I fear nothingness

[LuisDantas]

I'm talking about new born babies, even so environment can be the exact same, they could be loved the same and yet still act differently

Yes, they can. Of course, we have no reason to demand or expect them to act the same, now do we?

I thought buddhists believed in reincarnation?

No, we generally don't. Reincarnation would imply the negation of at least two of the three core concepts of Buddhism.

Rebirth is sometimes confused or misuderstood as reincarnation, however.

Well I believe the soul dictates their psyschological aspects, and their genetic makeup. Its all tied to their karma. Again I was talking about new born children about 2 years old or less that have been raised with the same love and parents.

You are free to believe in that, but it is still a belief, not an evidence.

Well explain to me how there have been stories of children being drawn to certain places even though they have never been or seen it.

Who knows? It is certainly rare enough and statistically insignificant enough to demand little explanation. Unless you happen to know of an exception?

There have been stories of kids describing things out of the blue about things they never heard of and knew exactly what they were talking about or the description of the place.

I've heard of that, but I don't think any of the research on the matter reached truly convincing results so far.

So you think we fall into nothingness too? What is the point of life if this is all there is?

I think I said a while ago that we don't fall into nothingness. We leave legacies that go on after we die. In that sense, and IMO in that sense alone, we live on after our deaths.

Are you an atheist or buddhist?

Yes, definitely Thanks for noticing and for asking.

But please don't expect me to go all dogmatic just because I adopted the Buddhadhamma. That would not be very respectful for that Dhamma - or for that matter, for me or for any Dhamma.

Before being a Buddhist, I am a person capable of rational thought. And therefore I reject the idea of reincarnation, as well as the thought that somehow one life "isn't enough to make sense". If one is not enough, what is the point of simply having more of same?

(Me Why there would even be a why? The world certainly doesn't much resemble a place where things happen due to such designs. It is much simpler and more elegant not to assume a purpose when there is no evidence of any.

Well considering everything in this universe is systematic it would only make sense that everyones lives and what happens after are systematic as well.

And is that so?

I actually find it very convincing considering the things I've seen and the big picture my Guru has presented before me and everyone else.

I would say it goes deeper than that. Our genetic and biological factors are tied to our souls. Anyways I think everything in this universe points to this life not being the only one. It would be very very sad indeed if it was. What a waste of such potential in all of us.

Believe as you will, as is your privilege.

I happen to agree, there IS much waste of our potential. It is one of the reasons why I value religion - and also why I find questioning it away from silly notions of paramount importance.

Ok then well you all believe what you want to. And um dont strive to be anything spiritual or good because its all going to be wasted and gone after this life anyway.

Sometimes I wonder why that argument is so often presented by reincarnationists.

Truth is, it takes a very rotten person to see appeal in such an argument.

Most of us atheists (and non-reincarnationists in general) simply are not quite that decadent.

You might as well just live evilly and altogether indulgently and blindly for it all doesn't mean anything anyway.

Why do you assume this life, and the relationships we establish in it, "don't mean anything"? That is a very silly thing to believe.

Oh yeah when your loved ones die, you will never see them again so don't get to close.

Why? Do you avoid ice cream because it is consumed by its use, as well? The same logic would seem to apply.

How sad. That goes against everything every prophet and saint has said and that has so selflessly come to this earth for our aid. Good luck to you all! God bless!

I'm afraid you have a long way to go before actually understanding religious sages in general, much less on presenting yourself as such an authority. Good luck.

 

[EverChanging]

You might as well just live evilly and altogether indulgently and blindly for it all doesn't mean anything anyway.

 

[Penumbra]

It's not a tactic it's the truth. Perspective is everything, and if you choose to ignore the beauty, truth, and signs given to you it does not mean they do not exist and is not a sign of God's presence in everthing.

I'm talking about our ignorance of our divine nature in God. It was uncovered by Jesus and he like other Avatars have been chosen by God to come back and remind all humanity that we have divinity in all of us. The mess is the ignorance in which we created that blinds us of God and truth.

But don't you see? You make claims, and state that there is evidence. When the evidence is lacking, it turns into a claim that god can't provide too much evidence because otherwise there would be no free will, and that anybody who disagrees with you is simply blind and ignorant.

There are a huge variety of religions in this world, of which yours is one. These religions make claims, and some of them contradict, and many of them contradict yours. Why should I take what you say on faith if I don't take religions that contradict yours on faith?

I don't just take claims and stories by people as evidence. If you have a claim to make, please justify it with a reason to believe it.

I have another thing to ponder if you are a doubter of life after death or reincarnation.

Why is it some children without any outer molding from a young age act differently than the next child in that same exact family? How can it be that one child has jealousy or frustrated fits all the time while the other child is happy, calm, and smiling? It is true that when we die we carry with us to the other world our personalities and desires? I think it is why we are born into certain roles and certain places. To fulfill the desires and to continue on our journey to fulfillment. The child that has fits from a young age more than likely had anger issues in their previous life before they died, while the calm, serene and happy child at a very young age shows that soul in a previous life lived optimistically, calm, and happy before his passage into the astral world. This is yet again another piece of evidence that goes against the disbelief of life after death and reincarnation.

