If you are an atheist

[Anonymous]

What do you think happens after you die? And if there is a God, what do you think would happen to you??

[takoma]

I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

[Anonymous]

I'll let you know after I die. I am not too worried about it given how I choose to live my life.

[Anonymous]

If there is god and heaven, I can just see him saying " I would not believe in me too! Welcome to heaven, please proceed to the rational people floor"

[Anonymous]

I think the same thing happens as before you are conceived, i.e. nothing.

If there is a God? To be honest, I find the idea of god as conceived by religious people to be so untenable that I don't spend any time worrying about it. But certainly I believe I have lived my life with as much integrity and generosity as most religious people.

[Anonymous]

If there is a God, I would ask him why he made Mary pregnant instead of making a man pregnant with the baby Jesus - that would have been a better miracle, no?

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

I'm not saying anything like you're not going to Heaven or you're going to Hell or anything, but I'm curious if you understand that this is not how it works? You don't get into Heaven for having tried to be a good person -- or even for being a good person. Entry to Heaven is for those who kept the faith and lived by God's law, not "good" people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think happens after you die? And if there is a God, what do you think would happen to you??

I'm an atheist. After we die, I believe our bodies decompose. We (hopefully) live on in the memories and photographs of those still living on earth. But besides that, I think we're gone. Game over. That's it.

I can't answer the second question, because I don't believe in a god, and even if I tried to answer hypothetical, it would be very difficult to predict which kind of god there is - a singular, or plural god/gods, loving god or vengeful god, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

I'm not saying anything like you're not going to Heaven or you're going to Hell or anything, but I'm curious if you understand that this is not how it works? You don't get into Heaven for having tried to be a good person -- or even for being a good person. Entry to Heaven is for those who kept the faith and lived by God's law, not "good" people.

I'm curious as to whether you understand that that is your opinion rather than objective fact. It doesn't even take an atheist to disagree with your statement.

[Anonymous]

I don't think our souls are separate from our bodies. When you die, you cease to exist. The end.

I really don't think there is a God, so I'm not concerned about what will happen to me. If I'm wrong, surely God is forgiving and won't hold my thoughts against me but will instead judge me on how I lived my life. If you consider all the beliefs of all of the people across the world, the majority of people are wrong when it comes to religion. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims can't all be "right." Is God going to punish people who believe what they believe largely based on their upbringing and culture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

I'm not saying anything like you're not going to Heaven or you're going to Hell or anything, but I'm curious if you understand that this is not how it works? You don't get into Heaven for having tried to be a good person -- or even for being a good person. Entry to Heaven is for those who kept the faith and lived by God's law, not "good" people.

I'm curious as to whether you understand that that is your opinion rather than objective fact. It doesn't even take an atheist to disagree with your statement.

+1. There is enormous disagreement on this among the religions, and even within some religions. Faith vs. Works and the role of Grace have been debated within Christianity for centuries, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

I'm not saying anything like you're not going to Heaven or you're going to Hell or anything, but I'm curious if you understand that this is not how it works? You don't get into Heaven for having tried to be a good person -- or even for being a good person. Entry to Heaven is for those who kept the faith and lived by God's law, not "good" people.

I'm curious as to whether you understand that that is your opinion rather than objective fact. It doesn't even take an atheist to disagree with your statement.

+1. You don't "know" anything. You believe that, and it's fine, but I cannot understand the arrogance that allows people to claim they "know" these things.

[Anonymous]

I think nothing happens. We are dead and that's it. That doesn't mean I wouldn't LIKE to be pleasantly surprised by my Nana greeting me and walking me into the light -- but I can't pretend I believe that just because I'd like it to be true.

If it is true I expect to be welcomed into whatever afterlife there is -- and frankly if I get there and God is the God that many Christians in the USA are yelling about these days, well then I don't suppose that we'd enjoy each others company very much so I'll take my spot in hell.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:I am an atheist. When I die, I think I am no more. That does not mean that I am not concerned about what happens to others (wife and kids, friends, etc) who survive.

If there were a God that is anything like the publicity, I will be up there in heaven for having tried to be a good person, and succeeded at least moderately well, I believe. A God that punishes us for using the brains we were provided would be a real disappointment.

Why do you think you would be granted entry to heaven after denying the very existence of the Being who grants access to heaven? Would you get a promotion at work if you spend your entire day denying his existence, insulting him, and blaming him for all of your problems? Why do you think it would be different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the same thing happens as before you are conceived, i.e. nothing.

If there is a God? To be honest, I find the idea of god as conceived by religious people to be so untenable that I don't spend any time worrying about it. But certainly I believe I have lived my life with as much integrity and generosity as most religious people.

Well, it is not about living you life with much integrity, it is about accepting his existence. The very fact that you deny Him is the biggest lack of integrity....