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jmb275 wrote:

Imagine that we proved there was no God, no after-life, no Spirit, etc. (please don’t raise issues regarding the feasibility of this because that’s not the point, just imagine it was proved to you with the same probability that the earth is round).

This is kind of tricky for me because I was once a fully believing member and at that time my answers would have been…

1. How does this change your outlook on this mortal life?

I couldn’t imagine life without my belief in the gospel.

2. How does this change your quest to find meaning in your life?

Life would be meaningless. I would rather just die.

3. How does this change your outlook on your family, friends, neighbors?

Again, all relationships would be meaningless since there was no hope for eternal relationships.

4. How does this change your attitude towards those that do believe?

I couldn’t imagine me being one of the nonbelievers. I would have hoped that I could always believe even in the face of absolute proof of the opposite.

5. How does this change your ability to deal with death of loved ones?

I wouldn’t have been able to imagine how I could deal with something like this.

However, I don’t think I would now classify myself as an atheist (I won’t deny the possibility of god) but I have no belief and no longer feel the need to have a belief or disbelief in god. So my answers now would be…

1. How does this change your outlook on this mortal life?

None.

2. How does this change your quest to find meaning in your life?

No change.

3. How does this change your outlook on your family, friends, neighbors?

I would treat them just the same as I do now.

4. How does this change your attitude towards those that do believe?

I wish they would just worry about trying to make the world a better place instead of trying to convince others of their doctrinal correctness.

5. How does this change your ability to deal with death of loved ones?

It doesn’t.

My father just passed away this week. I wondered how I would react in a situation like this after losing my faith and I can report that I am handling it very well. I break down a few times a day with grief but my overall feeling is happiness for the time I was able to spend with him. I am somewhat irritated in how everyone else has to try to find some mysterious meaning in every little event surrounding his death but overall I’m content to let them do what they need to in order to grieve. I’m just thankful for the life he lived and that he was a good dad.

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