Views on life without religion

[louisep1311]

Hello!

I'm new to the forum but i'm currently doing a project for my product design course at university dealing with the topic of "The Matter of Life and Death". My research at the moment is based mainly around religion, concentrating on agnostic, humanist and aetheist ideas due to me being agnostic myself. If anyone is willing to give their opinions or thoughts on the topics below i'd be really greatful.
(no names will be used in my recorded research unless it is stated that you are ok with this)

Thanks a lot!

:: Life and death - Why re we born and why do we die?
:: What happens when we die?
:: Feeling lost or in need of guidance - would it be helful if there was somewhere to go or resources available to help those who dont believe in any particular religion?
:: Resources for children - should children be given more help in deciding for themselves what they believe in?

[McQ]

Howdy, and welcome! I'll give you some quick answers off the top of my head, since I'm in a time crunch right now. But this is a good thing to take some time to go over for sure.

Hello!

I'm new to the forum but i'm currently doing a project for my product design course at university dealing with the topic of "The Matter of Life and Death". My research at the moment is based mainly around religion, concentrating on agnostic, humanist and aetheist ideas due to me being agnostic myself. If anyone is willing to give their opinions or thoughts on the topics below i'd be really greatful.
(no names will be used in my recorded research unless it is stated that you are ok with this)

Thanks a lot!

OK, we'll start with the questions.

:: Life and death - Why re we born and why do we die?

I believe the is no "why" in the classical sense of "is there a higher purpose for my life and death?" Humans, like other living organism, exists because we evolved to exist. We die, because all living things die (I'm keeping this simple, so no crap about viruses or other odd things that seem to go on and on and on!)

:: What happens when we die?

We become worm dirt. No soul, no eternal life. That's it.

:: Feeling lost or in need of guidance - would it be helful if there was somewhere to go or resources available to help those who dont believe in any particular religion?

Yes, and there are, thankfully. And thanks to the internet, help is easier to find.

:: Resources for children - should children be given more help in deciding for themselves what they believe in?

That depends on what you mean. I feel that they should be given LESS indoctrination in religion and religio-mythology, and more education on comparative religions, in a secular learning environment.

[Will]

It's not why, but how we're born. Once you've acquired the how, then you subjectively arrive at the why.

When we die we reenter the cycle of life. We are ingested by decomposers, feed plant life, are ingested as plants by animals, rinse and repeat.

Children aren't old enough to decide about anything. Have you ever seen a 6 year old republican? Same thing with a 6 year old Baptist. There's no such thing. It's just a meaningless reflection of their parents.

[SteveS]

I'm game.

:: Life and death - Why re we born and why do we die?

I think biology explains this nicely.  I don't think there is any "why" in a larger sense.

:: What happens when we die?

Is this a trick question?  :wink:  When we die, we die.  Simple enough, right?

:: Feeling lost or in need of guidance - would it be helful if there was somewhere to go or resources available to help those who dont believe in any particular religion?

Meh.  I guess so.  What's wrong with the library?  Or the web?

:: Resources for children - should children be given more help in deciding for themselves what they believe in?

 You mean, instead of being told what they believe in?  I'll echo McQ's sentiments on this one: more philosophy, more comparative religion.  The simple truth is that there are different religions in the world, and the believers are all just as sure they're right.  This simple fact is, at the very least, really interesting.  Hiding this from children is pointless.