Death—Is It Really the End?

[Elderman]

“Life After Death.” Interviews of scores of people who were over 50 years of age revealed that “nearly three quarters (73 percent) agree with the statement ‘I believe in life after death.’” On the other hand, the magazine reported that nearly one quarter agreed with the statement “I believe that when I die, that’s the end.” But is that what people really want to believe?

[Meg888]

Yes, if that's what they want to believe.....

[craft1948]

I believe in life after death, but not life as we know it...........

[jackthehat]

Which one?

[jno]

the good news for the 73 percent is if they are wrong, they'll never know.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't know. The question posed was what did they believe, not what did they want to believe. Does what hey want make a lot of difference ? One has to accept whatever comes.

[sandyRoe]

It's not the end. We cast off our tired old bodies and go to live with God in Heaven.

[Kassee]

I find people that believe "when I die, that's the end" tend to me greedy self-centred people who are only interested in getting the most out of life for themselves, often at the expense of others. Rather like my ex-husband - that's just what he believed.

Then there is the educated other sort of non-believer that looks down their nose at anything to do with any religion - this sort seem to believe they are "God" themselves, or certainly superior beings, well too educated for all that c...p.

[andy-hughes]

Kassee - there is the third type - people who just don't believe there is life after death, but not because they are in any way more educated, or dismiss religion, it's simply that they choose not to believe in an after-life.

You will find the majority of the 'non-believers' on here fall into this catagory, rather than the two you suggest.

[Elderman]

Yes,believed what they wanted and made it seem as though they were worshiping God. Since they had turned to their own thoughts, God could say through his prophet: “The thoughts of you people are not my thoughts, nor are my ways your ways.” (Isaiah 55:6-8) They glorified God with their lips but had removed their hearts from him. (Isaiah 29:13) And when God sent them warnings by his prophets, they replied: ‘You must not see, and you must not envision for us any straightforward things. Speak to us smooth things; envision deceptive things.’ (Isaiah 30:9-11) They would hear only what they wanted, the same today .

[jackthehat]

What did the remaining 3- 4 % say they believed?

[Old_Geezer]

Better by far to turn to your own thoughts than to cling to the thoughts of those who claim divine inspiration, but have no evidence to offer. Be true to your own beliefs; be wary of having a need to adopt another's in desperation.

[grasscarp]

The 3 to 4% probably told the interviewer where to go!

[naomi24]

//Death—Is It Really the End?//

I don't know, and neither does anyone else, including you.

[Elderman]

Well yes, but today the trend of this world is to seek independent thinking as the ideal goal, but even as the unrealistic thinking of a scientist who tries to ignore the law of gravity is doomed to failure, so also is the unrealistic thinking of those who try to ignore the fact of man’s dependence on God.

[MarkRae]

> the unrealistic thinking of a scientist who tries to ignore the law of gravity

ROTFLMAO! I know what you mean. I've had to stop my subscription to Scientific American - it was just getting too full of articles ignoring the law of gravity...

[jackthehat]

Who are these scientists who have decided to ignore the law of gravity?

[Old_Geezer]

Gravity can be demonstrated. Man's dependence on a God can not be. So the comparison fails.

[rowanwitch]

Should that not be who are these floating scientists?

[sandyRoe]

I believe that Elderman is quite brave coming in here, armed with nothing but his faith, and pitting his puny wits against the massed ranks of agnosticism.
Well done, sir.

[naomi24]

Elderman, you really do talk twaddle.