We live our lives as if it is our only one, because it is.
Therefore we enjoy it for the opportunity that it provides to live, laugh, and love without the fear that living too fully, laughing too long, or loving too much will deny us access to the more rewarding life that some have convinced themselves follows this.
Meh, "gift" implies "giver." That's why I prefer the terms "lucky break," "chance" or more formally, "contingency."
ReplyDeleteMeh, "gift" implies "giver."
DeleteWell, yeahhh… Don't you give your parents any credit?!?
There's a story on HuffPo about a woman who buys boxed lunches for the homeless during her lunch break.
ReplyDeleteShe had to take another job part time to pay for the lunches.
She said she does it because as a person of faith, we need to take care of those less fortunate.
People don't always do the right or wrong thing because of a fear of the afterlife.
If you didn't believe in God, heaven, he'll, etc., then you are only left with your own conscience.
How your conscience forms is a result of a myriad of things.
You are smart but it really bothers me when you try and "simplify" something that is not simple, not cut and dry, and worthy of discussion.
I really haven't enjoyed every moment of my life. Or considered my cancer fighting life a gift. Too much of it has been an affliction. And when you look at so many war torn, poverty torn, corruption torn, and ignorance torn... suffering places in the world, it's likely that many of us aren't any more appreciative of this simplistic, condescending graphic than I am.
ReplyDeleteI like you and read your blog every day. I think you have a lot of insight into many things. I believe in God and believe there is an afterlife. It does not bother me that you don't. We all should be free thinkers. I'm not an ass**** Christian, but I know many are and most of them aren't even that,they are just smug, self righteous scum. Palin is not a Christian, but a liar, a narcissist and an evil creature that has caused tremendous damage to this country and many people. I hope that you know we aren't all cut from the same cloth. I quit going to church years ago, could not stand the judgmental, hypocritical attitudes present in so many. Plus so many wanted to get into your private life and tell you how to live. No one's business unless they are causing harm to others or to animals. I will always defend the defenseless. But people like Palin are monsters, right wing creations of some vile spewing machine, poisoning us all. I support your right to be an atheist a hundred percent. I think a lot more of you than I think of many self proclaimed Christians. Honestly, the Jesus of the Bible would be horrified by the likes of Palin and her ilk.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's not true at all that the religious are focused on the life after death while the non-religious are focused on the life before death. If that were true, then all religious people would be following their deity's command to be loving and kind to one another, to take care of the poor, the widow, and the orphan, and to be good stewards of the earth their deity has made and commanded them to care-take -- knowing that if they do these things their god will be pleased and they will be rewarded in the afterlife. Clearly, that is not the case. Some do this, a great many don't. Especially the ones in public office and megachurch ministry...With their huge churches, big incomes, and lavish lifestyles, they are quite definitely focused on the here and now.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in god or religion. However, I agree with science that we are all just "energy" and when the body dies, our energy continues. I have believed that all my life and after our son died 18 months ago we have had indisputable signs that his energy is around. My family has had these experiences for as long as can remember. We are just regular folks, well educated and not into the supernatural or religions. It just is...just like science.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I agree with science that we are all just "energy" …
DeleteBy using quotes, are you implying that the word energy means something to you other than the generally-accepted scientific meaning?
… and when the body dies, our energy continues.
Actually, a body dying is what happens when the energy (in whatever sense) goes away. Some people continue to have (a limited form of) life, hosted in the brains/minds of people close to them. But if you use the word energy as a scientific word, some irreverent person may ask: Energy? How many kilowatt-hours of energy? How many joules?
Ted, there will always be people, irreverent or not, questioning my statement. That is ok with me but if they have experiences like we have, they would understand and you never know... they may just discover the there is actually joules and kilowatts involved. There is much research going on.
DeleteMia...
Ted, there will always be people, irreverent or not, questioning my statement.
DeletePlease note that I was not questioning your experiences—just the way you were using a term that is rather familiar to me. Do you not agree with me that your son is living on in your family?
they may just discover the there is actually joules and kilowatts involved.
Kilowatt-hours, I trust you meant.
I just looked in on Pharyngula and found this article from earlier today: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/06/17/sometimes-scientists-abuse-these-terms-too/ The second comment seemed particularly appropriate.
DeleteGreat Post, Gryphen. I've done good deeds with no thought of a reward in this life or after, for the most part, no one else even knows, and I prefer it that way.
ReplyDeleteI've also endured some pretty crappy stuff, including chemo and radiation and just thought of it as what it is, a part of life. I think a lot of it has to do with our choices. I can't picture nor blame a "God" for causing things like cancer, ALS, etc. especially when kids get ill.
A lot has to do with your attitude. It's a conscious choice to either be bitter or get better.
Thank you for this saccharine sentiment which has all the profundity of a Hallmark card.
ReplyDeleteThe superficial philosophy typical of internet atheism is going to miss the point every time. Here's the key: spirituality requires a degree of ambiguity. The atheist who sees everything in black and white, who can't function without cognitive closure, will never understand the spiritual person.
I was brought up Presbyterian, lived as a Unitarian for years, and am now a Roman Catholic. In none of those faith traditions have I encountered compassionate, generous, loving people who practice those virtues because they fear a hellish afterlife. Rather, they understand that living the Golden Rule is its own reward--right here in this lifetime. As for an afterlife--that's one of the areas where ambiguity enters the picture. I don't know what happens when we die. On Ash Wednesday the priest intones, "Dust you are, and to dust you shall return." This bit of scripture dovetails nicely with cosmologists telling us we are stardust. I'm content with that imagery.
Gryphen is an example of the so-called fundamentalist atheists. He says he's read the Bible, but its overarching themes are lost on him. He's hung up on literal hell-fire-and-damnation like a Baptist preacher at a tent revival. I send him donations from time to time, hoping he'll attend a Richard Rohr retreat, or at least buy a few books which challenge his entrenched biases about religion.
IM atheism posts don't generate much interest, which means they aren't thought-provoking. I know it's hard to have to write every day, so I guess this kind of post is just filler. Still, the cringe-worthy bumper-sticker graphics do nothing but lower the overall tone of the blog.
Well said. Thanks, Jude.
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