Quote:
Originally Posted by arloiginla
Anyways, I'll end the ramble and get back on topic here. I believe that when I die I will go to heaven and be with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Knowing that I have my eternal salvation secured makes living life a lot easier. Having that hope makes this life more worthwhile and I'm less likely to live it selfishly. Because if there was no life after death I'd do whatever I want on this earth - nobody else matters since we are only here a short time, may as well live it up for my own pleasure.
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If what you're saying is that you're only considerate of others because you believe in an afterlife where there will be some sort of consequences based upon your actions in this life, I would say that I don't like your reasons very much.
Frankly, although I'm an atheist, I think that people's values are real. There may be historical or genetic explanations for why people have values, but they don't really need to be justified by something like consequences in the afterlife. I try to be nice to people because I think that's a good thing to do and I'm happier living with myself when I act in that way. Being nice to people is simply something that I value, regardless of any thoughts about an afterlife.
Belief in god might require faith, but people's values are real whether you have faith in them or not.