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How Long Have I Got Left?

nytimes.com

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Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#91

Post by sdegutis »

strathmeyer wrote: post #50
sdegutis wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your sympathy. But I've done my homework. Jesus did actually rise from the dead. Research it and you'll come to the same conclusion. I don't have many books on it, but I'd probably start with Handbook of Catholic Apologetics[1] by Kreeft and Tacelli. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Catholic-Apologetics-Reasoned...

We did research it, but don't worry, your insults don't affect us much anymore.

My insults? I didn't insult anyone. Why do you think I did?

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#92

Post by 300bps »

narrator wrote: post #79
300bps wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I was raised Christian and realized at 12 years old that it was complete bunk. How did I realize that? I read the bible. Literally every day. I read it cover to cover at least 15 times. It contains pearls of wisdom floating in a sea of nonsense. No rational person can read that book cover to cover and remain a Christian. Which is why Christians have bible study groups where they focus on John 3:16 and other pr…

The bible makes as much sense as most ancient literature. I read it and compared it to ancient Greek, Roman and Babylonian literature. It's interesting to compare and contrast what values are emphasized over others. The old testament is very into offspring and private property, mainly in the form of livestock. The Greeks are more into glory for its own sake. Gilgamesh is about friendship, civilization vs.nature and t…

The bible makes as much sense as most ancient literature.

Key difference is that rational people in 2014 aren't claiming that Zeus may strike you down with a lightning bolt or thinking that Gilgamesh was divinely inspired.

The old testament is very into offspring and private property

Really? It just seems like a mish-mash of things nobody today would find acceptable. It advocates slavery in many places. Example:

http://biblehub.com/genesis/16-8.htm

http://biblehub.com/genesis/16-9.htm

Giving up your virgin daughters for men to do as they want:

http://biblehub.com/genesis/19-8.htm

And then there's this:

http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/23-19.htm

http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/23-20.htm

There is some wacky stuff in The Holy Bible. The New Testament isn't much better. It's a little better. But not much.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#93

Post by icegreentea »

aaronsnoswell wrote: post #80

I don't understand how everyone here was able to read this article - I browse to that link and get a message telling me it is locked behind a paywall, requiring my subscription before I can read it. Do all HN readers also subscribe to the NY Times?

Try visiting in incognito mode. The paywall is cookie based.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#94

Post by [deleted] »

sdegutis wrote: post #17

For a long time I've been pretty worried about my mortality. But ever since I became a Christian a couple years ago, I've been much more at peace about it. Not all the way (yet?), but much more than before. I highly recommend looking into Christianity to anyone else feeling that same fear.

[deleted]

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#95

Post by aurelianito »

dmoo wrote: post #61
kendalk wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, they are enlightened! They know they can learn Lisp in Heaven. :) As for Python...

I seem to remember that it was the snake that got every one in trouble in the first place...

Obligatory xkcd cartoon: http://xkcd.com/224/

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#96

Post by powertower »

It's really difficult to read these types of stories and comments because it shows us that happy endings are not guaranteed for anyone by the universe.

We're just all flesh that's about to fail - sometime, eventually.

And that sometime comes sooner for some of us than latter.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#97

Post by chroma »

300bps wrote: post #78
chroma wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They differ in their belief about the deceased's current subjective experience (or lack thereof). To the religious, death is an illusion. After a short time on the earth, everybody meets up again in the afterlife. It may be sad, but not too sad. To those who don't believe in an afterlife, death is real . When someone dies, everything about them is annihilated. A lifetime of experiences destroyed; a unique personality…

The universe existed for ~ 14 billion years and did just fine without me. It will probably be good for at least another 14 billion years after I'm gone. And the funny thing is, I have never lost a minute of sleep over not having existed for those initial 14 billion years.

I'm not entirely sure how your reply connects to my comment. Are you arguing that death isn't bad? If so, try pointing the argument at someone else:

"The universe existed for billions of years and did just fine without you. It will probably be good for eons after you're gone. And the funny thing is, I have never lost a minute of sleep over your non-existence for those initial billions of years."

It sounds both psychopathic and psychotic.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#98

Post by sdegutis »

sdegutis wrote: post #17

For a long time I've been pretty worried about my mortality. But ever since I became a Christian a couple years ago, I've been much more at peace about it. Not all the way (yet?), but much more than before. I highly recommend looking into Christianity to anyone else feeling that same fear.

To almost everyone who replied: Were your responses really in the spirit of HN? I don't believe anything I said deserved the condescending tone I received in response.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#99

Post by matwood »

300bps wrote: post #77
obituary_latte wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please don't downvote just because you disagree. Have a discussion if you're comfortable with your beliefs. It would do more good for all involved.

Sorry, I was raised Christian and realized at 12 years old that it was complete bunk. How did I realize that? I read the bible. Literally every day. I read it cover to cover at least 15 times. It contains pearls of wisdom floating in a sea of nonsense. No rational person can read that book cover to cover and remain a Christian. Which is why Christians have bible study groups where they focus on John 3:16 and other pr…

I took the same path as you. Forced church when I was younger and then started questioning, and finally was asked not to come to Sunday school anymore. Because the bible says so is simply not an acceptable answer and that is what it all came down to.

Today I usually just avoid religious conversations because most people are not aware that I have been there and done that, and I often know more about their religion than they do. If religion makes someone feel good, great. For me personally, the most vocally religious people I have met have always selfish people who hide behind the veil of Jesus.

Re: How Long Have I Got Left?

#100

Post by matwood »

MichaelGG wrote: post #53
benjohnson wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Christian, I would agree that there is no heaven in this universe. God is out of place and time.

What does that even mean? Making up meaningless deep-sounding statements doesn't really further any argument. Here's some I just made up: "We shouldn't fear death any more than an unborn baby fears birth. Death is our true birth." "Everyone has faith. The only difference is that some people try to define faith, while others let faith define them." "The world absolutely runs on discoverable physical laws - no exceptio…

Sounds like you are ready to start your own church.
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