Well your atoms get recycled, that’s a kind of immortality, but then you got them from somewhere else too, they’re only temporarily yours.

Why give it a moment's thought? You cannot change it, and you will be "not there" when it happens.
Seems like a silly waste of your actual life, to me

To me that’s the scary part of reality, not the scary part of atheism. Atheism is just facing that reality instead of denying it.

You'll be dead so will no longer care! She will remember you so you will still be around. My mum died 10 years ago and I think about her a lot so in sense she is still with me. By the way the first sentence was something she used to say!!

" From the dust and gases of long gone stars we come and to those things shall we return when we no longer live." - William Anthony, 2019

Very scary death

Growing up really strict Baptist, nothing has ever comforted me more than knowing when I die, I won’t know I’m dead, I’ll just be like sleeping with no dreams. As opposed to the severity of possible torture and torment for all of eternity if I couldn’t find a way to believe in god or that even if I didn’t go there, others would. Which brings me to MY biggest fear, which is, what if that 1% chance is true and god is real, then yeah, Hell scares the shit out of me on occasion, (when my obsessive compulsive thoughts kick in mostly) because if He’s real, that where he’s “casting” me! ?????

Why does the chance that some form of consciousness exists beyond this lifetime have to be coupled with religion? So much of science fiction of the past has come to be commonplace now..

I don't see how worrying about your non-existence can help during your existence. Granted would it be nice to believe that in the end you get to spend eternity with your loved ones and finally be given some answer to all of the questions about life the universe and everything? Of course it would! That is why so many turn to cults (I mean religions) (I mean is there really a difference between the two). Within them you are given some hope no matter how desperately illogical said hope is as long as your willing to turn your back on logic and reason, proof and evidence then you can have the sublime or as I and many of our fellow atheists would refer to it as ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, the end of that quote that almost no one seems top use is that ignorance is bliss where it is foolish to be wise. Yes, in the social constructs that we are surrounded by giving into that ignorance allows you in to the group think, to friends that are only friends while you agree, and all the other helpful social gains that you receive by accepting the non-sense into your life. I personally have never been able to do so as they generally scare the shit out of me and make me wonder if they ever think for themselves or question the obvious superstitions that they profess to be truth. I think that is something scarier than the thought of the nothingness that comes after death and the knowledge that after all of the hardships we will face during life in the end there will be no answers as to why all of the horrors that the human race has to endure as a punishment granted to us for our ability to think above the basic needs of life so that we end up questioning the meaning of it all. I'm sorry if that is a downer but unfortunately that simply is what it is!

Good day!

What is the scariest part of being an atheist?

Dangerous religious people.

The finality of death is one the best parts of not believing in souls. Living for ever may seem like a blessing, but I don't want to know what happens to a human mind after 100 billion years stuck in the same place with the same people doing the same things - with no end in sight.

I miss those I have lost, and I console myself with the fact I had them in my life at all; that no matter what happens, we had each other for a while.

I also find it scary that there is nothing after death. Unfortuntely believing in reality is not all sunshine and rainbows. Only religious fools believe in something after death, due them needing a crutch of religious belief.

You will live, as long as anyone remembers you.

My father died 20 years ago, yet he is still alive in the stories I tell my daughter about him and my memories of him. And he lives in the DNA that I passed on to her, as I will live in the genes that she will pass on if she has children. He lives in all the lives he touched, just as I will. All the kindnesses and good deeds that I have done, all the moments that I did not turn away... all the chances that I took to help another, all the people I've loved, even the strangers I've shared a smile with. As long as those people live, then so do I. Long after I'm gone.

We live through others. That's how we become fully human. That's how we achieve immortality.

Belief is defined as accepting things that are unknown. There is simply no way to know for absolute sure what happens after death. I did not chose to be Agnostic. I simply came to the understanding that there are a great many things I could not know, and that I have no control over. Is there a creator, and what happens at that moment of death, are two of those things. One of the greatest tragedies of life is that we worry about things that we cannot know, and/or control. Live in this moment because it is all you have and all you can be certain of. Love your daughter now and accept that this is all you have in this moment.

It makes you value life, more doesn't it?

The result after you die will be the same whether you believe the crazy fairy tales or not.

I have 3 kids, who are all Atheists like me. I am pretty sure that nothing happens after death. After my husband died, I had him creamated. That's it. I miss him dearly, but it is what it is We were married for 22 years when he died in 2002, my 2 younger kids were still in HS, it's been hard for me, because we had a great life together. I don't know what to tell you, sorry.

One could also be fearful they won't get 144 virgins if they don't believe in a specific religion. It's the same pipe dream as life after death. Plan on nothing after death. I would love to see the grandparents I never knew, the great grandchildren I may never meet. I am donating my body to science and then it will be cremated. Life is for the living. I believe we need to focus on this planet and those that are left behind. If your body is of use to science, donate it. If you value the land, be cremated or composted instead of wasting valuable land for the atoms in your body that will never go anywhere while encased in a tomb. Atoms that will never be part of the bigger picture if encased, and may actually return to be a part of another human existence if released to the elements. My thoughts.

I believe in something but not a god. I have had so many conversations with my day and others since they passed away that I can't disbelieve. I'm not religious in any way but do believe in spirituality and being the best person that I can be and caring for everything.

I find that the time I spend with those I love means more and I give it my all...knowing that this is all there is makes it more important to be kind, generous, loving, etc. Time becomes precious so you select where you want to spend it and how...mediocre is not acceptable...

The scariest thing for me is to look back and feel that I could have done more for future generations, like your daughter...so, that is my new goal now...do more for others.

There’s nothing to be afraid of, even in the worst scenario of total obliteration. After all, there was a time when we didn’t exist. It seems perfectly natural and okay that we would return to that state.

IMO existence as an individual personality in a body is an illusion. We are not our bodies, but rather, we are extensions of universal consciousness. It is that which exists beyond time and is immortal by default. You can’t lose what you never had.

There is nothing to fear.

That is a valid concern and one that many atheists grapple with. Your love for your daughter knows no bounds...she's a lucky girl to have a dad like you. Make sure you live the example of love, kindness and compassion so your legacy is passed on to her. She'll in turn teach her children, etc..that will be your contribution to an "eternity" with her.

No matter how eternal life is presented in any religion, etc it is still a perception. I think we take that perception to our death. That's the beautiful thing about the human mind...it will take us to our idea of "heaven", "hell" or just death as our lives end.

As I grow older I fear death less and less. I can´t comprehend the idea of living for eternity. The first 1000 years might be ok but no matter how enjoyable it is, eventually I would want to die.

For me, the scariest thing are religious extremist who want people like us dead. Those freaks scare the shit outta me.

That being said, I wanted to comment on your post. I see this as a common problem, but I see it as a reason to appreciate and cherish the living even more so. Spend time with family and friends, express your love and gratitude. When they do pass, whether it's from illness, old age or sudden accident, you will feel fulfilled. We always want more time and religion always promises more time, but truth is we don't spend the actual time we have with our loved ones and we should remind ourselves to do so. Be content that at any time anyone you know and love can pass. It's the raw truth. What will you do with that? Will you change how you treat them? Let's be real here and accept that life is temporary in all things.

i never connected god with death, so that isn't the scary part for me. when i believed in a god i didn't have any conception of a heaven or hell; judaism doesn't have the same kind of afterlife christianity does. so that, to me, isn't a scary part of atheism. it's scary, but no less scary than before i was an atheist. since i can't think of anything else scary about atheism, i guess nothing.

g

Enjoy every moment with your daughter...as well as all the people that are important to you. In the end, that will be enough!