If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist, would that interest you?

[ChristineM]

Inspired by a thread by @ideogenous_mover,
If an entity offered you as an atheist an after life after you lived, would that interest you

A question to all those with belief in the afterlife. If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist would that,
evidence cause you to modify your faith? Would your faith in heaven/hell remain firm? Or would you dismiss the evidence?

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

 

[Vinayaka]

I like the idea of putting up the opposite argument to ones which are posted, as it seems fair to me. It may motivate folks to get out of the hard set right/wrong duality. That is doubtful, however, as most people are rather set in their ideas.

I voted 'other' as I've never found proof in the classical sense necessary to belief. Your last sense pretty much sums it up for me as well, other than I'd change the last word to non-believer. Bottom line is I don't really care what others believe. That's up to them.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Inspired by a thread by @ideogenous_mover,
If an entity offered you as an atheist an after life after you lived, would that interest you

A question to all those with belief in the afterlife. If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist would that,
evidence cause you to modify your faith? Would your faith in heaven/hell remain firm? Or would you dismiss the evidence?

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

I have irrefutable proof New Zealand doesn't exist, yet several people persist in the willfully false delusion that it is an actual place.

Never underestimate people's ability to believe what they want.

 

[ChristineM]

I have irrefutable proof New Zealand doesn't exist, yet several people persist in the willfully false delusion that it is an actual place.

Never underestimate people's ability to believe what they want.

Kind of like this mythical bird

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Kind of like this mythical bird

View attachment 35784

Exactly. A country populated by nonsensical CGI fantasy creatures. Totally imaginary. How can a bird that turns into a seeded fruit when you cut it in half be a thing?

Want the definitive proof? So, everyone can agree to take as axiomatic that everything pertaining to New Zealand is inherently negative, right? Well, by definition, a state of existence is fundamentally POSITIVE, and since we already agreed that nothing about New Zealand can be positive, it is logically impossible for New Zealand to exist. QED.

And also we beat them in sport almost half the time.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Irrefutable Proof - then I will have to accept Gods, soul and karma. No escape. At the moment I believe in Karma and its effect in this life, but not in reincarnation. That there is only one, would require further proof.

 

[Audie]

Inspired by a thread by @ideogenous_mover,
If an entity offered you as an atheist an after life after you lived, would that interest you

A question to all those with belief in the afterlife. If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist would that,
evidence cause you to modify your faith? Would your faith in heaven/hell remain firm? Or would you dismiss the evidence?

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

"Man's Wisdom"

"Man says, God says"

They've seen proof of no flood,.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I have irrefutable proof New Zealand doesn't exist, yet several people persist in the willfully false delusion that it is an actual place.
Never underestimate people's ability to believe what they want.

The reverse also is true. Most people believe in existence of God\Gods\Goddesses\soul\heaven\hell\deliverance\angels\ghosts\aliens visiting the earth, when there is no proof of them.
Like you said 'Never underestimate people's ability to believe what they want'.

 

[dybmh]

Inspired by a thread by @ideogenous_mover,
If an entity offered you as an atheist an after life after you lived, would that interest you

A question to all those with belief in the afterlife. If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist would that,
evidence cause you to modify your faith? Would your faith in heaven/hell remain firm? Or would you dismiss the evidence?

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

I'm not sure that I can answer the question.

How are you defining "afterlife"?

 

[ChristineM]

I'm not sure that I can answer the question.

How are you defining "afterlife"?

Whatever you believe comes after death that cannot be shown in reality

 

[metis]

I choose Curtain #2 as I have no particular belief in heaven or hell, and yet I still observe my faith.

 

[ChristineM]

I choose Curtain #2 as I have no particular belief in heaven or hell, and yet I still observe my faith.

I know and greatly respect a friendly scientist with the same view.

I think it could be a difficult thing to live with knowing one thing and having faith in a different scenario.

