The terrifying thought of no afterlife

[DropLogic]

Maybe there is something wired wrong in my brain because the exact thought patterns is thus:

#1. It's not okay to die.
#2. I will die.
#3. The afterlife probably does not exist.
#4. I will experience nothing, like sleep, without dreams.
#5. The remains of my body will decay and do gross things (if not cremated)
#6. Since this is the outcome of all life, life itself has no true meaning.
#7. Life should not exist.
#8. Find a way to destroy all life.

I would be interested to see what a psychologist thought of this thought pattern, if it is typical, or if it is a major problem and if they think it is directly related to a chemical imbalance within the brain.

Everything in that list seems sensible except for 7 and 8.
I think you're making incorrect connections.  Just because there isn't an answer to the meaning of life doesn't mean it shouldn't exist.  Since we can ponder our surroundings, our lives have meaning.
I think the proper approach is: I exist...now what do I do with it?

[WillyBeamish]

I like the way you agree with 1-6 and get what I mean logic.... but in my mind I go right down the line and 7 and 8 pop right in just as strong if not ludicrously strong and powerful emotions which erupt as a result of my thought process which follows said listing. It's definitely raw emotion and an urge to lash out, but I can't really explain why I go that way. I don't even wish to change it really. I just wondered why that is my reaction.

I want to repost the list and attempt to pick facts vs opinions out, I think that may help.

#1. It's not okay to die.   (Opinion)
#2. I will die.  (Fact)
#3. The afterlife probably does not exist.  (Opinion)
#4. I will experience nothing, like sleep, without dreams.  (Opinion)
#5. The remains of my body will decay and do gross things (if not cremated) (Fact)
#6. Since this is the outcome of all life, life itself has no true meaning.  (Opinion)
#7. Life should not exist.  (Opinion)
#8. Find a way to destroy all life.  (Opinion)

Ironically, even if most would agree with 1-6, the reality is in my entire thought process only TWO of the statements are actual FACTS. The ones listed as opinions might be facts, but without 100% certainty they must be listed as opinions.

[DropLogic]

I like the way you agree with 1-6 and get what I mean logic.... but in my mind I go right down the line and 7 and 8 pop right in just as strong if not ludicrously strong and powerful emotions which erupt as a result of my thought process which follows said listing. It's definitely raw emotion and an urge to lash out, but I can't really explain why I go that way. I don't even wish to change it really. I just wondered why that is my reaction.

I want to repost the list and attempt to pick facts vs opinions out, I think that may help.

#1. It's not okay to die.   (Opinion)
#2. I will die.  (Fact)
#3. The afterlife probably does not exist.  (Opinion)
#4. I will experience nothing, like sleep, without dreams.  (Opinion)
#5. The remains of my body will decay and do gross things (if not cremated) (Fact)
#6. Since this is the outcome of all life, life itself has no true meaning.  (Opinion)
#7. Life should not exist.  (Opinion)
#8. Find a way to destroy all life.  (Opinion)

Ironically, even if most would agree with 1-6, the reality is in my entire thought process only TWO of the statements are actual FACTS. The ones listed as opinions might be facts, but without 100% certainty they must be listed as opinions.

I think it would be wise to speak with a professional about your inner turmoil.  I think most would agree with me on that point.
I think every person should talk to a professional actually.  Talking to one helped me to realize the negative impact my mother had on my upbringing.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't see that dying robs life of meaning, any more than a period robs a sentence of its meaning.  Meaning is what you put into it while you're alive.

[Cycel]

My question is.... do you believe us atheists/non-believers in the afterlife are more likely to be scared of the eternal nothingness after death, because we know that's what's gonna happen to us? I've never really been scared of the thought cus I know I won't be aware at the time, but it's just the thought of being dead forever, after you die, that gets me a lil! And when you see it that way, you can really see why people find comfort in believing in an afterlife.

I rather like Woody Allen's comment: “I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens.”

For myself the dying part is what I am personally concerned about, so I am with Woody Allen on that count.  Death, itself, is not something I ever worry about.  In one small study it was found that "very religious people fear death the least... [and] total unbelievers take second place for ability to take their mortality in stride. The worst death anxieties haunt those who lie somewhere in between those extremesâ€"who are a little religious" (see: http://www.world-science.net/exclusives ... earfrm.htm). In a different study I read that Roman Catholics had quite a fear of dying.

As an atheist I have absolutely no fear of death.  There is no afterlife, in my estimation, to concern myself with.  I agree with the sentiment of those who earlier posted Mark Twain's comment: "I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it."  I think you would do well to keep this quote in mind.  

