People who don't believe in the afterlife...
 

After being an atheist for a long time, something curious happened and that was connecting with my twin soul who's in spirit.

I struggled and still struggle to believe it, being a "logical" person.
But it seemed to come natural to me that when we die, our soul travels to an afterlife and we have a choice to be reborn. Like we come from an energy source.
When I think about this, I get a fluttery feeling, when I think about there being nothing afterwards, I almost feel like (I'm trying to develop a telepathic or pyschic line of communication with my twin soul) he's saying "wrong":D

But there are so many people who just say there is no afterlife, you cease to exist, there is no creator, NDEs are hallucinations, spirits aren't real, all mediums are liars.

And for them to call me an idiot or gullible for believing it or even psychotic for believing I could have contact with a dead man or better yet, be somehow connected to him on a spiritual level. And I'm a logical, educated, person! A post-atheist even. I have no explanation for what's happened to me.

But it's actually really distressing to me...to be thought of that way. And to try to think like that...I mean what if there is nothing? And I am just delusional?

You will believe in what you believe, there is no prof that there is an afterlife, so if there is no prof, how can one believe, this is how an atheist would see it. Just believing in something with all your heart doesn't make it so, in fact this way of thinking only traps you, we must have a doubtful mind and question everything until we cannot question it any longer.

Fetah – Welcome to the forum. Trust in your own life experiences and intuition about things such as an afterlife. There will always be those from the camp that say there is no afterlife. Those that say they don’t know. And those that say they have personal experience to validate there is in fact an afterlife. Personally I have had several connections with the spirit world, mostly in the very old house I use to live in and the paranormal events that took place there. I gauge whom I can speak to about those events because some people would label me mad, but I know what happened while living in that house for 16 years and for me, I gained proof that there is something beyond this physical life we live in now. Again, I would embrace your own experiences and not put a lot of emphasis on validation.

Blackraven

I was a flat-out atheist, starting in my teens. There was no God, there was no afterlife, and all that woo-woo religious/spiritual stuff was just wishful thinking.

Then my best friend died when I was in my early 30s. Three days after he died, he paid me a visit. It was an incredible, profound experience, it was absolutely real, and it turned my reality on its head. I still didn't believe in any human conception of God (to this day I consider myself an agnostic theist because I believe the true nature of the divine is unknowable to us as humans). But I knew that we survive death--that there is something more to existence.

That was almost 13 years ago, and on the rare occasions when I tell someone that story I end up blubbering every time. I'm not someone who cries easily, but I just can't stop myself--it was such a powerful, life changing experience, and honestly, it was the most important, pivotal event in my life so far. Thanks to that experience, I have no fear of death. Even before I finally started doing some reading on the subject of the soul, and life after death, I knew there was nothing to fear.

I never would have believed any of it had I not had a direct, firsthand experience. I used to think people who claimed to have those experiences were lying, deluded, or engaged in wishful thinking. And in the years since, I've discovered that most people--including many who are spiritually inclined--see my story in a similar disbeliving light.

Which used to make me wonder, "Did I merely imagine his visit? Did it really happen?" But every time the question came up in my mind, I'd have the oddest feeling come over me. I can't describe it adequately iin words, but if I had to choose a metaphorical illustration, it was as if someone was shouting "No!" and reaching out to pull me back from the edge of a cliff.

Whether it was my friend, or my higher self, or my guide behind those bursts of intense emotion, I don't know. I'm not sure it matters. But after that happened a few times over the course of four or five years, I finally was able to completely accept what had happened, no matter what anyone else might try to tell me about my experience. I haven't doubted it since.

So I am extremely selective of who gets to hear my story. I either have to tell it in forums like this, where it doesn't sound strange at all, or I have to wait until someone receptive comes along, who is ready to hear it. It's a beautiful, priceless gift I was fortunate enough to receive, but I only share it with people who might have some inkling of its value.

As for the people who don't want to hear it, won't believe it, might think less of me for sharing it, or otherwise aren't receptive, I don't bother telling them. I'm not duty-bound to do so. We all go to the same place when we die, so I don't need to try "saving" them by trying to convince them my story is true. However many more lifetimes it may take, they'll receive the same gift eventually. We're eternal beings; we've literally got all the time in the world, and as many lifetimes as we might need in order to receive it.

Wandering Star - Welcome to the forum too. Your story is incredible. It's disappointing when people don't believe our experiences, but like Fetah, you obviously know you don't need other's validation when it comes to your experiences with your best friend. It's real. It's genuine. And it's all you have to base you own personal assessment on. Don't question what is. What a very special story. Thanks for sharing.

Blackraven

Nice reply. I love hearing people's stories.
A family member of mine works with hospice patients and comes home with stories about what her patients last works were before they passed. Most of them see things and proclaim how beautiful it is, others just close their eyes an go. But ALWAYS she says in the days leading up to death they start talking to people who aren't there, people who can't be there because they're dead. My own uncle reported shadows of people standing over his bed weeks before his actual death. He became a very spiritual man before dying. He said if he ended up living he would teach kids the importance of life because he never valued his own.
Something changed him. It reminds me of the unexpected spiritual enlightenment that people talk about on this forum. It's like knowing the worlds greatest secret. The one everyone wants to know and yet when you tell other people they call you nuts.

