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Is everyone so depressed now partially because modern science has probably proven there is no god / afterlife?

By that I mean, it must be an inherently comforting thing to think - we inherently know this and want there to be something after death, because it feels right, or more meaningful. There’s a reason basically every civilization ever has some sort of afterlife ethos.

I realize I am basically horseshoeing my way into evangelicalism but still. Maybe life was better if we believed there was something beyond this.

Cosmos7349 ,

I think probably more influential is the accessibility to global knowledge, so now it’s really easy to see how shitty everything is, and also find more things to worry about

vividspecter ,

I doubt underlying depression rates are any higher today than in the past. It’s just not pushed under the rug anymore.

weaponG ,

Modern science didn’t have to prove to me that unicorns, elves, and fairies don’t actually exist. Somehow, I figured that out on my own and moved on.

Successful_Try543 ,

“I figured that out on my own” -> science

Archpawn ,

Figuring it out on your own is science, but I have a feeling OP didn’t actually personally search the world for one-horned horses or pointy eared-people with long lifespans. I bet they didn’t even work out how biology changes with scale and how evolution works to show that there can’t be tiny winged people.

Successful_Try543 ,

Yes you’re right. It’s more an untested hypothesis and no (counter) evidence has appeared by themselves to OC yet.

Dirk ,
@Dirk@lemmy.ml avatar

A horned horse to me makes more sense than the concept that is usually called “god”.

snausagesinablanket ,
@snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world avatar

Modern science didn’t have to prove to me that unicorns, elves, and fairies don’t actually exist. Somehow, I figured that out on my own and moved on.

If you take the right things, you will see fairies and so much more

tiredofsametab ,

science has probably proven there is no god / afterlife

Well, for one, you "probably proven" doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless maybe you've got a paper waiting on peer review confirmation. In any case, it is exceedingly difficult to definitely prove something isn't for cases like this. Does every bit of evidence point to 'no'? Yes. However, it's still technically not proven to be false/absent.

Anyway, that's not the actual important part here. One human lifetime is generally a long time. There are lots of meaningful interactions that a person can have in that time. I would argue that, since it's not an eternity, the pressure is on to do something better with your life. That doesn't require gods or afterlives. Volunteer, meet up about hobbies, find a social group, etc.

we inherently know this and want there to be something after death, because it feels right, or more meaningful

I disagree. For one, if you get do-overs on life or an eternity to do whatever, isn't it inherently LESS meaningful since there are no stakes? Secondarily, I personally don't like the idea of trying to exist for an eternity; that sounds like it always ends in boring monotony... at least so much as something 'endless' 'ends' anyway (English be silly).

morrowind ,
@morrowind@lemmy.ml avatar

For one, if you get do-overs on life or an eternity to do whatever, isn’t it inherently LESS meaningful since there are no stakes?

I don’t know of any religion in which you get do overs with no stakes

tiredofsametab ,

Religions that support reincarnation is one, though most would say you get reincarnated as something more/less favorable depending upon the life lived.

By no stakes above, I was mostly referring to an eternal amount of time to do anything, supposing a bit that one could accomplish a lot in many of the version of afterlife I've heard of. I wasn't thinking of it in a 'no morals' or similar way, but I can see how it could be read as such.

morrowind ,
@morrowind@lemmy.ml avatar

In most religions I know, the afterlife is mainly to live with the consequences of what you did. It’s not just more life

hendrik , (edited )

Don't think so. If life is just your SAT... I don't think examns are that enjoyable. And it's not like God gave us clear instructions anyways. If that sucks, it's on him. And the bible is more treating us with the carrot and a stick. Lots of it is invoking fear... don't do this, don't do that... He'll send plagues and illnesses, seems a narcissistic father and has no issue whatsoever making some of us suffer. I wouldn't like it at all if it were true.

Some people however will get a comfortable feeling from being exposed to empty promises. But to make them more effective, I'd say it'd need some more visual invitations. Like God showing himself and performing some more miracles so it becomes believable. And we need clearer instruction because christianity is just filled with contradictions. And it's hard to cope with that. The promise is afterlife, but you're set up for failure because of the bible telling everything and the opposite. And being set up for failure sucks.

K1nsey6 ,
@K1nsey6@lemmy.world avatar

Im an atheist and im not even remotely depressed. I live everyday to the fullest because I know it might be my last day on earth, all we are guaranteed is right now. And once I die I dont need the superstition of an afterlife, I believe that I will live on in the positive influence Ive had on many people.

HootinNHollerin ,

“When I’m dead, just throw me in the trash” - Frank Reynolds

snooggums ,
@snooggums@midwest.social avatar

Not believing in an afterlife is fantastic! When I die my life is complete, and what I did during my life is all that matters. No worries about having to meet some arbitrary moral code or fighting for eternity or being reincarnated, just the void like before I was born.

Now living s And becoming more and more aware of how completely awful people can be, that is depressing.

nufan8001 ,

Ignorance is bliss.

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