Comments on: Designing the Afterlife http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:43:48 +0000 By: Laura http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-41936 Laura Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:42:05 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-41936 To Ian B. Gibson, who said: "For justice to be done, I would suggest that god be send to hell, simply for creating creatures capable of eternal damnation. God didn't stop there, of course; he drew up an arbitrary list of prohibited actions, knowing full well their considerable overlap with the impulses and failings he had incorporated into his chosen people." I absolutely agree with the concept, except I don't think we should blame "God" for drawing up "an arbitrary list of prohibited actions"--cause I don't think "God" wrote the Bible; humans did. And you know how humans love torturing other humans! I could never believe in a God like the one in the Old Testament, who could be less forgiving of the "sins" of his created beings than I myself would be...and me, just a mere human! To Ian B. Gibson, who said:

"For justice to be done, I would suggest that god be send to hell, simply for creating creatures capable of eternal damnation. God didn't stop there, of course; he drew up an arbitrary list of prohibited actions, knowing full well their considerable overlap with the impulses and failings he had incorporated into his chosen people."

I absolutely agree with the concept, except I don't think we should blame "God" for drawing up "an arbitrary list of prohibited actions"--cause I don't think "God" wrote the Bible; humans did. And you know how humans love torturing other humans! I could never believe in a God like the one in the Old Testament, who could be less forgiving of the "sins" of his created beings than I myself would be...and me, just a mere human!

]]> By: Brad http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-41558 Brad Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:53:30 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-41558 There are two time paradoxes in this Heaven. First, all people go to Heaven at the same time, and people can be reincarnated, so my pre-reincarnate self would meet my post-incarnate self at Heaven's gates. Second, all people created in private realities go to Heaven too, so those people meet their makers before their makers even decide to make them. Also, I think psychopaths would be condemned to eternal purgatory, because it is impossible for them to feel "sincere apology." There are two time paradoxes in this Heaven. First, all people go to Heaven at the same time, and people can be reincarnated, so my pre-reincarnate self would meet my post-incarnate self at Heaven's gates. Second, all people created in private realities go to Heaven too, so those people meet their makers before their makers even decide to make them.

Also, I think psychopaths would be condemned to eternal purgatory, because it is impossible for them to feel "sincere apology."

]]> By: Paul A http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-25909 Paul A Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:31:24 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-25909 Hmm, seems this old post has a new lease of life. Interesting read but there's one tiny point I have to question. If everyone is moved to the "entrance time of heaven" then that will require the supreme being to know when everyone will be finished in purgatory. This advance knowledge implies it will know how long every given person spends there and therefore it will know IN ADVANCE all the misdeeds which this person will perform. This in turn implies that we have no freedom and that therefore the supposedly just system is nothing of the sort. We were predestined by the head honcho to commit our misdeeds but are being punished for them regardless. Dunno if anyone brought that up previously (doesn't look like it) but it's an interesting point. Seeing as we're dealing with a fantasy situation we can just employ the usual handwaving and invoke concepts like heaven existing outside time and all that sort of thing. It's just that your formulation seems to imply some kind of traditional temporal order to things. Fun read though. Another thing - I know everyone ends up in heaven and has sincerely repented but a lot of people would still be a tad angry at Hitler, Stalin, etc. Would we be allowed to stick "Kick Me" signs on their backs and call them names at least? Oh, and I like the zombie idea. Heaven definitely has zombies (other than JC) :-) Hmm, seems this old post has a new lease of life. Interesting read but there's one tiny point I have to question. If everyone is moved to the "entrance time of heaven" then that will require the supreme being to know when everyone will be finished in purgatory. This advance knowledge implies it will know how long every given person spends there and therefore it will know IN ADVANCE all the misdeeds which this person will perform. This in turn implies that we have no freedom and that therefore the supposedly just system is nothing of the sort. We were predestined by the head honcho to commit our misdeeds but are being punished for them regardless.

Dunno if anyone brought that up previously (doesn't look like it) but it's an interesting point. Seeing as we're dealing with a fantasy situation we can just employ the usual handwaving and invoke concepts like heaven existing outside time and all that sort of thing. It's just that your formulation seems to imply some kind of traditional temporal order to things.

