Originally posted by: biggestmuff
I don't get it. The poll is right around 50/50.
For those that voted "no", what is the purpose of existing? What do you people live for? Why are you here?
To effect those who will survive you. To make an impact such that you will be remembered, hopefully in a positive light. Live for family, friends, and accomplishments. And of course, have fun.
I never liked the idea of doing good just to get a reward of that eternal afterlife, or simply to avoid eternal punishment. That sort of thinking works fine on a child's mind - it's not fully developed, and not quite capable of making well-thought-out decisions or thorough analyses. So keep it simple - be good, and get a reward, like TV or some cookies. As a person grows, they should learn to do good things for the sake of doing good. Be kind to others simply because it's nice, not just to earn brownie points from some deity.
Originally posted by: Oxaqata
I can't see any point in not wanting to believe this. Better than nothing at all.
There's a difference between wanting something and having it. You may want to believe that you are able to walk on air, but that won't make it happen. For some of us, we may wish for an afterlife of some sort, but we just don't see it as a remote possibility, therefore believing in it isn't really an option.
Concerning the "better than nothing at all," see previous paragraphs.