That's what is most frustrating to me...knowing this to be true and yet being doubted by everyone. And doubted to the extent where I question my own sanity because I'm the odd one out.
I mean I've actually thought of seeking therapy and medication to make me "normal" again because every time I look up what's happening to me, schizophrenia comes up.

But I like what you said about your friend telling you "no" when you start to sway towards disbelief. I get the same thing.

I know what I believe, I just wish more people did as well so I wouldn't feel so insane. We can't all be crazy! A lot of people have the same or very similar experiences with the other realm. It can't be mass delirium.

What annoys me is the scientists who say, "Oh yeah there's no afterlife, I mean we don't have proof but logically speaking its not plausible." And then the sheeple take that as fact when it's actually just a huge gray area.
People rely too much on science for answers.

It's impossible for science to prove anything.

And its impossible for so called spiritualist to prove what they believe to be true, at least science has much proof, and good theory that can be shown to work over and over. If you cannot prove something then keep it to yourself, don't debate with it.

The spiritual awakening can be said if anything to be - The Search For Truth.

You won't find it in other peoples belief systems or their opinions or even what they swear is absolute - because until they become awakened they have not met Truth on that level...it does not mean anything other than they have not yet made the Journey Inward to discover Truth.

You are the only one who can discover Truth for yourself and its a Journey done alone and into the Inward Worlds. Other peoples opinions are unneeded baggage on the Journey and there's an excess weight charge on this flight :P

Yes and I certainly agree with that, my inner Realization that I experienced is my own inner experience, I cannot argue about it with anyone, and this is my whole point. Why say that others don't understand, or science don't understand when we ourselves don't have a clue what it is, be honest and admit we don't understand it, we may believe we experience something, but that is all it will ever be.

I believe in afterlife. I have seen things. I have connections. I could care less if people believe in what i see. My mom always says i will believe it when i see it.
It is hard to believe in something you have not had an experience with. I get that.

What you really mean is: don't share with atheists.

I too believe in an afterlife. I've had proof. It does'nt matter what others believe. It's not something I would talk about, I have friends and acquaintances who have no idea of my beliefs.

It's called hope. Some people call it faith or belief. Only atheists call it "delusion". Atheists are the most hateful and callous people in the world. Forget about them.

Oh, one more thing. The laws of physics and the physics constants owe their existence to spirit. So all bets are off.

I don't believe in the Afterlife, I ''Know'' there is one. But I just pray I get to go there.

No, what I mean is if your going to debate something, make sure you have evidence that can be proved, if not don't debate, at least not with science or atheist.

How do you know there is one?.

You hate atheist because they question your treasured beliefs, you are afraid of them, or at least your ego is.

Hello

I do not walk with the hand of God but I do not go to say there is no God, as I have to feel as a Medium there is more to what we are than just a ball of flesh. I talk to the dead, now is that the afterlife or simply the energy that they once were that I connect to I honestly have wondered. I too know well that when I cross someone over that they do go to a place, not to a void in space and time. Now it could be said that its what me mind creates for them to find. Again I trust in that there is something more.

I could well be called an atheist but I am far from being a hateful person, I do much good with the path I walk; yet God is not whom I call to is all. I refer to it as Universal Light.

We should never go to that dark place of hate for anyone or anything as we are all created from the same light seed.


Lynn

Would be nice to see come compassion shared as the 'dead" are reading this as well and they are real.

Important to give out the message of survival/what happens when we die. All knowledge is 'registered' even if rejected at the time.

When the time comes... An understanding of the situation should kick in.

If you prevent him from becoming an earthbound spirit you'll have done the sceptic a great act of Service.

I didn't used to believe in an "afterlife" (actually psychoslice said recently that there IS no afterlife....because we don't die! well said psycho!)
....Anyway, you kind of know what I mean.
I didn't believe stuff because I like to have solid evidence, and I never got any, and guessed it was the sort of thing one doesn't get solid evidence about....so gave up on the whole thing, and spirituality, etc, and just got on with living my life according to principles I hold dear in my Heart anyway, whether "Spirituality" meant anything to me or not.

Then my dog died. Yes I was grieving, but I've grieved before, and never had any revelations. I entertained the idea she might pass over into the spirit world, but honestly had no clue. I also knew we can go out of body. But in times in the past I'd had OBE's it never proved to me one way or the other that we or any other creatures, live after "death"....

