Who has changed their minds about religion on this forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

You are free to think whatever you want. But most smart atheists know that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization, even if they don’t actually believe in god themselves.

Really, what are you saying about Christianity? It absolutely has an important place in western civilization, and that's not a reason to believe in it. The Greek and the Roman civilizations, with all their gods, which we call mythology now, could be also called the foundation of western civilization. We rightly give the Greeks and the Romans a lot of credit for their foundational roles in western civilization and no one believes in their gods any more.

All I am saying is that most of the atheists posting have never thought critically about why they believe the things that they do. They are particularly ignorant of how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution.

Takes such as “Christianity oppresses women and therefore is bad” are so unbelievably ill-considered that they are barely worth engaging with.

And what about most religious people posting here? Have they thought critically about why they believe what they do? Have they thought about how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution? If they have and are still religious, it could be because they fear death and want to believe that they'll live in heaven for eternity. It's a nice thought, but it's hard to imagine what they would do for eternity.

I'm one of the religious (religious, not Christian) posters here and, yes, I reevaluated and changed my beliefs as a teen and again an adult and again more recently as I am raising my own kids (though less fundamentally this time than the first two times). Part of that reevaluation included thinking about how my religious beliefs fit with my understanding of history and science/nature and human nature. I don't believe in life after death, so I'm not just religious because I fear death, and I'm not just blindly doing what I grew up with. I don't think you are giving people enough credit.

Will you say what religion you are that does not have a belief in life after death, or is that perhaps your personal belief and not part of your religion? I would certainly like to know about this religion. I know of Jews who say they don't believe in God or life after death, but they identify as Jewish and practice Judaism, at least to some extent.

Whatever, I think you are very unusual.

NP. PP describes me very well, so she's not that unusual. Every year I make it a point to read several books or listen to podcasts that challenge me to think about my religion (Christianity) in a new way. Agree with pp that you don't give religious people enough credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

+1

It’s like the idiots who say their vote is influenced by what anonymous people on a mommy website say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

You are free to think whatever you want. But most smart atheists know that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization, even if they don’t actually believe in god themselves.

Really, what are you saying about Christianity? It absolutely has an important place in western civilization, and that's not a reason to believe in it. The Greek and the Roman civilizations, with all their gods, which we call mythology now, could be also called the foundation of western civilization. We rightly give the Greeks and the Romans a lot of credit for their foundational roles in western civilization and no one believes in their gods any more.

All I am saying is that most of the atheists posting have never thought critically about why they believe the things that they do. They are particularly ignorant of how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution.

Takes such as “Christianity oppresses women and therefore is bad” are so unbelievably ill-considered that they are barely worth engaging with.

And what about most religious people posting here? Have they thought critically about why they believe what they do? Have they thought about how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution? If they have and are still religious, it could be because they fear death and want to believe that they'll live in heaven for eternity. It's a nice thought, but it's hard to imagine what they would do for eternity.

I'm one of the religious (religious, not Christian) posters here and, yes, I reevaluated and changed my beliefs as a teen and again an adult and again more recently as I am raising my own kids (though less fundamentally this time than the first two times). Part of that reevaluation included thinking about how my religious beliefs fit with my understanding of history and science/nature and human nature. I don't believe in life after death, so I'm not just religious because I fear death, and I'm not just blindly doing what I grew up with. I don't think you are giving people enough credit.

Will you say what religion you are that does not have a belief in life after death, or is that perhaps your personal belief and not part of your religion? I would certainly like to know about this religion. I know of Jews who say they don't believe in God or life after death, but they identify as Jewish and practice Judaism, at least to some extent.

Whatever, I think you are very unusual.

NP. PP describes me very well, so she's not that unusual. Every year I make it a point to read several books or listen to podcasts that challenge me to think about my religion (Christianity) in a new way. Agree with pp that you don't give religious people enough credit.

Two religious people who don't believe in an afterlife is still pretty unusual and I'd still like to know what specific religion(s) you practice, e.g., what sect of Chrisianity. Also, what, exactly don't I "give religious people enough credit" for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

You are free to think whatever you want. But most smart atheists know that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization, even if they don’t actually believe in god themselves.

Really, what are you saying about Christianity? It absolutely has an important place in western civilization, and that's not a reason to believe in it. The Greek and the Roman civilizations, with all their gods, which we call mythology now, could be also called the foundation of western civilization. We rightly give the Greeks and the Romans a lot of credit for their foundational roles in western civilization and no one believes in their gods any more.

All I am saying is that most of the atheists posting have never thought critically about why they believe the things that they do. They are particularly ignorant of how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution.

Takes such as “Christianity oppresses women and therefore is bad” are so unbelievably ill-considered that they are barely worth engaging with.

