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Original poster

Does anyone else think an afterlife sounds awful?

135 replies

wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:19

I do. If after I die I find a wake up to an afterlife, I will be seriously pissed. I went to an evangelical church for a little bit many years ago, and knew it was not for me when the preacher said, ' why are you worried about what is going on?! (in the news) when we have ETERNITY!' And I thought, ' that sounds AWFUL. So I decided christanity wasn't for me as I just don't want their big payoff. It doesn't matter what the afterlife is like, I just don't want it.

I actively like the idea of life being time limited. You are here and then you aren't, and that suits me.

Anyone else think the same?

OP posts:
Galassia · 21/08/2021 14:24

No. In my afterlife I will be reunited with those that I love who have died including all my pets, my grandparents and one of my boyfriends who died at a young age.

There will also be free ice cream and cheese.

BabyRace · 21/08/2021 14:25

I agree. The payoff for living a good life is to not have to do it anymore.

Brollypackedforscottishholiday · 21/08/2021 14:26

Imo the afterlife is like a static caravan..
Change of scene with the possibility of having people around you that you don't like!!

Interested in this thread?

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Philosophy & religion
FortVictoria · 21/08/2021 14:29

@Galassia

No. In my afterlife I will be reunited with those that I love who have died including all my pets, my grandparents and one of my boyfriends who died at a young age.

There will also be free ice cream and cheese.

Love that you mention the ice cream and cheese! But spirits have no bodies, ergo no taste buds, so ice cream and cheese will be pointless :(
DaisyDozyDee · 21/08/2021 14:30

Some people find the idea comforting, but I agree with your OP. I also think belief in the afterlife can be a pretty damaging philosophy used to justify not improving the lives and opportunities of people now.

Daydrambeliever · 21/08/2021 14:31

I agree. My mum believes in spirits that hang around dishing out inane advise via psychics and who follow her about ”looking out for her”. I can't imagine anything worse than hovering about my children watching shit things happen to them and being unable to do anything about it. I'd be alright with reincarnation as long as it was guaranteed your next life was better than your last.

LublinToDublin · 21/08/2021 14:32

The thought of reincarnation is even worse!!

Rubyupbeat · 21/08/2021 14:32

I hope there is an afterlife, to see my mum and dad again would be amazing, plus my nans and grandad. To live there in peace sounds wonderful.

Original poster
wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:33

I think for me I have never had that ' wow I am alive, how amazing!'' feeling that other people have. I mean I am active and do a lot of different things, but, until I had kids, I genuinely think I would not have been that bothered if I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I am quite comfortable with the idea that my life will end. I don't have a bucket list, and I don't see the point in having one. I am here and then I won't be and that's ok.

OP posts:
TheFnozwhowasmirage · 21/08/2021 14:34

How does it work,in the afterlife in the case of someone who loved you,but you didn't want anything to do with them? Who gets the afterlife that they want?

StarryStarrySocks · 21/08/2021 14:34

I'm torn. On one hand, I'd quite like to haunt some people. But on the other hand, haunting sounds exhausting, I'd rather just be dust.

Original poster
wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:35

@LublinToDublin

The thought of reincarnation is even worse!!
God, I agree!
OP posts:
sleepyhead · 21/08/2021 14:35

The Good Place was a really interesting take on this.

Won't give any spoilers but it's worth a watch all the way to the end!

(Agree op, I get the appeal of seeing your loved ones again and staving off the human fear of oblivion, but when you think about the reality of eternal life you'd surely go mad!)

Tocktock · 21/08/2021 14:36

I was thinking this the other day. You can have too much of a good thing. Are we all going into the ever-after complete with our personalities? Because if so, it will feel like a big long family holiday that you can't get out of. And what of the people we loved in this life but didn't make it to the next. Will we forget they existed?
What about if your first spouse died and went to heaven, then you married again, and were equally loving/loved in both?
I often think of these complications and wonder how it would work in practice.

Strafficy · 21/08/2021 14:36

Exactly. What happens if you remarry. Do you end up with dead 1st husband and then 2nd husband too? How is that their paradise

It’s inane fairy tails to make society cope with the ridiculousness of us flying around space on a huge bit of rock. It’s mental and we cope by telling ourselves there’s some kind of paradise afterwards. No thank you. I don’t want to be stuck anywhere for eternity

Original poster
wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:37

@TheFnozwhowasmirage

How does it work,in the afterlife in the case of someone who loved you,but you didn't want anything to do with them? Who gets the afterlife that they want?
Interesting question! My life turned to shit a few years ago, but it has worked out well for my new neighbour who I am able to help a lot now. She is a Christian. I do sometimes think, did she pray that when she moved there would be someone to help her, and does that mean God made my life turn to shit to answer her prayers? Grin Interesting theological question!
OP posts:
TheQueef · 21/08/2021 14:38

Just imagine the crowds.
No ta.

Hen2018 · 21/08/2021 14:38

Life long atheist but yes, it sounds appalling.

What if I’d died happily married then bumped into an ex boyfriend?

How do you avoid the people you didn’t like much in life?

Tocktock · 21/08/2021 14:43

@wednesdayweather

I think for me I have never had that ' wow I am alive, how amazing!'' feeling that other people have. I mean I am active and do a lot of different things, but, until I had kids, I genuinely think I would not have been that bothered if I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I am quite comfortable with the idea that my life will end. I don't have a bucket list, and I don't see the point in having one. I am here and then I won't be and that's ok.
My sentiments exactly
TowandaForever · 21/08/2021 14:43

I think the idea of a Christian afterlife of worshiping at gods feet sounds awful. How would want to do that forever and what kind god needs people to do that?

Original poster
wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:44

How do you avoid the people you didn’t like much in life?

I remember chatting to quite a recently converted young Christian, who looked around the church congregation, turned to me anxiously and said, ' I have to be with these people for ETERNITY'. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
wednesdayweather · 21/08/2021 14:46

@TockTock glad you feel the same. Some people have looked at me with appalled incomprehension when I have said that in RL. No-one has ever really agreed!

OP posts:
Tocktock · 21/08/2021 14:49

So much what you are all saying. I want to have a faith and I do live in hope of the coming of Jesus, and God clearing up the mess we've made and all that. But it's more hope than faith, if I'm honest, and I've broken most of the commandments and get confused with born again Christians saying you just have to believe in Jesus and you'll be forgiven anything, when the OT is full of fire and brimstone. I'd prefer oblivion to Hell, and I can't work out the logistics of eternal life.

Tocktock · 21/08/2021 14:50

@wednesdayweather

How do you avoid the people you didn’t like much in life?

I remember chatting to quite a recently converted young Christian, who looked around the church congregation, turned to me anxiously and said, ' I have to be with these people for ETERNITY'. Grin

That's hilarious, and sums it up quite nicely 🤣
JorisBonson · 21/08/2021 14:50

Highly recommended The Good Place off the back of this thread!