In Reply to: But how do you know for certain that you don't just go poof? posted by BruinPatti on January 02, 2026 at 19:36:19
all of a sudden pray to a higher power when they are in a life or death situation? When Damar Hamlin's heart stopped on the field for the Bills, quite a few people got religious at that moment. I don't remember anybody saying take your religious cr*p elsewhere when most were on their knees at the time.
You wouldn't be able to get tangible evidence to life after death, but there have been multiple stories told by people who have suffered Near Death Experiences. I've talked to two people that have supposedly experienced that. I've had an experience from my dad that may have all been in my head or may have been something that actually happened, but statistically was unlikely. If you had a friend that had a NDE and swore by it, would you believe them? If you did, would you still believe them years later?
There is no tangible evidence, that's why it's faith. I've known a few people that have lost kids. Those people needed faith at those times. Maybe everything is random and chance, but the older I get and the more I research, the more I lean towards a higher power. But that's me. My brother and his wife are atheists and view that as make believe. I don't try to change them, but the thing I asked my SIL was please don't ever walk up to someone who lost a young child and say oh well, just don't fall for make believe. Even then it kind of hit her how lucky she is to not to have faced something like that.
I'll close out with a final thought to not get too much into religion. Years ago, I read a book called 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Just a book that stuck with me about trying to have balance in your life between career, family, hobbies, and religion/faith. I can say that most the people I enjoy being around do seem to have pretty good balance in their lives. I've noticed a lot of younger wealthy people are focused on their narcissistic behaviors and constantly spewing cliches in life and seem to end up miserable over time.