[Cycel]

Sometimes I fear death, not that there's nothing. But the mere fact that I'll never see the people I love again. I've lost loved ones, yet believe there to b nothing after death. Then again, thinking about dying makes that reality all the more real. I usually suppress these fears and focus on the fear that I'll lose more loved ones along the way. That's the greatest fear of all, I'd say.

Usually, I try to focus on not dying though.  

I once asked my elderly grandmother, if she could be younger what age she would choose.  Her reply surprised me.  She wouldn't want to be any younger as she wouldn't want to watch her loved ones die all over again.  I know a fellow in his early 60s.  He's an evangelical Christian and he seems genuinely to be looking forward to his own death.  He claims he wants to see his deceased loved ones again.  I wonder now if my grandmother ever harboured such thoughts?

It would be nice to see my deceased family members again.  I just know it's not going to happen.  That's life.  Death I don't dwell on.

[Cycel]

I don't see that dying robs life of meaning, any more than a period robs a sentence of its meaning.

Can I quote you on that?  

[Cycel]

Maybe there is something wired wrong in my brain because the exact thought patterns is thus:

#1. It's not okay to die.
#2. I will die.
#3. The afterlife probably does not exist.
#4. I will experience nothing, like sleep, without dreams.
#5. The remains of my body will decay and do gross things (if not cremated)
#6. Since this is the outcome of all life, life itself has no true meaning.
#7. Life should not exist.
#8. Find a way to destroy all life.

I would be interested to see what a psychologist thought of this thought pattern, if it is typical, or if it is a major problem and if they think it is directly related to a chemical imbalance within the brain.

Hey!  I use to Play Willy Beamish.  I loved it!

Willy, it seems that #1 and #2 are contradictory; and what do you mean by find a way to destroy all life?  Why would you want to do that?  Life has the potential to be quite wonderful, if we have the means of enjoying it.  If may be that you are suffering depression.  I've been there.  You might want to speak to a family doctor, if this is the case.

Why should life not exist?  Do you mean by this that you think life was only a fluke in the first place?

I agree that life has no true meaning, not in the cosmic sense, anyway; but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our time here.

[Asmodean]

The person who stated that life has "no true meaning", could you please clearly define true meaning? Are you talking about a specific scale here? Personal? Planetary? Galactic? Universal?

Why do you feel life needs a meaning on any of those scales in order to justify its existence? Why do you feel life has to justify its existence?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't see that dying robs life of meaning, any more than a period robs a sentence of its meaning.

Can I quote you on that?  

Have at it!

[SomewhereInND]

I would have a fear of an eternal afterlife.
What exactly are you going to do forever?

[Achronos]

As a Christian, if the afterlife does not exist then I would be fine because all my thoughts and memories would be 'erased'. What if there was an afterlife though and you could not enter because you rejected God? While my argument is weak to purport that I am fine believing in God and finding out nothing exists after life, but I will say it's better than not believing in God and finding out He does exist.

My issue would be I couldn't reference any good excuse to not believe God existed. Maybe I can ask the guy behind me for an excuse.

Furthermore is it selfish of me to say that I kind of like the idea that I could live for eternity?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Pascal's Wager doesn't cut any ice with me.  What if you've got the wrong god?

[Achronos]

One of the things I had against Dawkin's argument on Pascal's Wager is that he asserts, correct me if I am wrong, that one who lived a life believing in God would be a waste of time versus one that rejects a God leading to a more fuller life. One can easily believe in a God, not to delve deeper into the idea, but still live a full life as one who rejects the existence of God.

Now you say what if I have the wrong God, but we have to discuss the very definition of a God. I'll use Webster's dictionary for this:
1: capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind
2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
3: a person or thing of supreme value
4: a powerful ruler

So if a 'God' were to exist, it must be a being that is perfect in power, wisdom and goodness. So if this 'God' is one of goodness would he reject his creation? But surely there must be justification between 'goodness' and 'badness'; surely a just separation must be made. What justice would it be then for someone such as Hitler or Stalin enter into the gates of Heaven, with no account for the events they caused on Earth? Doesn't that go against the very 'goodness' of God?

[ElizabethPeart]

Speaking as someone who only recently became a non-believer in the afterlife, this subject was possibly one of the hardest for me to deal with. The very thought of simply being here one day and then not being here the next scared the hell out of me. But I've come to the conclusion that it is the memories of others of my life which are more important.....as per the Terry Prachett quote: A man is not dead so long as

@Thumpalumpacus: This is precisely the major issue with Pascal's Wager. It's not even a particularly good argument for God's existence and even if it were, it does not put forward a case for any specific version of God, and especially the Christian god for which it is supposed to prove, or at least back-up.