Discussion Is there any way for an atheist to believe in an afterlife just in order to CTB?

[Aknu132]

I can't conceive that almost my entire life has been a misfortune and that I'll never have a good life, due to physical and mental health reasons and because of the environment. I'll have to die. The issue here is that it's so difficult to accept this, to accept that I'll never have the life I've always wanted. I desire it so much, but at the same time I can't have anything, nothing is within my reach. I try to force my brain to believe in some kind of afterlife so that it will be easier for me to finally achieve death, but it seems impossible. I'm quite an atheist, although I wish I wasn't. I want to have the feeling that I'll have the life I've always wanted after death. Is there any remedy, something, a way to achieve this?

 

[peacebenow]

I think using your imagination to believe in whatever brings you the most peace such as telling yourself a story is lovely thing to do.

 

[OnMyLast Legs]

I used to think eternal oblivion wasn't scary, only hell was scary.

Then I became suicidal as an atheist and thought whoa, nothing forever...I don't think I'm ready for that.

Then when non-suicidal I went back to believing in heaven and hell anyway.

 

[bl33ding_heart]

You don't have to believe in god to believe in an afterlife, if that's something making it difficult for you.

 

[Cauliflour]

Philosophy is complex anyway. Just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you have to believe in the "and then nothing" afterlife theory cause really, nobody knows what happens when we die. Let your imagination go wild, might as well.

 

[DeadnDusted]

That's something ive been thinking about the past few days too. I know it's just a coping mechanism but to alleviate the fact that it's all shit and going to cut to nothingness I simply decided to believe in the possibility of an afterlife where I get the life ive always wanted, in my opinion thats better than spending my last breaths agonizing and cursing at world.

 

[ZeroRedz02]

It's nothing to have with death itself, but when i was in pharmalogically coma, i did dream weird things and they was looking so realistic like i was there..

 

[v0wkeeper]

being an atheist doesn't mean you can't believe in an afterlife. after all no one of us know if there's an afterlife, especially if it's a good one.

 

[iwanttodie019]

I can't conceive that almost my entire life has been a misfortune and that I'll never have a good life, due to physical and mental health reasons and because of the environment. I'll have to die. The issue here is that it's so difficult to accept this, to accept that I'll never have the life I've always wanted. I desire it so much, but at the same time I can't have anything, nothing is within my reach. I try to force my brain to believe in some kind of afterlife so that it will be easier for me to finally achieve death, but it seems impossible. I'm quite an atheist, although I wish I wasn't. I want to have the feeling that I'll have the life I've always wanted after death. Is there any remedy, something, a way to achieve this?

I am also an atheist and i wish i wasn't.Ignorance is bliss.But beliefs don't work that way.
How old are you?

 

[underairpressure]

Been thinking of a similar thing, I'm not an "atheist" exactly (in the "no one knows and can never know until we're gone" camp), but the uncertainty is enough to cause extreme hesitance, pain, and terror for me. Even when I know I can never have a happy life. I can "imagine" any afterlife I want, but it does nothing for the uncertainty. And I want there to be something, ANYTHING, so badly

I wish I could convince myself there was something, and I mean ACTUALLY believe it, even just to soothe my pain and fear. I know there's nothing to look forward to for me here, but the idea that there won't even be solace or peace after this horrible life is finally over........ it hurts

 

[Zyntkalla]

I am an atheist but I didn't believe in an gods but I like to believe in reincarnation. Anyway I don't like the idea of heven & hell it more whether it's ether one it's more the eternity part is unfair & unjustified. At least with reincarnation you can have a chance to have a better life. I can say I do like some of the old stories about the gods though.

 

[Spite]

I've been having very similar thoughts lately. I've never been religious but the thought of eternal oblivion - total nothingness - does scare me sometimes, so does the thought of being banished to Hell after I die.

I think this is just out of sheer desperation and I'm on some nuclear-grade Copium, but sometimes in my head I like to imagine that when I die, all my hardships, all the pain and struggling and agony I had to go through while I was alive, will all be worth it in the end. I like to imagine there is an afterlife waiting for me (and everyone, really), and in this afterlife it is blissful and perfect in every way. I can be happy and have all the joy and fulfilment that I wasn't able to have while I was alive.

What I envision in my head is like an entirely different dimension, a new realm way different from Earth. I imagine this utopic afterlife as a place that is like one of those 'Frutiger Aero' pictures you may see on the Internet, like, large fields of deep green grass with futuristic skyscrapers in the background and bubbles in the sky. This realm has a day and night cycle - in the day it's like Frutiger Aero, and at night, it's like the 'Astrum' world from Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble - and I can dance on dark cosmic purple glass platforms and immerse myself in all the pretty lights all around me, and awe at the beautiful star-lit night sky. I will never have to worry about having to work a 9-to-5, I will be surrounded by all the people I love, everything will be positive all the time - there is no such thing as pain and suffering in this afterlife. I want it to be real...

Sorry if I got a bit carried away in the spoiler there. ^^;

 

[ZwartHartje]

I can't believe that this incarceration in a human body should be the only kind of existence I'll ever have. I've looked a lot into NDEs, and it seems that I'm right...
I recommend having a look at this site: https://www.nderf.org/

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

No need to believe in god to believe in the possibility of an afterlife, they don't necessarily have to be connected.

 

[Dandelion's]

No need to believe in god to believe in the possibility of an afterlife, they don't necessarily have to be connected.

I think many people do tend to forget atheism means not believing in a god. You could still believe there's an afterlife or divine power even just not a creator.

 

[telekon]

really? you'd be surprised how scary suicide is when you're not an atheist.

hilarious how I'd like to change places with you for the exact same reason. the only reason I don't kill myself is because I believe in the possibility of afterlife, and what that could mean in a negative sense if I were to die early.