Fun read though. Another thing - I know everyone ends up in heaven and has sincerely repented but a lot of people would still be a tad angry at Hitler, Stalin, etc. Would we be allowed to stick "Kick Me" signs on their backs and call them names at least?

Oh, and I like the zombie idea. Heaven definitely has zombies (other than JC) :-)

]]> By: Vjatcheslav http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-25893 Vjatcheslav Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:43:32 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-25893 I am wondering how Universal Angel explains people like sociopaths and the like, who seem to have absolutely no sense of guilt, or even being unable to have guilt. A bit late, but so be it. In the name of the Party, amen. I am wondering how Universal Angel explains people like sociopaths and the like, who seem to have absolutely no sense of guilt, or even being unable to have guilt.

A bit late, but so be it. In the name of the Party, amen.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5801 Ebonmuse Thu, 07 Sep 2006 02:36:05 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5801 <blockquote>You are using "psychology" to give yourself a false sense of security.</blockquote> As it happens, I think you're using your religious beliefs for the exact same purpose. <blockquote>When you need to resort to "snarkiness", you are unable to truthfully justify your stance, so you adopt a tone which you think will hide the fact that you have no valid comeback.</blockquote> My valid comeback is that you have no valid evidence whatsoever to support your views. It was true then and it is still true, and nothing more need be said.

You are using "psychology" to give yourself a false sense of security.

As it happens, I think you're using your religious beliefs for the exact same purpose.

When you need to resort to "snarkiness", you are unable to truthfully justify your stance, so you adopt a tone which you think will hide the fact that you have no valid comeback.

My valid comeback is that you have no valid evidence whatsoever to support your views. It was true then and it is still true, and nothing more need be said.

]]> By: Universal Angel http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5797 Universal Angel Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:33:03 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5797 You are using "psychology" to give yourself a false sense of security. When you need to resort to "snarkiness", you are unable to truthfully justify your stance, so you adopt a tone which you think will hide the fact that you have no valid comeback. God is above wordplay, evil is evil, fullstop. So if you commit evil, you've crossed an irreversible line to a place beyond redemption. Perhaps the confusion here is what should be classed as "evil"? There are certain things that everyone knows you shouldn't do, therefore they are evil, therefore they are unforgivable. You are using "psychology" to give yourself a false sense of security. When you need to resort to "snarkiness", you are unable to truthfully justify your stance, so you adopt a tone which you think will hide the fact that you have no valid comeback. God is above wordplay, evil is evil, fullstop. So if you commit evil, you've crossed an irreversible line to a place beyond redemption.
Perhaps the confusion here is what should be classed as "evil"? There are certain things that everyone knows you shouldn't do, therefore they are evil, therefore they are unforgivable.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5639 Ebonmuse Sat, 02 Sep 2006 04:27:02 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5639 A little snark is unavoidable sometimes. ;) A little snark is unavoidable sometimes. ;)

]]> By: Shawn Smith http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5613 Shawn Smith Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:53:18 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5613 Ebonmuse, LOL! I don't believe I've ever seen you be so snarky! Thank you! Ebonmuse,

LOL! I don't believe I've ever seen you be so snarky! Thank you!

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5601 Ebonmuse Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:18:59 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5601 <blockquote> I don't know about yourself, but the people who have committed evil, do not need purgatory to explain why they were wrong. They KNEW when they committed the act, and their soul WANTED to commit the evil on so many levels.</blockquote> <blockquote>Just wanted to add, give sinners half a chance, and no matter how much rehabilitation they are given in purgatory, they will continue sinning…</blockquote> It must be nice to be able to make confident statements about the psychology of others on the basis of no evidence whatsoever.

I don't know about yourself, but the people who have committed evil, do not need purgatory to explain why they were wrong. They KNEW when they committed the act, and their soul WANTED to commit the evil on so many levels.

Just wanted to add, give sinners half a chance, and no matter how much rehabilitation they are given in purgatory, they will continue sinning…

It must be nice to be able to make confident statements about the psychology of others on the basis of no evidence whatsoever.

]]> By: Universal Angel http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5597 Universal Angel Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:36:20 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/07/designing-the-afterlife.html#comment-5597 Just wanted to add, give sinners half a chance, and no matter how much rehabilitation they are given in purgatory, they will continue sinning... Just wanted to add, give sinners half a chance, and no matter how much rehabilitation they are given in purgatory, they will continue sinning...

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