[Omega]

Originally Posted by Saraph

Omega, what is the meaning of life without a God? What will all of your deeds amount to when you die? Nothing without God. You die, you rot, and we forget you eventually. With him, however, this life becomes a testing ground. You have the power to earn everlasting life in a place more wonderful than what you can see or feel now. That opportunity provides more meaning than any material good you can get or any feeling of happiness or love that you could ever feel.

When I die my body and the energy contained within it will dissipate back into the universe, but my experiences and insights will live on in the people who met me, those who I taught an shared things with. My accomplishments are no less real without me here. The good I did is not undone by my death. And more importantly, it wouldn't matter if it did all die with me. Something doesn't have to last forever to have meaning. What meaning does your life in heaven gain for being eternal?

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Omega

When I die my body and the energy contained within it will dissipate back into the universe, but my experiences and insights will live on in the people who met me, those who I taught an shared things with. My accomplishments are no less real without me here. The good I did is not undone by my death. And more importantly, it wouldn't matter if it did all die with me. Something doesn't have to last forever to have meaning. What meaning does your life in heaven gain for being eternal?

Relationships that never end. The love you have for others will know no being cut off.

[Omega]

But why should your love for another end when they die?

[Fweeeq]

Originally Posted by Omega

Something doesn't have to last forever to have meaning.

I like this a lot. You should get a like button on here like on facebook. lol

[Sprite]

It's a nice thought Omega, but I get what Dorothy is saying. Having relationships that literally never end, not just metaphorically, really appeals to me. I like thinking about actually meeting people who have died again one day. That is something Heaven gives you.

[DizzyD]

I like thinking that when I die I'll come back to life as king of all humans. Doesn't mean it's going to happen.

[Omega]

We weren't discussing whether or not heaven was real just then. I had asked why people wanted it so badly. Why they thought it would give their life more meaning if it did exist.

[WILLOW]

Originally Posted by Omega

We weren't discussing whether or not heaven was real just then. I had asked why people wanted it so badly. Why they thought it would give their life more meaning if it did exist.

I've asked the same question Omega and I came up with the conclusion of comfort. People just want comfort in their lives. The thought of death scares the crap out of people including myself. If I had one wish, it would probably be to live forever. And so the thought of a heaven or after life just makes people feel better. Heaven and hell are interpretations of ones comfort in life. If one is living a good life because they worked for it or what have you, they would say that they are in heaven, but if one is living a horrible life no matter how hard they worked then they would say thay they are living in hell.

Comfort has the greatest meaning in anyones life. I get comfort just from the thought of being conscience and even though it scares me, I face the reality of death and accept it.

[MyArete]

Wow. This thread is a research project!

Personally this topic is what lead me to "thinking", and I'm always studying it. I recently came across a very similar poll conducted by Gallup. The results differ from those here. This is an interesting article in that it gives a historical perspective to this same question.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113533/Am...ing-Clout.aspx

[Omega]

That is a very interesting article. I'm honestly surprised at how many people believe that religion can answer every day problems. However, the data regarding age is worth noting. Is it that people tend to believe in religion's ability to answer every day questions as they get older or is it a generational effect? I believe we'll find the latter to be true.

Edit: I'd also like to mention that the findings of the study and the poll here are not really comparable. To ask if religion is relevant and whether or not is is gaining or losing influence are very different questions.