And what about most religious people posting here? Have they thought critically about why they believe what they do? Have they thought about how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution? If they have and are still religious, it could be because they fear death and want to believe that they'll live in heaven for eternity. It's a nice thought, but it's hard to imagine what they would do for eternity.

I'm one of the religious (religious, not Christian) posters here and, yes, I reevaluated and changed my beliefs as a teen and again an adult and again more recently as I am raising my own kids (though less fundamentally this time than the first two times). Part of that reevaluation included thinking about how my religious beliefs fit with my understanding of history and science/nature and human nature. I don't believe in life after death, so I'm not just religious because I fear death, and I'm not just blindly doing what I grew up with. I don't think you are giving people enough credit.

Will you say what religion you are that does not have a belief in life after death, or is that perhaps your personal belief and not part of your religion? I would certainly like to know about this religion. I know of Jews who say they don't believe in God or life after death, but they identify as Jewish and practice Judaism, at least to some extent.

Whatever, I think you are very unusual.

Sure, I'm Jewish. There is a concept of some kind of "afterlife" called Sheol or Olam Haba (the world to come) but it's light on details and certainly not a focus of the religion. Judaism is much more focused on doing good with this life that we have. Judaism is comfortable with the fact that we don't know exactly what will happen after we die and leaves these ideas of an afterlife vague.

The grieving process focuses on keeping alive the memory of the person (it's commonly said, "may their memory be a blessing" and receiving visitors while in mourning - a shiva - involves telling stories about the life of the deceased person) rather than imagining them in a heaven. I've been to a lot of Jewish funerals, unfortunately, and they all focus exclusively on sharing stories about the person's life with no platitudes about how they're now "with God in heaven" or anything like that. Even in death, Judaism focuses on their life.

None of this is unusual in Judaism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

You are free to think whatever you want. But most smart atheists know that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization, even if they don’t actually believe in god themselves.

Really, what are you saying about Christianity? It absolutely has an important place in western civilization, and that's not a reason to believe in it. The Greek and the Roman civilizations, with all their gods, which we call mythology now, could be also called the foundation of western civilization. We rightly give the Greeks and the Romans a lot of credit for their foundational roles in western civilization and no one believes in their gods any more.

All I am saying is that most of the atheists posting have never thought critically about why they believe the things that they do. They are particularly ignorant of how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution.

Takes such as “Christianity oppresses women and therefore is bad” are so unbelievably ill-considered that they are barely worth engaging with.

And what about most religious people posting here? Have they thought critically about why they believe what they do? Have they thought about how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution? If they have and are still religious, it could be because they fear death and want to believe that they'll live in heaven for eternity. It's a nice thought, but it's hard to imagine what they would do for eternity.

I'm one of the religious (religious, not Christian) posters here and, yes, I reevaluated and changed my beliefs as a teen and again an adult and again more recently as I am raising my own kids (though less fundamentally this time than the first two times). Part of that reevaluation included thinking about how my religious beliefs fit with my understanding of history and science/nature and human nature. I don't believe in life after death, so I'm not just religious because I fear death, and I'm not just blindly doing what I grew up with. I don't think you are giving people enough credit.

Will you say what religion you are that does not have a belief in life after death, or is that perhaps your personal belief and not part of your religion? I would certainly like to know about this religion. I know of Jews who say they don't believe in God or life after death, but they identify as Jewish and practice Judaism, at least to some extent.

Whatever, I think you are very unusual.

NP. PP describes me very well, so she's not that unusual. Every year I make it a point to read several books or listen to podcasts that challenge me to think about my religion (Christianity) in a new way. Agree with pp that you don't give religious people enough credit.

Two religious people who don't believe in an afterlife is still pretty unusual and I'd still like to know what specific religion(s) you practice, e.g., what sect of Chrisianity. Also, what, exactly don't I "give religious people enough credit" for?

PP here and I never said I don't believe in an afterlife, because I do and you're confusing me with the other poster. To your second question, you don't give religious people enough credit for challenging their own beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

DP. Well that wasn't an arrogant and patronizing post by an atheist, at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

I have good friends and family members IRL who are atheists. We have wonderful relationships based on mutual respect.

Many atheists who post in this forum are extremely patronizing and disrespectful with a disdain for nuance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

I have good friends and family members IRL who are atheists. We have wonderful relationships based on mutual respect.

Many atheists who post in this forum are extremely patronizing and disrespectful with a disdain for nuance.

+1 Me too! Though I will say that the disrespect and disinterest in nuance seems to be a problem with the internet in general, not just atheists on the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

I have good friends and family members IRL who are atheists. We have wonderful relationships based on mutual respect.