 

[Dave Watchman]

Inspired by a thread by @ideogenous_mover,
If an entity offered you as an atheist an after life after you lived, would that interest you

A question to all those with belief in the afterlife. If you were shown irrefutable evidence that heaven or hell did not exist would that,
evidence cause you to modify your faith? Would your faith in heaven/hell remain firm? Or would you dismiss the evidence?

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

Uh Oh, I voted:

*Ignore the evidence and continue as though you had not seen it

I'm the only one that voted that way so far.

I wonder if I should change my vote?

Nope, my faith in heaven, my faith in the Lord, remains firm.

I can do nothing without Him, He is the true vine I am the branch.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.​

I would dismiss the evidence.

It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Because I know Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour.

Satan can appear as an angel of light, performing many signs and wonders.

If not to deceive even the very Elect of God.

(If that were possible)

Good luck with that.

 

[dybmh]

Whatever you believe comes after death that cannot be shown in reality

Then yes. I would be interested.

If it could be proven to be false, then that is pretty important. I'd rate it a 7 out of 10 where 10 is very very interested.

I try to live my life in the now. And I try to appreciate each moment. But, I do spend time daily preparing my soul for the next life ( reincarnation ). And that time would be spent doing other things if there is no next life and there is no reincarnation.

However, I enjoy my life the way it is now. I enjoy my spiritual practice as it dovetails into belief in reincarnation. And there would need to be a significant adjustment to the psychological shock to my world view if reincarnation was proven to be false. So, I'm not sure whether the proof of a lack of an afterlife would be a net positive or net negative in my life. It's possible that I would become depressed, despondent, and nihilistic at least in the short term.

Edit to add: I voted other, because, I'm not sure how I would react.

 

[Heyo]

I have irrefutable proof New Zealand doesn't exist, yet several people persist in the willfully false delusion that it is an actual place.

Never underestimate people's ability to believe what they want.

Bielefeld didn't exist far longer than New Zealand.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Exactly. A country populated by nonsensical CGI fantasy creatures. Totally imaginary. How can a bird that turns into a seeded fruit when you cut it in half be a thing?

Want the definitive proof? So, everyone can agree to take as axiomatic that everything pertaining to New Zealand is inherently negative, right? Well, by definition, a state of existence is fundamentally POSITIVE, and since we already agreed that nothing about New Zealand can be positive, it is logically impossible for New Zealand to exist. QED.

And also we beat them in sport almost half the time.

Actually, I had a boyfriend from NZ long ago, who to me was irrefutable proof that NZ not only exists, but has heavenly beings in it, to boot!

 

[metis]

I know and greatly respect a friendly scientist with the same view.

Admittedly, science is my "thingy". When I converted back to Catholicism, I told the priest that I will always question, as that's what we do in science, but that I can commit to try and do the best that I can within the framework of the Church and basic Judeo-Christian morality.

I think it could be a difficult thing to live with knowing one thing and having faith in a different scenario.

Are you alluding to something in particular or just as a basic statement?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Of course I cannot provide such irrefutable evidence, only circumstantial which is of no value to a believer.

You may not be able to provide such irrefutable evidence, but one surmises it might yet exist. My personal credo is to follow the evidence -- and if that evidence were actually available, I would have no choice but to modify my beliefs accordingly.

 

[ChristineM]

Uh Oh, I voted:

*Ignore the evidence and continue as though you had not seen it

I'm the only one that voted that way so far.

I wonder if I should change my vote?

Nope, my faith in heaven, my faith in the Lord, remains firm.

I can do nothing without Him, He is the true vine I am the branch.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.​

I would dismiss the evidence.

It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Because I know Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour.

Satan can appear as an angel of light, performing many signs and wonders.

If not to deceive even the very Elect of God.

(If that were possible)

Good luck with that.

You are entitled to your opinion and view of education.good luck with that

 

[ChristineM]

Admittedly, science is my "thingy". When I converted back to Catholicism, I told the priest that I will always question, as that's what we do in science, but that I can commit to try and do the best that I can within the framework of the Church and basic Judeo-Christian morality.

Are you alluding to something in particular or just as a basic statement?

I am giving my view of the difficulties of internal conflict