In historical support of this we see that all through
>history all over the world very few people have ever simply refused to
>believe that they are are really going to die. Most members of the
>human race have and do believe in some sort of afterlife. Even
>agnostics and atheists usually use some sort of weasel words like "I
>don't think anyone can tell." (I myself am among the minority who
>realizes exactly what happens to us when we die.)
>
>
Historically a lot of folk have sought justification for believing what
they find comforting in the face of an overwhelming suspicion that they're
wrong. Otherwise those you cite wouldn't waste their time on the topic.
I don't know most members of the human race well enough to know their views
in any depth. Whole societies have been based on atheism, however, which
means that at least a portion of the human race must truly be atheists. By
an odd chance almost without exception everyone I know, family included, is
an atheist, and I never heard a one of them say "I don't think anyone can
tell."
Food for worms, John, food for worms. Or so it seems to me and mine.
How it ends is in any case less important than how one conducts oneself.
The founder of the Shakers put it something like this (and I'm sure someone
on the list will correct me with a proper quote): "Do each thing as if this
were your last day and as if you were going to live forever."
My blessing.
Mark
|