Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 09:50 AM Mar 2018

Stephen Hawking, John Lennon and Atheism's Fear of Eternity

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/johnclark/stephen-hawking-john-lennon-and-atheisms-fear-of-eternity

In the recent book, God or Nothing, Robert Cardinal Sarah makes a comment that seems parenthetical to the rest of the work, but is nevertheless fascinating: “A Godless society, which considers any spiritual questions a dead letter, masks the emptiness of its materialism by killing time so as better to forget eternity.” While contemplating this statement, I thought about various comments I’d seen on the subject of eternity on atheist sites and in books.

...What is the atheist’s attitude toward people who do believe in God and eternity? To put it mildly, it’s often less than flattering. As the recently-departed Stephen Hawking put it: “I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” In Hawking’s view, each and every one of us who believes in God and eternity believes so because we are afraid of nonexistence. Apparently, Hawking was not just a theoretical physicist, but also a theoretical psychologist, who reduced the entire field of metaphysics to nothing more than a night-light for cowards.

But this prompts the question: What about those who embrace non-eternity (or annihilation)? Are they afraid of anything? Here’s where it gets interesting. Judging by the comments on atheist websites and in comment boxes (including the comment box on my own blog), their viewpoint of eternity goes well beyond a garden-variety distaste. Rather, their statements often exhibit something that is sometimes called apeirophobia: the fear of eternity. Some atheists and agnostics express this fear explicitly on websites, while others address their fear through the mockery of Christians, but that fear is there nevertheless.

In fact, many people cannot understand why anyone would desire eternal life. For instance, after my blog last year titled, “Why Bother Arguing With Atheists?” someone wrote that—because I desired eternal happiness—it was clear that I had “never examined what eternity actually means.” The clear implication is that anyone who truly understands what eternity means desperately hopes that there is no such thing. To Cardinal Sarah’s point, the outlook of some people is shaped by their desire to forget eternity.


Putting aside this author's total disinterest in actually understanding WHY atheists "fear" eternity, the basic point is pretty close to being right. But speaking for myself, I wouldn't say it's so much a "fear" (which the author chooses to use so he can beat a trope into the ground) as it is a combination of disgust and disappointment in the concept.

Another way of putting it: if we truly go on to live forever, then there is no such thing as heaven. Eternal life would be hell no matter what. After you've reunited with everyone you know, eaten every meal you ever loved a thousand times, been to a million cocktail hours with the most interesting people in history, attended a billion sporting events where your favorite team wins the championship, after you've learned everything you ever wanted to learn and more, after you've learned everything there is to know... not even a second has ticked off the eternity clock.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Stephen Hawking, John Lennon and Atheism's Fear of Eternity (Original Post) trotsky Mar 2018 OP
The cardinal mocks Hawking for not being an actual psychologist, ExciteBike66 Mar 2018 #1
I know a busload of atheists Brainstormy Mar 2018 #2
I take issue with this VMA131Marine Mar 2018 #3
What egos some folks have.... LakeArenal Mar 2018 #4
Large dose of morning BS aka-chmeee Mar 2018 #5
I worry about eternity as much as I worry about Santa Claus. (n/t) Iggo Mar 2018 #6
This is dumb. Thyla Mar 2018 #7
You know who embraces death? Members of death cults, that's who. Iggo Mar 2018 #8
Damn straight! Thyla Mar 2018 #9
I am an atheist but I believe that our souls, personalities, or whatever go demigoddess Mar 2018 #10

ExciteBike66

(2,280 posts)
1. The cardinal mocks Hawking for not being an actual psychologist,
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 09:55 AM
Mar 2018

and then decides to practice his own little bit of psychology?

Brainstormy

(2,380 posts)
2. I know a busload of atheists
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 10:19 AM
Mar 2018

and not one of them waste a precious minute of THIS life fearing, or even thinking about, "eternity."

VMA131Marine

(4,124 posts)
3. I take issue with this
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 10:22 AM
Mar 2018

I can re-write these sentences: "..What is the atheist’s attitude toward people who do believe in God and eternity? To put it mildly, it’s often less than flattering. "

As follows :

..What is the beliver's attitude toward atheists? To put it mildly, it’s often less than flattering.

And it's just as true.

Although both statements generalize to an entire population the views and comments of a few prominent members.

LakeArenal

(28,729 posts)
4. What egos some folks have....
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 10:52 AM
Mar 2018

I spend so little time worrying about afterlife. For all I know, I could be sucked into a black hole.

I find the fear in many religious folks. Fear of god, fear of sin, fear of science, fear of change, fear of truth.

I'm even past the "disgust and disappointment in the concept."

Whatever trips your trigger. If you find comfort in fairy tales. Fine by me.. Leave me science and mathematics.

Thyla

(791 posts)
7. This is dumb.
Wed Mar 21, 2018, 01:12 PM
Mar 2018

Embrace annihilation? Seriously these people are making shit up now.
Who embraces death? At least, who that is healthy and does not have some imminent health concern would embrace it?

Nobody, that is who. Yeah I get at some point after many long years you may be ready for it but honestly fuck that shit if there was other options.

And most people would be lying if they said they did not fear death, I do and for what it is worth I would gladly undergo whatever gene therapy if it meant I could live on indefinitely. I would embrace eternity if it existed in this mortal form but it doesn't so that is the long and short of it.

demigoddess

(6,640 posts)
10. I am an atheist but I believe that our souls, personalities, or whatever go
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 12:52 AM
Mar 2018

beyond death. I have felt ghosts since I was 8. and they are not scary, they usually are just visiting someone they love. And I am not crazy. My daughter saw one too at the same time I felt him. It was my biological father whom I never knew. My stepfather came around when I was in the hospital with a cancer operation. And our cats came to give me love and comfort after they passed. But I don't believe it happens by going to church and praying for something or other. I just believe that is how we are made.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Stephen Hawking, John Len...