<< There is no evidence for it, there is no evidence against it, other than the lack of evidence for it. You must invoke the supernatural if you want an afterlife. >>
Well, of course, that brings up the subject of what somebody is willing to accept as evidence (i.e., what will I allow myself to consider as evidence?). And this goes back to our underlying presuppositions in the first place. For example, if you presuppose that there is nothing whatsoever that is supernatural, then supernatural evidence is ruled out from the beginning as being evidence that supports the supernatural. If you presuppose that there is no God, then all evidence for Him is redefined as something else because to admit it as evidence would be to change your basic presupposition. To change a basic presupposition is what is known as a conversion because it affects the way that you view all aspects of life. Our basic presuppositions are the lenses through which we interpret the universe in which we live. And thus, while you and I live in the same Universe, we live in different universes (if you can catch my meaning here). Now, in reality, only one of our universes is correct, or they are both incorrect; there is no way, however, that they are both correct.
And so, the evidence that we consider will be interpreted by our respective presuppostions. Now, even a more basic question is why we hold the basic presuppostions that we do.
<< I can't believe in something just because I want it to be true. >>
Actually, yes, you can. You can also refuse to believe in something because you don't want it to be true. For example, a person can suppress the knowledge that there is a holy God and that he is going to have to give an account of himself at a final judgment after he dies, and thus, this person can deny that there is anything else after death itself.
<< As far as judgement goes, I fear no judgement. >>
Actually, God's written word tells us how this actually takes place in a person. This may surprise you, but God's Word says that the lack of this fear can only mean one of two things. One of these 2 things is that God is judging you already and is giving you up to your own desire to be self-deceived. If a person doesn't wish to retain the knowledge of the true God, then God will at times give that person over to his own desires. This is actually a dreadful thing to happen to a person, though that person doesn't realize it. The process is described in Romans 1:18-32.
<< Is the reason you believe in an after-life because you can't face the thought of actually dying? >>
Actually, I know that I am going to die, as well as everybody else that I meet. I also know that I am a sinner and that there is a holy, righteous God whose justice must be satisfied. I don't live in denial of these facts.
Well, of course, that brings up the subject of what somebody is willing to accept as evidence (i.e., what will I allow myself to consider as evidence?). And this goes back to our underlying presuppositions in the first place. For example, if you presuppose that there is nothing whatsoever that is supernatural, then supernatural evidence is ruled out from the beginning as being evidence that supports the supernatural. If you presuppose that there is no God, then all evidence for Him is redefined as something else because to admit it as evidence would be to change your basic presupposition. To change a basic presupposition is what is known as a conversion because it affects the way that you view all aspects of life. Our basic presuppositions are the lenses through which we interpret the universe in which we live. And thus, while you and I live in the same Universe, we live in different universes (if you can catch my meaning here). Now, in reality, only one of our universes is correct, or they are both incorrect; there is no way, however, that they are both correct.
And so, the evidence that we consider will be interpreted by our respective presuppostions. Now, even a more basic question is why we hold the basic presuppostions that we do.
<< I can't believe in something just because I want it to be true. >>
Actually, yes, you can. You can also refuse to believe in something because you don't want it to be true. For example, a person can suppress the knowledge that there is a holy God and that he is going to have to give an account of himself at a final judgment after he dies, and thus, this person can deny that there is anything else after death itself.
<< As far as judgement goes, I fear no judgement. >>
Actually, God's written word tells us how this actually takes place in a person. This may surprise you, but God's Word says that the lack of this fear can only mean one of two things. One of these 2 things is that God is judging you already and is giving you up to your own desire to be self-deceived. If a person doesn't wish to retain the knowledge of the true God, then God will at times give that person over to his own desires. This is actually a dreadful thing to happen to a person, though that person doesn't realize it. The process is described in Romans 1:18-32.
<< Is the reason you believe in an after-life because you can't face the thought of actually dying? >>
Actually, I know that I am going to die, as well as everybody else that I meet. I also know that I am a sinner and that there is a holy, righteous God whose justice must be satisfied. I don't live in denial of these facts.