uncontravertable proof of life after death

[spiff]

If in the future this was the case,what do you think the effect on society would be? for example: if it was proved that human individuality persisted after physical death,regardless of religious beliefs,would we all turn into hedonists,or do you think it would make the race more caring and appreciatve of each other? Discuss....

[bernardo]

It would not be possible to get incontrovertible proof of life after death anyway.  But even if it were, it wouldn't make any difference.

[spiff]

bernado- intrigued by your answer. why could there not be incontraverable proof?

[spiff]

BTW sorry for misspelling your name.

[seal!]

murder would become legal

[Dom Tuk]

The problem will be more with getting the incontravertible proof accepted. Furthermore how do we not know that the proof already exists in the public domain in one form or other. Or that someone has published proof of reincarnation that cannot be denied by any present science but still does not get accepted. So acceptance of the proof will be the major hurdle. Nevertheless i would surmise that nothing will change. Its like asking if proof that extra terrestrials exist if found will it change our daily lives. probably not. we will still work, play, drink, fight and buy presents for our partners who we will eventually leave. am i getting my threads muddled here?

[incuriam]

It would freak everyone out. The world's religions would once again suitably change stuff around so the new world order makes perfect sense. And athiests would feel pretty stupid for a while before finding something else not to believe in. (I'm an athiest and that's what I would do.) And maybe, just maybe, we'd finally spare Guy Fawkes and stop burning his effigy every damn November.

 

But hey, life after death is a reality. When the big crunch comes, all who have died will gradually reform in the ground and be dug up by their relatives. Or, if you were cremated, your body will pop back into existance in a 'ekoms fo ffup'. Moreover, this has happened countless times before. And we just happen live in an era of ignorance.

[Hippy]

Let us not forget that the absence of proof is not proof of absence.

[NetSquirrel]

Christians (as an example) already believe there is an afterlife, so perhaps people worldwide would live their lives more like how religious people today do (i.e. more ceremonies, more wars and many more strange theories about the afterlife).  Of course, if the life-after-death proof is irrefutable, many more intelligent and scientific people would become believers as well...so there might even arise a state of worldwide peace, with people finally seeing each other as equal.

Another possibility would be a vast increase in suicides and mass killings, as people rushed to be the first into the afterlife.  There would probably be wars, also, as opposing religious factions attempted to gain the favour of the god(s).  Then there would be the rest of us - the ones not so eager to live for all eternity and seeking a way to actually stop living.  Basically, if there was such a thing as an afterlife, the world would be a mess.

[El D]

why do you all assume that life after death requires a god? If it was undeniable it would certainly throw my belief system out for a while, but as its based on evidential proof then it could be incorporated and explained as any other facet of life and death. I think I personally would be extremely excited and hopeful that perhaps it would give us time to 'grow' as a species. As per everyone elses answer it would also give the loons and religious nuts plenty of firepower to cause wars/suffering/death.

[jcherbstritt]

I've read this book called life after life which is near death experiences when people come out of their bodies, see bright lights, etc.  It's an interesting book actually.  This guy went round collecting all these experiences that people have had, and most of them were positive.  I know that scientists have ways in which they argue that these are just to do with your brain shutting off etc.  Anyway, my point is that most of the people who had those experiences said that its effect on their life was really positive.  They became much more relaxed and happy, and cared alot more for their family etc. because they know longer worried about dying.  so maybe that would happen?  in which case someone should hurry up and prove life after death!!!

[jcherbstritt]

Not that I want to talk to myself, but I was thinking that the answer depends alot on what kind of life after death was discovered.  For example, the judgement view of life after death that alot of Christians and i think Muslims believe in maybe tends to make people either a. very judgemental or b. full of guilt and remorse for things they 'ought' to have done.  People who believe only Christians have a proper life after death also makes people convert other people.

So if the life after death was something positive - i.e. a heaven or nirvana of some sort, then I think people would relax more.  If it was something bad then people would become more hedonistic, and try and make this life as long as possible!

[chrisbailey]

An interesting question! I think if there was undeniable proof that both a heaven and hell existed, people would fear hell more and behave themselves on Earth... but then there's issues like homosexuality; some religions believe that homosexuals end up in hell, others preach equality for all... so even if we could prove the existance of heaven and hell, we still wouldn't know exactly how to gain entry.