What is the atheist view of the afterlife?

Question

I don't think you need to believe in any kind of God or doctrine to believe in some kind of afterlife unless you imagine that everything that exist is material and that there are no immaterial dimensions, which isn't true according to science, because we know that physical matter only constitutes a tiny part of what exists.

I really don't know the atheist view of the afterlife - do you think that when you die that's all there is and that your consciousness ceases to exist? Do you ever think about the end of your own life in a serious profound way, and if so, does the atheist finality of it not scare you?

I guess most if not all atheists will say that any notion of an afterlife is a stupid dumb fairytale joke for people who can't face up to the inevitable, so I won't be surprised to read replies like that - I think for many people it probably is like that, because it comforts them, but I see nothing wrong with that at all.

Thanks.

Answer 1

My personal view is that the notion of an afterlife is nothing but wishful thinking. There are no biological structures within the human body that even comes close to supporting the notion of an afterlife. I do not think there is such a thing.



Yes, I have pondered my own mortality. Any consideration of death is profound regardless of one’s worldview. No, my ultimate death does not frighten me. There is no reason it should. I don’t look forward to it, but I do not fear it.

Answer 2

On balance I would say there is no afterlife except what you leave in this earth in the way of memories and your children. As to immaterial dimensions at one time there were many things that appeared strange and unexplainable except by some dimension which was mysterious. Gradually we have been able to explain many of these things so much of what was once some immaterial dimension has been explained. There are of course things that are apparently immaterial such what is the substance on which light and radio waves travel. We call it the ether. I am sure that one day it will be explained. There is of course the big one which is bio-geneses. But even this is gradually being explored and one day, I am sure, we will be able to explain the chemistry of that.

Of course it does not really matter if you believe in the after life or not as nobody is actually going to know one way or the other until they die

Answer 3

The afterlife is dirt and the memories of others. As an atheist, I've realized that life doesn't have to be all about me, but it does need to be about us. I benefit tremendously from the efforts of previous thousands of generations to make the world better, from infrastructure to ideas. So I should be able to contribute with an invention, an artwork, an encouragement, or an example (even a bad one). A new child keeps the species going too. And even if something I produced or caused doesn't show any social effect beyond a generation or two, at least I'm part of the critical mass for such things.



I mean it. I die, WE live on.

Answer 4

I don't think there is any kind of afterlife because there seems to be no evidence that there is anything beyond the material (dark matter and the like isn't the same as heaven or some other bs spiritual place) so it's safe to assume that there is no afterlife too. I think it'a a matter of you don't exist anymore, and that's it. No need to freak out, as some famous person said (can't remember his name now) I have not existed for millions of years before I was born, I don't see why I should feel any different about not existing after I die.

Answer 5

Science does not support the concept of an afterlife as there is simply no evidence to show anything happens to us when we die except we cease to exist. This does not give me any kind of comfort, actually the thought of death is something I'm not happy with. However, I cannot make myself believe there's more just because it sounds nice. I like facts backed by evidence and like I said, there is no evidence of an afterlife.

Answer 6

That there is no afterlife. Sure there may be other dimensions, but that does not mean that anything remains of the mind after the body dies.



The idea of an afterlife would be the worse hell imaginable to me. Nothing to strive for, nothing to work for. An eternity of nothing. An afterlife would truly be horrible, and I would beg for death everyday of an afterlife.

Answer 7

Atheists will differ on their answer to this question, as the only thing they have in common is a lack of belief in deities.



However, I'm wondering what you meant about science.

"there are no immaterial dimensions, which isn't true according to science, because we know that physical matter only constitutes a tiny part of what exists."



I have never heard the term "immaterial dimensions" in science. Perhaps you're referring to energy, which is what exists besides matter and antimatter. But it's not energy in the sense that New Age types use it, like "I'm feeling negative energy here". Energy means heat, light, kinetic energy, gamma rays, radio.



Or perhaps you're referring to "dark matter". Dark matter is MATTER. It is matter in a form which doesn't show up on our instruments. But the entire point is that it is made of matter, with mass.

Answer 8

it style of feels 30 days likes to take human beings from countless religions and philosophies and toss them in with Christians. The Wicca episode is composed of strategies here. As on your question, atheists variety; in case you incorporate Buddhists in with Atheists, then many have faith in the two reincarnation and an end consequence. in case you stick to the generally-Western atheism, then there is assumed to be no afterlife for the comparable motives posited for no deity: no info helping the assumption, and so the choice is declared.

