Life After Death And The Atheist Apologist

I have often wondered why some atheists feel the need to argue with Christians, and other believers in life after death, about the existence of life after death. It seems to me that the atheist’s argument is a waste of time. After all, why spend a lot of time arguing against something if you believe it is not real? Nobody that I know goes out and writes books proving that Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy are not real. Why not? Because those persons don't exist. We believe they don't exist, we know they don't exist, so we don't waste our time trying to prove they don't exist. If I meet someone who believes in Santa Clause I am not going to argue with them or try to prove to them that their belief in Santa is childish, silly, or wishful thinking. Why not? Number one I know that Santa does not exist and number two their belief in Santa is not harming them or anyone else.

Since atheists don't believe in life after death why do some of them spend so much time trying to prove it does not exist? After all, if death means that the person totally ceases to exist, then it does not matter what a person believes about life after death. Why not? Because, if that were the case, nobody would ever know the truth. Consider these words by Dr Gary Habermas and Dr JP Moreland:

"Some philosophical considerations are worthwhile here. While our greatest fear may be experiencing nonexistence, a moment's reflection shows that this could never be the case. No one could ever experience and then report back to us a state that denies our sense experience by its very nature. Therefore, we will never experience nonexistence. What we may fear the most could never happen, for this is a contradictory notion. Further, even in a worst-case scenario involving the nonexistence of the next life, we could never know this to be the case experientially." -Pg349 (Beyond Death).

I agree with that one hundred percent. If there were no life after death then nobody would ever know there was no life after death. Why not? Because you can't know anything if you cease to exist. Therefore for anyone to argue against life after death seems a bit silly to me. After all if there were no life after death, the world's most hardened atheist, the world's most faithful Christian, and the world's most brutal murder would all be in the same boat of unconscious nonexistence five seconds after they die. What is more none of them would know it. Nobody would know they were wrong and nobody would know they were right. In fact, if there were no life after death, the person would not know they were dead nor would they even know they had ever lived. Get the picture?

If these atheist apologists are so sure there is no life after death then it seems to me that they are wasting their time by arguing against it. After all what are they proving? Nothing, and you can't prove nothing.

However I am here to report some good and bad news. For the believer in Jesus Christ there is not only life after death, there is eternal life with Christ and the saints in glory. For the unbeliever, of whatever stripe, life after death will bring judgment, pain, and regret in the uttermost.

So not only is there life after death,
there is judgment after death.

 

==That is true. However I was directing my argument against those atheists who do argue against life after death (I refered to them as atheist apologists). I know they are out there because I have seen several articles written by atheists. My arguments would certainly not apply to someone who just did not know for sure.

 

==Flew is now a deist. I don't recall his views on life after death (etc) but he certainly believes in intelligent design. He also favors Christianity above the other world religions. However he is not a Christian (yet).

==Nothing, I will have to look that up.

 

==That is true but if there were no God then the idea of any sort of good afterlife seems unlikely. I don't think wandering around the place alone, invisible, and not being able to communicate with others who have died would be positive at all. Sure it might be fun to haunt some houses (he, he, he) but after a period of time that would get old. Mind you, it might take a while for me to get bored (I have seen plenty of horror movies). However since there is a God (yes I am use presuppositional apologetics) that seems like an unlikely scenario. Since there is a God it is more likely that the afterlife has a purpose and does not consist of wandering around the place. God, of course, has revealed that purpose to us in His Holy Word. He has not left us in the dark. There are no ghosts in the attic and dead people don't live in their old homes or favorite hotels. When a person dies they either enter into the presence of Jesus or they are cast into torment. That does not mean that I reject the idea of haunted houses (etc). I believe in hauntings. However those events are demonic in nature and are not caused by ghosts.