Atheism and the Afterlife

[Abdul Fattah]

First off, I am not an atheist.

Second, Atheism means no belief in a supreme being or any kind of after life.

Ok sorry for my wrong assumptions. As for atheism.
It's derived from Greek.
"A-" as perfix means no/none
"the" comes from theus/deus = God
"-ism" as suffix means systems and concepts —in belief, ideology, doctrine (contrary to what snoop doggy dog would have us believe)
By saying that atheism aslo means not believing in afterlife you are contradicting your own defenition.

As for pragmatism: Pragmatism, as a school of philosophy, is a collection of many different ways of thinking. Given the diversity among thinkers and the variety among schools of thought that have adopted this term over the years, the term pragmatism has become all but meaningless in the absence of further qualification. Most of the thinkers who describe themselves as pragmatists point to some connection with practical consequences or real effects as vital components of both meaning and truth. The precise character of these links to pragmata is however as diverse as the thinkers who do the pointing.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism

 

[KAding]

What? You're kidding! Then there must be different kind of Atheists.

Here's what I got from another Atheist, but this guy's a physics genius:

He says that when you die, you are reborn, in the physical/atomical sense.

See, in your lifetime, you die many times; your five-year-old self is not alive anymore, he's dead; your ten-year-old self is also dead, and you were reborn, without your conscience.

So, when you die, physically you are there, but you will become another life form, maybe grass or something, maybe another person. The atoms that make up your body would join the roots of your tomb and become live dirt, or maybe termites.

Somehow it'll make sense, if you're a physics genius, but that's what I got from another genius.

I'm no genius, but yes, that makes sense to me. Yet, we don't believe in an afterlife because we will not be consious after death, since our atoms are no longer arranged in such a way to make that possible.

 

[Abdul Fattah]

I'm no genius, but yes, that makes sense to me. Yet, we don't believe in an afterlife because we will not be consious after death, since our atoms are no longer arranged in such a way to make that possible.

Quick question, what is the corelation between atom arangement and consiousness? I understand what you meanth, but why would you asume that our consiousness is posible by a certain arangement. Is there a part of our brain reponsible for being consious. How does that work? How can simple chamical processes of our brain induce this feeling of awareness, selfreflect and consiousness we have?

 

[syilla]

so...nothing to look forward to...

so generally what is your purpose of living? i mean...what do you really want to achieve? is it only materialistic stuff?

 

[Joe98]

so generally what is your purpose of living?

This question led to the invention of gods by humans.

Horses don't have gods. Have you wondered about that?

i mean...what do you really want to achieve? is it only materialistic stuff?

I have no interest in materialism. I like activities.

I work during the week. I put some money aside for my retirement. I save some for the next trip. Each month I give the balance to charity. Sometimes I help out as a volunteer. But not often.

But my great loves are hiking, cycling and skiing. I do these in daylight hours when ever I can. if I were to win the lottery and retire I would follow the weather around the world and do these things every day!

After dark I can't do these things. So eating, drinking, talking and doing chores around the house are the major activities.

I have a wonderful life!

 

[جوري]

Foolishness is only expiated by death........ only then can all the mysteries be solved...........for now we each hang on to our own moral compass

 

[syilla]

This question led to the invention of gods by humans.

Horses don't have gods. Have you wondered about that?

How do you know? can you speak horse language...if you do...than you should teach me.

In Islam we believe...Allah is the horses god...even the trees..stones...and etc...

 

[Woodrow]

I really am not trying to be comical with this post. But a thought just struck me. How can an atheist define death? A dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between life and death in terms of physical matter? It is true the living organism usually is animated, but is the animation sufficient to define life?

 

[Joe98]

How can an atheist define death?
A dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between life and death in terms of physical matter?

A dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between a live Muslim and a dead Muslim in terms of physical matter?


No worms? :giggling:

 

[Woodrow]

A dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between a live Muslim and a dead Muslim in terms of physical matter?


No worms? :giggling:

Touche Monsuer, I walked into that one.

Actually I believe I can see what you are saying.

Basicaly, in your view a dead person is a non-functioning recyclable mass if I am understanding you correctly.

 

[Woodrow]

Now getting back to serious in answer to your question:

A

dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between a live Muslim and a dead Muslim in terms of physical matter?

A live Muslim is capable of atoning for his sins. A dead Muslim will have to face judgement based upon what he/she did in this time as a living Muslim and will spend the remainder of eternity as decided by that judgement.

The cynical writer Amrose Bierce once wrote "Will I be condemned to not having a soul, because I don't believe I have a soul?"

to paraphrase him I would say "is an atheist condemned to not seeing God(swt), because he does not believe God(swt) exists?"