Many atheists who post in this forum are extremely patronizing and disrespectful with a disdain for nuance.

+1 Me too! Though I will say that the disrespect and disinterest in nuance seems to be a problem with the internet in general, not just atheists on the internet.

Good point. The internet is such a two edged sword - facilitating communications on a scale that was never before possible - and yet coarsening discourse into crude sound bytes and reduced accountability

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

I have good friends and family members IRL who are atheists. We have wonderful relationships based on mutual respect.

Many atheists who post in this forum are extremely patronizing and disrespectful with a disdain for nuance.

How would you describe the "believers" who post often on this forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The atheists who post here are usually far more close minded and tedious than the atheists I know in real life. They engage in patronizing, gross oversimplifications and reductive thinking that actually puts me off atheism. I remain open to agnosticism since we can’t prove metaphysical beliefs one way or the other.

You've expressed your opinion, and now I'll express mine: I don't care if your characterization of anything anyone says here "puts you off atheism". I hope no one is religious or non-religious because they were "put off" by someone. I think being put off by someone is a terrible reason for believing or not believing.

We know a tree by the fruits it bears.

I pay a lot of attention to character. Not a religious literalist and don’t resonate with dogmatism in either religion or atheism.

There's no dogmatism in atheism because there's no dogma. It's simply lack of belief in theism (any religion).

.

Many of the atheists who post here are extremely dogmatic, patronizing and unnecessarily antagonistic.

If you are a religious person who is sure you are right, despite total lack of evidence and lots of faith, then simply ignore anyone who doesn't see things your way.

I have good friends and family members IRL who are atheists. We have wonderful relationships based on mutual respect.

Many atheists who post in this forum are extremely patronizing and disrespectful with a disdain for nuance.

Like you, IOW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which atheists and anti-theists are desperately trying to pretend they don’t care about religion or God or other people’s beliefs while desperately desperately worrying about religion, God, and other people’s beliefs 24/7/365. One would think they would have better things to do, but apparently, they center their lives worrying and debating and being focused on religious people.

You keep posting this canard in every thread, and it is just as silly every time.

Atheists post here because they care about what is true. Many atheists think religion is a problem and that logic needs to be exhibited to combat the problem.

No one says they don’t care. Despite your claim. Which is a lie.

You are free to think whatever you want. But most smart atheists know that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization, even if they don’t actually believe in god themselves.

Really, what are you saying about Christianity? It absolutely has an important place in western civilization, and that's not a reason to believe in it. The Greek and the Roman civilizations, with all their gods, which we call mythology now, could be also called the foundation of western civilization. We rightly give the Greeks and the Romans a lot of credit for their foundational roles in western civilization and no one believes in their gods any more.

All I am saying is that most of the atheists posting have never thought critically about why they believe the things that they do. They are particularly ignorant of how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution.

Takes such as “Christianity oppresses women and therefore is bad” are so unbelievably ill-considered that they are barely worth engaging with.

And what about most religious people posting here? Have they thought critically about why they believe what they do? Have they thought about how their beliefs fit into the larger arc of history and evolution? If they have and are still religious, it could be because they fear death and want to believe that they'll live in heaven for eternity. It's a nice thought, but it's hard to imagine what they would do for eternity.

I'm one of the religious (religious, not Christian) posters here and, yes, I reevaluated and changed my beliefs as a teen and again an adult and again more recently as I am raising my own kids (though less fundamentally this time than the first two times). Part of that reevaluation included thinking about how my religious beliefs fit with my understanding of history and science/nature and human nature. I don't believe in life after death, so I'm not just religious because I fear death, and I'm not just blindly doing what I grew up with. I don't think you are giving people enough credit.

Will you say what religion you are that does not have a belief in life after death, or is that perhaps your personal belief and not part of your religion? I would certainly like to know about this religion. I know of Jews who say they don't believe in God or life after death, but they identify as Jewish and practice Judaism, at least to some extent.

Whatever, I think you are very unusual.

Sure, I'm Jewish. There is a concept of some kind of "afterlife" called Sheol or Olam Haba (the world to come) but it's light on details and certainly not a focus of the religion. Judaism is much more focused on doing good with this life that we have. Judaism is comfortable with the fact that we don't know exactly what will happen after we die and leaves these ideas of an afterlife vague.

The grieving process focuses on keeping alive the memory of the person (it's commonly said, "may their memory be a blessing" and receiving visitors while in mourning - a shiva - involves telling stories about the life of the deceased person) rather than imagining them in a heaven. I've been to a lot of Jewish funerals, unfortunately, and they all focus exclusively on sharing stories about the person's life with no platitudes about how they're now "with God in heaven" or anything like that. Even in death, Judaism focuses on their life.

None of this is unusual in Judaism.

Thank you.