Death is the end

My suspicious nerves begin to tingle when I see a devout atheist asking this question. Indeed, it tingles even more when the question is posed as a definitive statement: "Death is the end". Looks more like a challenge to the believers to me.

So I'd like to share what I feel and also comment on some of the reactions I've had from atheists and sceptics.

I have a fear of death. It is sometimes very debilitating, causing panic attacks if I dwell on the thought for too long. Yet I'm a proponent who, on balance, thinks the evidence for an afterlife is pretty good despite the concerted efforts of debunkers who seem to be increasingly grasping at straws to discredit that evidence. The responses I have had from atheists in my social arena have generally followed a similar theme: most (though not all) will deny any similar fear of death and I will usually get some kind of condescending remark suggesting that my fear of death is what makes me believe in all this afterlife nonsense. These remarks are often backed up by those they consider to be the most wise and intelligent people on the planet:


So - there are two assumptions being made here: one that I'm looking for comfort and two, that the evidence for the afterlife can be so easily dismissed as a fairy tale. My answer is that, yes, I do look for comfort but no, I don't blindly accept the evidence. In fact I am at pains to be sceptical without being dismissive. Shoddy evidence, bogus mediums or blind religious faith are of no comfort to me at all. I join forums like this to be exposed to the best of evidence with appropriate critical discussion of that evidence. By appropriate, I don't include RationalWiki style blanket denial.


Lastly, I'm yet to be convinced that atheists who present that kind of hard-line nihilistic worldview actually believe what they are preaching. It seems to me so cold and pointless yet I have people who are close to me and espouse those views and yet live their lives as though their lives have ultimate meaning; that love is more than mere brain chemicals and that altruism is "better for the soul" than personal gain and selfish goals. Some of the kindest people I know are atheists.

Kamarling- Just curious. Have you read any books on the subject of evidence of the continuation of consciousness? There are many out there, and several are packed with evidence that is hard to refute. For me personally, I found the most compelling evidence to start with, was that associated with reincarnation.