I don’t believe in euphemisms for death.
“She passed away.” “He’s gone to a better place.”
Not for me.
I know they are intended to soften the blow, ease the pain of loss, take the edge off grief.
To me, they give false hope, like someone’s death is not the end.
As an atheist, I don’t believe in any form of afterlife. You die, you’re gone.
So I don’t believe in heaven, I don’t believe in a god or gods, I don’t believe in purgatory or Paradise.
You might ask, “what DO you believe in, Steve?”
I believe in the basic goodness of people.
I believe almost everyone would lend a hand if you asked for it.
I believe that we can make things better.
I believe we are imperfect.
I believe we are in charge of our own happiness.
I believe life is worth living.
I believe in love.
Lots of good euphemisms in the parrot sketch by the Pythons: shuffled off this mortal coil, joined the bleeding choir in heaven, snuffed it, etc. I basically agree with you – died is quite sufficient!
I too believe that we can make things better.
I just hope we get around to doing that sooner rather than later.
Well you belie in trains, right? The basic goodness of people? I’m sure Stalin, Hitler, Charles Manson, Nova Scotian Gabriel Wortman,, Karla Leanne Homolkka ,Pontius Pilate, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge buddies to name a few were likely to share similar blags, right? Its no wonder wye we differ, see you at the Diamond when I Highball it to the roundhouse in the sky!
Hello CabooseMan, I do believe in the basic goodness of people. There are always exceptions, like the horrible people you listed. The fact is that they are/were the exceptions rather than the rule.
I appreciate your comment.
Faith my friend is difficult to find, but one will never find it unless they truly seek it with all their heart! I know you like to read and there’s a number one best seller over centuries I’d urge you to read cover to cover. One of my Jewish buddies, Saul aka Paul, said it in one of the book’s many chapters: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them.” I realize its a big leap to faith, but I can assure you it far exceeds any promise of the Bank of Canada or the US Federal Reserve! Love your joy of the rail over the years from The Ocean to VI’s Dayliner and with no offense intended at all I will do my best to pray for you and your family for good health, joy and earthly peace , blessings now and evermore, Caboose Man
I appreciate you and your comments, and prayers.
I have read this best selling book (well, most of it, the parts about who begat who are a little hard to read). I don’t want to criticize others’ faiths and choices, so I will just say that it’s not for me.
Steve — You indirectly raise a point that I often stress to people. I believe in all the things you don’t. However, I absolutely hate the tendency of some believers to say that their belief somehow makes them better people. It does not. There’s a song by Def Leppard that sums up what I feel. Action! Not Words. Some of the nicest people I know are atheists and I have been friends with them for years. We need not look far in the world to see what happens when “believers” are handed the levers of power. I also believe that God, even if not present in someone’s belief system, or unknown to an atheist, can work through them or inspire them. Just like an atheist, through their goodness, can inspire me, a believer.
The native in me tells me there is an afterlife, you just do not know what animal you will end up as. I hope to become a bird for they have the freedom of flight. I have had several situations that has lead me to this belief. I do believe that someone’s spirit was watching or presenting itself to me. And I do not believe in organized Religion either.