oh man, speaking of that... YESTERDAY my oldest daughter came out of no where and asked me if "mommy and daddy were really santa claus". LOL. Didn't see that coming on May 4th. Now she's on our team. :-)

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Frank, some have posted on how intelligent you are, but post like these really show ignorance to me. And reading how your kids have no idea about an afterlife is a little sad to me. Have they not experience the death of a loved one yet? If not, we all know that they will. Are you just going to tell them, "well kids that's it, so much for old Bob, it was nice having him around..." I suspect that they are already familiar with thoughts of an afterlife and hopefully they will persue more answers as they mature.

The message will obviously have to fine tuned and customized to reflect the age of the children involved and their ability to comprehend. So, if they're five, how about, "Kids, it's like when Bubbles the goldfish, or Lester the gerbil, or Fluffy the cat passed away. Uncle Bob can't be with us anymore." If they're more mature, hopefully you can remind them that he had a good life, and we're sorry he's gone, but things come to an end for all of us. Then you let 'em cry, or express their feeling of personal lose in whatever manner they choose, and help them get on with their lives.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by Bumper

The message will obviously have to fine tuned and customized to reflect the age of the children involved and their ability to comprehend. So, if they're five, how about, "Kids, it's like when Bubbles the goldfish, or Lester the gerbil, or Fluffy the cat passed away. Uncle Bob can't be with us anymore." If they're more mature, hopefully you can remind them that he had a good life, and we're sorry he's gone, but things come to an end for all of us. Then you let 'em cry, or express their feeling of personal lose in whatever manner they choose, and help them get on with their lives.

Good point Bumper. I just can't imagine living a life without Hope.

[UGAplaya]

Proper burial..... :-) LOL FOXNews.com - Illinois Man Orders Custom Beer-Can Coffin - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Good point Bumper. I just can't imagine living a life without Hope.

Oh no, please don't misinterpret my meaning. I would never advocate anyone abandon hope. Life would be pretty grim and meaningless if any of us were to do that. We just all have to decide what we're wishing for, and when we hope to achieve it. I certainly respect your desire to attain your goals for a future you seek. My agenda as to a time frame is merely different than yours. I'm just not an "eternity" kind of guy. I'd like to be, it would be very comforting, but I have some difficulty getting my head around it.