Why are the religious so afraid of death?

[naomi24]

Without the concept that by worshiping an invisible man in the sky, people can somehow avoid the inevitable, religion would be surplus to requirements.

We're all going to die eventually, we won't know anything about it, so what's the problem?

[sith123]

wow...

[RATTER15]

sith, no one has suggested you accept anything!

[sith123]

naomi said that "as we cant accept the prospect of oblivion". so i said why would we have to accpet it. clear or not?

[RATTER15]

So where did she say you have to accept? sorry if this question is a bit complicated for you!

[sith123]

ratter, i said"we" not "i". i was talking in general. ok,?

[RATTER15]

:)

[sith123]

i dont know whats funny, or cant you think of a reply?

[Zeuhl]

sith

you seem unable to accept oblivion. no one is saying you have to - just that you don't seem able to.

It's like you don't have to be able to ride a bike - but if you can't, you can't.

For some assistance in accepting oblivion - just tell me what you remember of your existence before you were born?

Or what it was like to be you before you were conceived?

Nothing? That's right, that's probably what it will be like when we die.

[sith123]

yes, but as i have said my views are that i believe in heaven and hell.i do not believe in oblivion.
and that is your view about oblivion.

[naomi24]

Sith, I didn't say you 'have' to accept the prospect of oblivion. I said you can't accept that prospect, which is why you cling to religion.

[sith123]

yes, and you cant accept heaven or hell or god, which is why you cling to atheism.

[RATTER15]

Well done Sith, you are correct :)

[Zeuhl]

Not believing in oblivion seems rather self-serving.

Is it just a coincidence that the human ego's self importance reverts instead to its creative powers and invents an 'after life'.

Just about all human societies have created such things in various forms; the christian, muslim and jewish versions are nothing new.

[sith123]

thanks for the irony ratter.

[naomi24]

Atheism carries no doctrine to 'cling' to. It doesn't offer false hope, and neither does it demand abandonment of the intellect. I am an atheist because I have examined religion and found it, demonstrably, to be false.

[sith123]

and i have examined it and believe in it.

[naomi24]

Sith, so you have examined it and discovered that the sun does indeed orbit the earth? I'd be interested to know where you got that information from.

[sith123]

read this

http://islamic-replie...olve_round_earth.html

[boxtops]

...which contradicts itself by saying that this doesn't mean that, at all. Scientific fact has also proved otherwise.

[sith123]

ok