Well I started to sense her about a month after she left. Very strongly. I couldn't dismiss these communications, and they were the strongest influence I'd ever known after someone I loved died. They were very living and very moving.
So then I went out of body one morning, fully aware and conscious. Very briefly. But during that 3-minute OBE, I actually encountered my dog, as a vibrant and very much alive creature. Touched her -and she was "real" alright. Real, alive, warm as toast, her actions and behaviour totally "herself" (except she didn't have any trace of sickness any more) A couple of little unexpected things happened in accordance with her character, which illustrated for me, that this was no hallucination/wish fulfillment/denial of grief....etc etc....
That short but tremendous event was hard enough evidence for me. I felt the implications of that experience are that if dogs pass through to a life in spirit -then we all must do.
I honestly don't know about God. I do sense a living God somehow, but am not clever enough to hold a debate about Him/It/Her. It doesn't matter. Just get on with wonder.

Yes, I treasure my beliefs very dearly. They are worth more than anything that exists in the physical. My beliefs are more valuable than all the gold and all the money in the world. My beliefs are happiness itself. You see, spirit is part of everything. Spirit does not die and does not grow old. Spirit is what holds atoms and molecules together. Spirit is what causes physics, chemistry, biology and other sciences to exist.

Hi Lynn, this is what gets on my goat, how so called spiritual people talk about atheist, they talk as if the atheist is some type of devil, and all they are is just a person who doesn't believe in a god, or anything supernatural that cannot be proven. God has never been proven, and just because millions believe in him doesn't make it true. many who have beliefs will do anything to keep their beliefs alive, many have been killed over stupid beliefs, if you believe something to be true, then why even argue over it.

I myself have experienced some stuff that I have no answer for, but I'm certainly not going to hold it as a belief and do all that I can to protect it, if someone doesn't resonate with what I share, then i simply except that, because in all truth I don't really know if i am wrong or right.

Beliefs only imprison us, they never allow us to grow, many hold onto certain beliefs such as an afterlife because they are afraid of dying, they are afraid of losing their loved ones forever, there is much emotion built around their beliefs like steel bars in a prison.

We must admit that we don't know everything, and what we do believe we know, is and can only be known from our senses, take away our senses and we are nothing.

That maybe so, but I am not going to hold that as my belief, I don't have beliefs, life is forever flowing, forever changing, beliefs only hinder that flow.

I don't know anything, I don't care is anyone is atheist or spiritual and I only believe in kindness to all beings, though that's not always wanted.

Yes, and that is all I am saying also, give peace a chance.

So nothing is important to you? Nothing is of any value to you or worth defending? Are you just a snow flake blowing in the wind?

Yes you could say that I am just a snowflake floating in the wind, like all snowflakes each one is original. What is important to me changes each day, what maybe important today may not be tomorrow, in other words, I don't cling to anything in particular. No I don't need to defend anything, i have no belief systems or ideologies to defend, those are all borrowed, from others, I only live in my own truth, that is all I can ever know, where it leads me is my life's journey, just like a leaf floating along the surface of a river, the river of life.

Okay then.

Where else could you possibly go?

My belief in Spirit and the Afterlife is absolute....no doubts whatsoever... I've seen it, I have seen, heard and felt Spirit....It is all joyful and wonderful and it's called HOME.......

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing that, dear Tobi.

"Not clever enough"?! Of course you are! Just do what you do best - write from the heart.

Beautifully put, dear Juanita!

I fear Nothingness, always have done from such an early age.

I'm watching a Christian versus atheism debate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uvKH5qisgg

The Christian looks so alive and animated. The atheist is dressed like a vagabond and acts like his mental faculties are deteriorating. I think each person should choose a belief to thrive mentally, emotionally and spiritually..

You should go on you tube and watch the show called, the atheist experience, it really shows the ignorance of religion, the silly things they come up with to protect their beliefs, they get shot down every time lol.

Why? I'm just not impressed with atheism. The religious experience is healing to the human mind. By comparison, atheism leads to insanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKaC0r1xMV0

My theory why people don't believe is that, In the Maya (Illusion) of this realm, the subject of death is swept under the carpert, put to the back of the mind, the subject avoided until one has to deal with a loved ones passing. I should know, this was me about 4 years ago, it was only when I stopped avoiding the subject and investigating, that I felt a sense of contentment I never had before.

I can listen to the news on the radio about someones ''passing'' and unlike before feel joy for that person, sympathy for the loved ones left behind, but as Don Piper (Notable NDE) said its temporary separation, a short goodbye. What awaits (hopefully) is a long hello.

It can lead to what you call insanity, but only if you still hold onto beliefs that are not truth, because of this you will be in two minds, and you cannot serve two masters, one will eventually win.

Being of two minds probably will cause insanity. I guess you just have to make a choice. I am truly amazed at the subtlety in which spirit permeates the universe, down to the laws of quantum mechanics. Personally, I choose God.

My Dad was an Atheist. But he was a good man, talented, loving, devoted to his family, intelligent, good sense of humour, a musician. He played Chopin on the piano so exquisitely....no way could he be called "insane" !

By the way I do believe Sir David Attenborough (naturalist) is also an Atheist. Nutter? Don't think so. These people are entitled to the way they perceive things. It is possible that one day they may find out something different. But while they don't say they believe in God, they still live their lives in decent ways, and give a lot to the world.