Siblings, except identical ones, don't have the same genetics. And they are inevitably experience different things in their life.

Ok then well you all believe what you want to. And um dont strive to be anything spiritual or good because its all going to be wasted and gone after this life anyway. You might as well just live evilly and altogether indulgently and blindly for it all doesn't mean anything anyway.

Is that what you would do? Without your beliefs, you'd be evil and indulgent? I hope not, because that would be disappointing.

I see the topic of altruism in religion a lot but it seems that for some believers, as soon as the perceived reward of an afterlife is taken away, they turn to the argument that people might as well be evil because it doesn't matter.

How about doing good things without a reward, because you feel it's the right thing to do?

 

[Kriya Yogi]

I'm not conding evil actions. All I'm saying is if there is nothing at the end of this life then everyone who commits evil acts get off scott free. Its not fair is all I'm saying. I would live a good life no matter what rewards or no rewards came of it. I have compassion for every living being on this earth and quite frankly would never even think about hurting anyone. I just think it makes no sense to not have karma or reincarnation if we do everything just for the here and now. Having a spiritual goal in life is paramount and if it ends after this life then all actions toward that goal is lost seems to me ridiculous. Likewise if people live in evil ways then there is no justification for their actions if our justice system doesn't catch them. That to me is a scary thought.

 

[jarofthoughts]

I'm not conding evil actions. All I'm saying is if there is nothing at the end of this life then everyone who commits evil acts get off scott free. Its not fair is all I'm saying.

Who promised you a fair world?
Since there is no evidence that there is an afterlife of any kind that either rewards or punishes people for their moral choices we better make sure we get it as right as possible in this one.
Therefore I -do- have a problem with needless suffering. Therefore I -do- have a problem with people being unjustly imprisoned. Therefore I -do- have a problem with injustice and oppression.
Because I do not believe that it all balances out in the end.

I would live a good life no matter what rewards or no rewards came of it.

And that is the argument for why atheists are just as, if not more moral than most theists. We expect no reward in the afterlife for doing good deeds.

I just think it makes no sense to not have karma or reincarnation if we do everything just for the here and now.

It's believing things without evidence that makes no sense.

Having a spiritual goal in life is paramount and if it ends after this life then all actions toward that goal is lost seems to me ridiculous.

I live quite well and happy without a spiritual goal, so obviously it is not paramount.

Likewise if people live in evil ways then there is no justification for their actions if our justice system doesn't catch them. That to me is a scary thought.

Then we should do what we can in THIS world to make it as good as possible for everyone. At least we know this world is real (as far as we can know anything). Deal with life now and let the afterlife, should there be one, take care of itself.

 

[Kriya Yogi]

Who promised you a fair world?
Since there is no evidence that there is an afterlife of any kind that either rewards or punishes people for their moral choices we better make sure we get it as right as possible in this one.
Therefore I -do- have a problem with needless suffering. Therefore I -do- have a problem with people being unjustly imprisoned. Therefore I -do- have a problem with injustice and oppression.
Because I do not believe that it all balances out in the end.

Well you can choose to believe what you want but I see karma come back at me all the time. For every action there is a reaction. Its the way the world works, but the thing is sometimes people die to early to reap those rewards or consequences and thus it must come around next life. Its the law of justice in this universe. I know what you would say though that everyone lives with no system in this universe whatsoever and everything that happens is coincidence. I've seen my own karma come back all the time. I'm sure you would to if you paid attention. It does balance out in the end. If it didn't then there would be no justice in this world and therefore God would not be a God of justice. Go ahead and believe that serial killers get off easy though.

And that is the argument for why atheists are just as, if not more moral than most theists. We expect no reward in the afterlife for doing good deeds.

Well I commend the atheists that live morally. That is good. Unfortunately there are some atheists due to this life being the only one do whatever they want for they have the misconception of being able to get away with whatever they do. I however do not believe that actions go unnoticed by the universal law of cause and effect(karma).

It's believing things without evidence that makes no sense.

I have plenty of evidence but you call them coincidence or brain illusions. Everything that I believe and know to me makes more sense then any of you think.

I live quite well and happy without a spiritual goal, so obviously it is not paramount.

That is your choice but there is also suffering in this world and the only way to obtain supreme bliss and happiness is to find God in which you will then be above all suffering that might come your way. My Guru said the joy of God Realization is ever new joy and bliss and the joys of life in comparison are like stale cheese that could never compare.

Then we should do what we can in THIS world to make it as good as possible for everyone. At least we know this world is real (as far as we can know anything). Deal with life now and let the afterlife, should there be one, take care of itself.

I agree we should do what we can in this life to make this world as good as possible for everyone. I'm glad you at least live that way. Not all people have that mind frame so I commend you, but in my mind people are forgetting God. The one who created this life and your individuality. To forget him in my mind is the root to ignorance and suffering in this world. Don't ask me to provide proof for you, as you and you only can uncover God's existance in yourself. Noone else can do it for you.