Answer 9

first paragraph response:

No, when scientist speak or write of different dimensions that are curled up in our physical 4D world. They are not speaking and/or writing about a different dimension as in another plain of existence that is science fiction.



second paragraph response:

No, that fact that there is no afterlife does not scare me. Yes, I have thought of the end of my existence...I dont like that I will not excist, but that doesnt change reality. A personal truth is not reality. The thought of an afterlife being true is obscure. Who runs the place? and whoever is running it why did they make mortality in the first place and make immortality second....Why did it not occur to him or her to just make everyone immortal to begin with...?!?



Finally it is not stupid to want things to be true that are not. I want there to be no suffering in the world and just because that is not going to happen does not make my personal truth any less of a goal to try and make that a reality. It is when human beings mistake their personal truth for reality and say inaccurate things about science, nature, and humanity that make those specific people stupid.

Answer 10

I think that you will no longer have consciousness, just like before you are born.

It's just that I want to live and be happy, not spend my whole life pretending to be a good person so I can get into Heaven. I want to live the best life I can, living by my own rules and morals because I don't think your soul lives on forever.

It's fine if you're optimistic, but I feel sorry for people who waste their lives in the chance of going to heaven, which is HIGHLY unlikely.

Answer 11

First off, I am a ''semi-atheist''. I dont believe in god, but I wont say there isnt one. Cause who knows what the future brings.

I find it hard that one day its all going to be over. But that is what I think.

I think that most atheist believes that there wont be any afterlife but who knows. I havent been dead before (I think)



When the true comes up no-one can be sure. Even though they says so, its impossible to actually be.

Answer 12

I believe that if, we had a "Creator", he himself has another "Creator" and so on forth. With the same scientific logic that Matter-Energy isn't born or die but transformed.



Believing in God the way we do, is like an ant believing that my backyard is the universe!



And there's proof of afterlife: For 2 years I've done spiritism (OUIJA) and it works!

Answer 13

Atheism is about a belief in a god,it has no more to do with the afterlife than Christianity has a "view" about which is the best car.

Answer 14

Godly view is Plan A: Above, Approved, Accepted

atheist view is Plan B: Beneath, Bondage, Bewitched



Eg: John 8:23

I am from "above", I am not of this world

ye (do err) are from "beneath", of this world



Eg: Genesis 2:16 -vs- 2:17

Gen 2:16 - every tree, freely given... Grace: Above

Gen 2:16 - not every tree, surely die... Law: Beneath



Mingled Grace + Law is as Life + Death = Dead End



Eternal Life isn't life after death, but life void of death,

which is only plausible via grace void of law, and

mercy void of sacrifice, is peace void of division

Answer 15

There is no evidence of afterlife. so unless something else changes, there is no after life. I don't think about it because it is going to happen regardless. I guess the answer will reveal itself then.

Answer 16

Yawn!!! there is no afterlife!, .....how can there be? when my plug, and, (sorry), but your's too you will know nothing about it, you, and I will cease to be conscious or sentient, to put it simply, there is no reason for an afterlife, we cannot breed, we are DEAD

Answer 17

Most atheists I know do not believe there is any afterlife.

Answer 18

Pretty much like you remember it being long before you were born.



When I go to a movie, I don't sit there and worry about what the movie will be like after it is over, either.

Answer 19

I personally don't think there is an afterlife. When we die, we are gone for good. We have zero consciousness.



The only thing that remains "alive" our the memories of us.

Answer 20

some atheists are spiritual and some atheists don't believe in a after life. BUT NO atheist believes in god

Answer 21

There is no one, universal atheistic view of the afterlife or the lack thereof. We're free thinkers, my friend.

Answer 22

I am not an Atheist but I do not really look forward to an afterlife.

However, if this is what God has planned for me so be it.

Answer 23

There is not one, no matter how many dimensions mathematicians (not empirical science) may propose.

Answer 24

For any self respecting atheist the view is that there isn't one.

Answer 25

No more stupid Xians asking stupid questions on Y!A!

Answer 26

"... we know that physical matter only constitutes a tiny part of what exists."



What would that be, then?



The prospect of my not existing, does not please me, but that doesn't mean that I will accept the fairy story just to cheer myself up.

Answer 27

They don't have one and they don't have a need for one. There is no eternal life for them.

Answer 28

There is no such thing as afterlife.

Answer 29

you rot in the ground when you die and that is the end :P

Answer 30

It is ...'What afterlife???' (Poor ignorant people that don't believe!)







Papaw

Answer 31

They don't have one, sadly.

Answer 32

There is none.

Answer 33

worm food

Answer 34

same as before life, but smellier

Answer 35

What do you think?