Does Belief in an Afterlife Diminish One's Apreciation/Love of this Life?

[Sunstone]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

 

[Tumah]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

I could see it as being a more Christian thing, as they are primarily focused with their kingdom come stuff.
Judaism and Islam seems to be more focused on the here and now in terms of personal responsibility.

 

[Jedster]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

I feel very sorry for those that live thinking about their death. It is sort of like when I go out sometimes and there are scores of people looking into their mobiles.
Life is too interesting to worry about what's next.

"Live today as if it's your last, learn today as if you will live forever." (from Gandi)

 

[Deathbydefault]

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

It really depends on the religion or belief that imposes an afterlife.
Fascist religions seem keen on installing the view that this life is just a test and should be treated only as such.
Then you get pacifist religions that teach you to appreciate being alive in general.

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

It is a person to person situation, as we agree.
Personally, I don't care about life all that much.
Many atheists or non-believers or anti-spiritualists will stick to giving the life they live a greater purpose.
Others will enter depression (though they aren't nearly the majority) and will decide to end it or suffer it.

 

[LuisDantas]

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

I sure hope so. I have noticed a rather ugly correlation between lack of basic wisdom and belief in an afterlife. Here in Brazil Christians are actually less noteworth in that belief than Spiritists and a few others.

Logically, it makes sense that an afterlife belief would be harmful from a religious perspective. It leads to complacency, dissociation and secret or not-so-secret hopes that one will be "vindicated" in eternity.

In practice, the evidence supports those fears. Although I must admit that it is just as likely that it is the feebleness of character that encourages people to expect an afterlife instead.

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

Sure. It is healthy to care for what one is actually doing.

I assume that is heavily dependent on having a solid emotional and social support framework to make one fully functional, though. More disfunctional people might collapse instead and therefore need the crutch of an afterlife belief.

 

[SomeRandom]

I guess it's also how you interpret the Afterlife. I notice Christians (generally speaking) are more keen on focusing on the afterlife aspect, rather than the present. That could be because of the Kingdom of Heaven. I suppose that particular belief could encourage apathy towards living in the here and now. Not saying that that's how Christianity interprets the afterlife belief, of course.
The Dharmic approach seems to focus on living life, insofar as in order to fulfill specific duties and responsibilities in the hopes of heading towards "salvation" and by extension a good afterlife. So to speak.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

I wouldnt think so. What I do in this life affects my life here in the next. So, living well here is living well in the next. However, I focus on this life. It doesnt deminish my belief in the atfterlife but by default strengthens it the more I do here.

 

[allfoak]

Certainly if we hold an erroneous view of life, some aspect of it will be diminished as a result.

 

[Shia Islam]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

The afterlife is the reward you get for living this life rightly...So believing in the afterlife can only bring you happiness in this life...

Then you need to be realistic about what you can get from this life...It is short...It is full of problems...

One need to be realistic about what he will get out of this life..One need not to fall in the trap of false dreams and delusions..

 

[Jedster]

And if you are wrong, and there is a Hell....? or something else? That's a pretty big ''oops''.

Well I am willing to devote my time to this life and the intrinsic joy of being, rather than to the zillions of what-ifs.

 

[Desert Snake]

I wouldnt think so. What I do in this life affects my life here in the next. So, living well here is living well in the next. However, I focus on this life. It doesnt deminish my belief in the atfterlife but by default strengthens it the more I do here.

Good points///


As to the OP, Basically, the afterlife is part of what is done here, in the first place.

 

[Desert Snake]

Well I am willing to devote my time to this life and the intrinsic joy of being, rather than to the zillions of what-ifs.

If Hell has 7 levels, there isn't much intrinsic joy in that, ..is there? Your spiritual decisions are your own, ultimately, though/

 

[Jedster]

If Hell has 7 levels, there isn't much intrinsic joy in that, ..is there? Your spiritual decisions are your own, ultimately, though/

You lost me.

 

[Desert Snake]

You lost me.

Your post didn't really make sense, to me, either. I answered in a manner that /hopefully,/, could be an answer anyway, or regardless, of what you were inferring.

 

[Jedster]

Your post didn't really make sense, to me, either. I answered in a manner that /hopefully,/, could be an answer anyway, or regardless, of what you were inferring.

All I am saying is that too much concern for the 'after life' can detract from the joy of being(alive).

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

I've fluctuated quite a bit, specifically on the possibility of reincarnation. I don't think it's made much practical difference to how I live my life.
Though I have found that having a larger perspective makes the present more interesting.

 

[viole]

A friend of mine has told me that, since becoming an atheist in his early 30s, he's found an appreciation and love for life that he never had as a believer. He thinks that might be because, as a believer, he was focused on living for what he believed was the world to come, rather than this world. Which seems to me to raise a question...

Does belief in an afterlife in any way diminish one's appreciation and/or love for this life? If so, why or how? If not, why not?

Conversely, does giving up all hope and expectation of an afterlife in any way increase one's appreciation and/or love of this life? Why or why not?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've been both believers and non-believers in an afterlife. But everyone is welcome to chime in.

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

In Germany they say "Vorfreude is die beste Freude".

That means: Waiting for X (something good) makes you more happy than experiencing X.

So, I do not think that waiting for Heaven reduces happiness on earth today. However, it could disappoint you once you are actually in Heaven.

Although, I do not think anyone will be disappointed, for obvious reasons.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Erebus]

In my own view, I think it's probably an individual thing.

I'd agree with that. One person can respond to belief in an afterlife by neglecting this life, another will find the drive to make the most of it. Somebody who doesn't believe in an afterlife may cherish the fleeting moments life has to offer, another will fall into weary nihilism.

I also suspect that precisely what a person believes about the afterlife/lack thereof will have an impact. For example, if somebody believed that we're all universally damned to eternal torture (I would imagine this is a very rare position to take) I can't see how that person could be anything but depressed, even if in theory they should cherish this life.

 

[SpeaksForTheTrees]

Given the realities of this life imho only a fool would want more , a glibist maybe.

 

[psychoslice]

Yes many are living a life of despair, worrying all the time that they might do something wrong and upset their god, they long for an after life because this life they see as evil, this is so sad, there is much beauty in this world, and who really knows if all your treasured beliefs are right, after all, all they have is hope and faith, that's not good enough for me, I live my life to its fullest and have no worries about what will or what won't happen after my death, yes many cannot see the beauty because of their beliefs.