Do you think that people would still believe in god if all the scriptures said that there was definitely NO after-life?

[Tinker]

Is the promise/threat of an after-life what makes some people behave the way they do?

Startouchedtrinity - I do agree with you. I see many churches doing much good with those in society the rest of us would prefer didn't exist. I also see Christian churches achieving the best results with their charity work in the third world and developing world because they work in partnership with the local people.

My gripe is when I am told I cannot think for myself. Of course my interpretaion of scripture is just as valid as anyone else's.

Oh absolutley. I did too much thinking for myself and found I didn't believe any more - specifically, in the words of the Nicene Creed. Despite what certain radical theologians might say, you can't be a Christian if you don't believe in the divinity of Christ. No-one told me I had to leave,it just didn't do anything for me any more. IME the CofE is pretty tolerant of those who think, 'Lord, I believe, help my unbelief', although that might be changing.

I think a lot of people believe in 'something else' and would do that whether or not any religious books said they should or not.

When life is good, it's certainly possible to really enjoy it and not be too concerned about anything else, really. But when it's not, that's when ideas about an afterlife come into play - to see justice done, or to find comfort in loss.

I think there are plenty of non-believers on here who have suffered greatly and don't feel the need for an afterlife. And when my friends lost their ds it they really did think about it and came to the conclusion that there is no god.

Yes, well I didn't say you automatically believe in an afterlife if you suffer. I'm just saying that a belief in an afterlife doesn't neccessarily rest on a Holy Book of any particular description. There are pragmatic reasons to think that way for some people.

So Startouchedtrinity I know it wasn't you who mentioned it but do you think your interest in Taoism/Buddhism has something to do with justice? Karma, whether this life or the next life delivers a kind of justice. I know it isn't a moral law, more a natural law which relates to moral actions but it does seem kind of fair.

No, it's about living in the moment, in this life. I'm a pretty anxious person and since becoming interested in the teachings of the Tao - how all we have is the present - I've become a lot more peaceful, I'm letting go. I'm also looking within myself to find whatever it is I need rather than to something outside of myself. As for karma/reincarnation, who knows? As I said, I believe in nothing more than the hope of an afterlife and I think if it exists then it will be a peaceful one. But until I'm dead I won't know.

Just read my comment back and it sounds a bit tetchy, sorry about that, not meant at all.

You didn't sound tetchy SueBaroo.

Nothing to apologise for

Kerry - had a bit of rough couple of months, new anti-depressants helping out. I'm ok, though Trying to find a bit of confidence again, and as you see, not doing too well, apologizing when I hadn't actually got anyones back up. [rolling eyes emoticon]

Sue, I do that too, pick apart what I've said and dwell on it - in RL I agonise about conversations for days!