I wouldn’t say I heap them in together. At times in my life I have rejected a belief in anything ‘higher’, which fits your definition of atheism, although perhaps my mindset was closer to an agnostic atheist stance, which to me is more along the lines of ‘I don’t believe, but I can’t be certain as there’s a limit to my knowledge’, as opposed to being a strong proponent of the belief that there is nothing beyond death.
Fair point. No one can be sure about there being anything after death. For me it’s like the safest and most logical bet that there won’t be anything. All other ‘options’ come across a lot like wishful thinking. No one is going to believe in anything that doesn’t fit their own narrative.
Personally, I would not be able to believe Santa Claus is real, so why would I believe in anything supernatural? I’d rather find answers in science.
Also, the idea of there being eternal life after death would just terrify me. It would be the most boring and useless way to spend time. It is the notion of my time being limited that gives it value. When time is unlimited, everything loses meaning.
I wouldn’t say I heap them in together. At times in my life I have rejected a belief in anything ‘higher’, which fits your definition of atheism, although perhaps my mindset was closer to an agnostic atheist stance, which to me is more along the lines of ‘I don’t believe, but I can’t be certain as there’s a limit to my knowledge’, as opposed to being a strong proponent of the belief that there is nothing beyond death.
Fair point. No one can be sure about there being anything after death. For me it’s like the safest and most logical bet that there won’t be anything. All other ‘options’ come across a lot like wishful thinking. No one is going to believe in anything that doesn’t fit their own narrative.
Personally, I would not be able to believe Santa Claus is real, so why would I believe in anything supernatural? I’d rather find answers in science.
Also, the idea of there being eternal life after death would just terrify me. It would be the most boring and useless way to spend time. It is the notion of my time being limited that gives it value. When time is unlimited, everything loses meaning.
I hear you. But then does the existence of some sort of higher purpose/unknown science necessarily imply everlasting life?