If God does not exist.... - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Chapel-Hill-Coug · 09-20-2007, 03:51 PM

I have heard it said by several people in the LDS church, and particularly by two separate members of my own family on two different occasions, that "If God doesn't exist, I would just want to kill myself."

I'm baffled by these statements, and lately have been trying to figure out what this statement means. If this life is all there is, and there is no God or afterlife, why would one want to end his/her life immediately? My suspicion is that deep down these people detest themselves and their lives. What other explanation could there be? Any ideas?

For me, the possibility has made me appreciate life more, has made me search more, less robotic in my approach to life, and more willing to think about the consequences of my actions. [Keep in mind I'm not stating there is no God, just acknowledging the possibility].

UtahDan · 09-20-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chapel-Hill-Coug

I have heard it said by several people in the LDS church, and particularly by two separate members of my own family on two different occasions, that "If God doesn't exist, I would just want to kill myself."

I'm baffled by these statements, and lately have been trying to figure out what this statement means. If this life is all there is, and there is no God or afterlife, why would one want to end his/her life immediately? My suspicion is that deep down these people detest themselves and their lives. What other explanation could there be? Any ideas?

For me, the possibility has made me appreciate life more, has made me search more, less robotic in my approach to life, and more willing to think about the consequences of my actions. [Keep in mind I'm not stating there is no God, just acknowledging the possibility].

I have never heard that one. The one a hear much more frequently is "even if the church isn't true or there is no God, this is still a good community to belong to and a good place to help raise children."

Mormon Red Death · 09-20-2007, 03:57 PM

If God does not exist it would be neccessary to invent him

RC Vikings · 09-20-2007, 04:04 PM

Would human law be enough to keep you from doing whats right and wrong? Would you still not cheat on your wife because you cared for and loved her? How would the loss of a loved one affect you. Would the world have more or less wars? It would be interesting to see what changes their would be in the world.

Jeff Lebowski · 09-20-2007, 04:58 PM

I have never heard that sentiment.

myboynoah · 09-20-2007, 05:29 PM

Me neither. Sounds a bit hyperbolic; like something a 13-year-old would say.

il Padrino Ute · 09-20-2007, 05:32 PM

If God didn't exist, would BYU football exist?

Indy Coug · 09-20-2007, 05:37 PM

Would Europeans have even colonized the Americas?

DrumNFeather · 09-20-2007, 06:03 PM

If God does not exist, I'd better polish up my Golden Calf...

Chapel-Hill-Coug · 09-20-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myboynoah

Me neither. Sounds a bit hyperbolic; like something a 13-year-old would say.

I suspect that given the chance to think about it, most of these people would have revised their statements, in all fairness. But the fact that I have heard it so much is still interesting. I'm surprised noone else has heard this, though I suppose maybe I'm one of the few on the board who would steer a conversation in this direction--perhaps that's the reason. [Most often it is said after I say something like "I'm not sure I believe in God".]

09-20-2007, 03:51 PM	#1
Chapel-Hill-Coug Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 216	If God does not exist.... I have heard it said by several people in the LDS church, and particularly by two separate members of my own family on two different occasions, that "If God doesn't exist, I would just want to kill myself." I'm baffled by these statements, and lately have been trying to figure out what this statement means. If this life is all there is, and there is no God or afterlife, why would one want to end his/her life immediately? My suspicion is that deep down these people detest themselves and their lives. What other explanation could there be? Any ideas? For me, the possibility has made me appreciate life more, has made me search more, less robotic in my approach to life, and more willing to think about the consequences of my actions. [Keep in mind I'm not stating there is no God, just acknowledging the possibility].

09-20-2007, 03:57 PM	#3
Mormon Red Death Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Clinton Township, MI Posts: 3,126	If God does not exist it would be neccessary to invent him __________________ Its all about the suit

09-20-2007, 04:58 PM	#5
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	I have never heard that sentiment. __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

09-20-2007, 05:29 PM	#6
myboynoah Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Memphis freakin' Tennessee!!!!! Posts: 4,530	Me neither. Sounds a bit hyperbolic; like something a 13-year-old would say. __________________ Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith.

09-20-2007, 05:32 PM	#7
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	If God didn't exist, would BYU football exist? __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

09-20-2007, 04:04 PM	#4
RC Vikings Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Rexburg, Idaho Posts: 2,236	Would human law be enough to keep you from doing whats right and wrong? Would you still not cheat on your wife because you cared for and loved her? How would the loss of a loved one affect you. Would the world have more or less wars? It would be interesting to see what changes their would be in the world.

09-20-2007, 05:37 PM	#8
Indy Coug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Between Iraq and a hard place Posts: 7,569	Would Europeans have even colonized the Americas?

09-20-2007, 06:03 PM	#9
DrumNFeather Active LDS Ute Fan Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nantucket : ) Posts: 2,566	If God does not exist, I'd better polish up my Golden Calf... __________________ "It's not like we played the school of the blind out there." - Brian Johnson.