 

[i_m_tipu]

The cynical writer Amrose Bierce once wrote "Will I be condemned to not having a soul, because I don't believe I have a soul?"

than what make a living thing running
:rollseyes

 

[Woodrow]

than what make a living thing running
:rollseyes

That is also my view point. I can not see any logical basis for life to even exist. To myself that alone is sufficient reason for me to believe in Allah(swt)

 

[i_m_tipu]

That is also my view point. I can not see any logical basis for life to even exist. To myself that alone is sufficient reason for me to believe in Allah(swt)

do a MAN deny this simple thing :giggling:

 

[i_m_tipu]

i have some posts here (test-faith-athiests) about the undeniable faith
http://www.islamicboard.com/comparative-religion/20855-test-faith-athiests-4.html

 

[KAding]

Quick question, what is the corelation between atom arangement and consiousness? I understand what you meanth, but why would you asume that our consiousness is posible by a certain arangement. Is there a part of our brain reponsible for being consious. How does that work? How can simple chamical processes of our brain induce this feeling of awareness, selfreflect and consiousness we have?

That is my belief yes. That part of our brain induces consiousness. Clearly the brain determines whether or not we are consious of our environment, as in a state of sleep or coma. So why not death?

Mind you, although I am an atheist, I don't rule out that there is more to it, we do not understand everything after all. Objectively speaking we have no way of knowing what being dead is like, although we all know what it is like to be unconsious.

 

[KAding]

so...nothing to look forward to...

How so, I look forward to the rest of my life. After I'm dead, well, then I'll be dead. I'll have no time then to worry about anything.

so generally what is your purpose of living?

The purpose of life is life. Enjoy it, on all levels. Be happy.

i mean...what do you really want to achieve? is it only materialistic stuff?

Why would it only be materialistic stuff? Surely we all want to be surrounded by love and happiness. Sometimes material goods can help in that, sometimes it can't. It also depends on each person, some are more materialistic than others, in the sense that they are more quickly pleased by material possesions. To each his own I would say.

 

[KAding]

I really am not trying to be comical with this post. But a thought just struck me. How can an atheist define death? A dead person is chemicaly identical to a living person, what can be the difference between life and death in terms of physical matter? It is true the living organism usually is animated, but is the animation sufficient to define life?

I don't understand. Surely a living body is different from a dead one chemically? After all a dead body is not biologically alive and simply not functioning. The chemical processes at work inside the body are radically different, no?

More interesting is the case of someone like Terri Schiavo, who's body was still alive, but who's brain ceased to create consiousness. How do religous people see that? Has the soul already departed? In general I would think dementia is somewhat of a challenge to traditional religoous doctrine on death. After all, does dementia mean the soul has degraded? Or is the link between soul and body breaking down?

 

[KAding]

do a MAN deny this simple thing :giggling:

I deny it. It is wrong to assume everything must have a greater purpose. Life really has no purpose. Not for us, an not for my dog.

We just try to make the best of it . Works fine for me.

 

[- Qatada -]

Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) said:

“As for the animals, they will all be gathered by Allaah, as is indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered’

[al-An’aam 6:38]

‘And when the wild beasts are gathered together’

[al-Takweer 81:5]

‘And among His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and whatever moving (living) creatures He has dispersed in them both. And He is All-Potent over their assembling (i.e. resurrecting them on the Day of Resurrection after their death, and dispersion of their bodies) whenever He wills'

[al-Shoora 42:29]

The word idha (translated here as when or whenever) refers to something that will inevitably come to pass. And there are many well known ahaadeeth on this topic. On the Day of Resurrection Allaah will gather the animals, and the scores among them will be settled. Then it will be said to them,“Be dust!” and they will become dust. At that point the kaafir will say, “Would that I were dust!” (al-Naba’ 72:40 – interpretation of the meaning). Whoever says that they will not be brought back to life is making a serious mistake, indeed he is misguided or is a kaafir. And Allaah knows best.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 4/248

Ahmad (20534) narrated from Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sitting, and two sheep locked horns, and one of them butted the other and defeated it. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled, and it was said to him, “Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Because of the sheep. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it will settle its score with the other on the Day of Resurrection.”

Ahmad Shaakir said, its isnaad is hasan and unbroken.

Muslim (2582) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “All rights will be restored on the Day of Resurrection, until even the hornless sheep will settle its score with the one that has horns.”

Al-Nawawi said:

This clearly indicates that the animals will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, and that they will be brought back to life like human beings who are accountable, and like children and the insane and those who were not reached by the call of Islam. This is what is indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when the wild beasts are gathered together”

[al-Takweer 81:5]​