Eternal Life.

[Atheist]

Before we were born we didn't exist, so time only started at our birth. Perhaps after we die we don't exist, so time would stop then. Eternal life wouldn't be eternal if life had a beginning or an end, so there isn't such a thing. Any thoughts?

[woofgang]

That's quite an egocentric view that time only starts when we are born!

the anthropic principle
http://www.chrisjoneswriting.com/terry-pratchett-quotes/science-terry-pratchett-quote8

[Theland]

Gee whizz Wolf, I never thought of that! So obvious now you mention it :-)

[vulcan42]

If it's an egocentric view that time only starts when we're born then it follows it is an egocentric view that we live for ever, which Theland believes.

[pixie374]

We know time existed before we were born, or our parents wouldn't be here. Life only exists from conception to death.

[Theland]

And some people don't believe in a lockdown, and some do.

[pixie374]

We can all see there was a lockdown. Do you mean agree with it or believe in it? And... the relevance?

[woofgang]

"If it's an egocentric view that time only starts when we're born then it follows it is an egocentric view that we live for ever, which Theland believes.'
no, it would be egocentric to believe that time ends when we die. Believing in the possiblity of eternal life as a concept is not egocentric; believing that you will be the only person who lives eternally is egocentric.

[pixie374]

Do animals get eternal life?

[woofgang]

if my dogs aren't there I am not going.

[pixie374]

Well, exactly...

[RobNorth]

It would appear that every one of your many thousands of direct descendants are still here, in your genes - if any one of them had not reproduced you wouldn't be here..ergo anyone with lots of kids is almost certain to have "life after death". When people say "he/she is the model of his/her father/mother they are supporting the fact that this is more than just an entirely new person.

[Old_Geezer]

If time is an illusion then we are all external. There is only now and it exists.

I think the premise that we don't exist before birth, is on shakey ground. Ditto with relying on not existing after death.

[pixie374]

Og, the premise that we do is even shakier. There's no evidence to suggest that at all, other than wishful thinking.
In any case, as I said, if you aren't conscious of it (what was your life like before you were conceived?). What's the difference between being alive or dead?

[iluvmargie]

They'll be there woof.

[woofgang]

"In any case, as I said, if you aren't conscious of it (what was your life like before you were conceived?). What's the difference between being alive or dead?"
again pixie that is an egocentric view....you may not be conscious of your existence but that doesn't mean that nothing is conscious of your existence.

[pixie374]

A bit like being a plant?

[Ken4155]

"Do animals get eternal life?" According to John Cleese, that parrot was definitely dead. It had, in fact, ceased to exist.

[goodlife]

If find out why we grow old and die you may be somewhere near, why we bore in the 1st place .

[TrevorThePug]

If you spend too much time looking at the before and worrying about the after, then you'll miss living the now.

That could be a quote, or I could have just made it up. Either way: genius.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, //If find out why we grow old and die you may be somewhere near, why we bore in the 1st place . //

Can't you save us the trouble and just tell us why you bore in the first place anyway?