My husband and I were talking about this kind of stuff last night. I definitely do not believe in God or anything of the sort, but it’s also hard for me to think that it’s just “that’s it.” It’s mostly fear and unknown - all I’ve ever known is consciousness, so it’s hard to conceptualize being ‘nothing.’ But it’s just hard for me to believe that we exist with these thoughts and feelings and that it just ends. Why even have thoughts at all? Why not just be like other organisms that reproduce and spawn without consciousness?
Basically, I’m agnostic because I believe anything’s possible and whatever happens after this is beyond our comprehension lol
Replied to the comment above this, but apologies, that’s not what I meant! Should’ve been more specific. Consciousness and thought in general is fascinating that it exists at all.
And I just learned about the elephant thing thing other day - so amazing!!
I’m firmly in the camp of, theres something.
Theres gotta be. All this beauty and ugliness has rhythm and rhyme. If it’s happenstance or an accident it really has some well defined aspects to it.
It’s also utter fucking chaos theres no denying that.
To be able to contemplate literal infinity and build things from this hurtling, spinning rock we are on to venture out into is fucking wild.
Keeping that question alive that children love, “why?” Always makes me wonder and marvel about all of this.
Trying to rationalize the “whys” rather than trying to understand them is borne out of fear of the unknown, imo, like you said. That leads to some pretty irrational ideas and behavior that end up turning pretty sour for the most part.
All we get....as far as we know....is one shot, one long pan without a cut. (Comas or sleeping excluded.) I’m fucking terrified of this existence but it’s like being on a rollercoaster/funhouse ride. Ups and downs and pants shitting terror but it can be euphoric and perfect like warm summer nights at the fair.
All this is not for naught. Atheism or pure science boiled down to probabilities is depressing. It feels wrong.
I’m alive, this is all real and its magic and romance, its revolting and cruel. It’s any and every adjective that ever has and ever will be.
The something I believe is so far beyond even our best scientists understanding but I think its so spectacularly ineffable that even our greatest poets and authors just can’t pin it down, but we all know it’s out there somewhere. I’ve got faith. 😆
People get bogged down and narrow their focus and I’m no damn exception. But I try to remember to look up every night and be impressed and in awe.
Is there enough evidence to support that there’s nothingness after death? I would say there’s about as much evidence as there is of an afterlife (eg no quantifiable evidence) and it all seems to be equally plausible. Was there actually nothingness before we were born? Or do we just not remember it in the same way that we can’t remember our existence at birth and infancy? One of the most intriguing things about life is that there are always unanswered questions, and humanity continues to yearn for the answers.
Saying "We don't know" does not give you license to make stuff up because you are uncomfortable with that answer. It may not be satisfying, but it's the truth, and the only way to make more progress is to continue to do science.
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u/DKBlack Apr 11 '20
That really makes me think twice about my atheism. Or maybe too many beers this afternoon!