Of another world

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Originally Posted by davem

I don't see that the lack of an afterlife makes me a 'loser' as I don't have any thoughts on the matter either way - of course, its a nice fantasy if you're that way inclined. I have to say that when I was your age (a very long time ago ) it kind of appealed, but now I find it interests me less & less as a concept. I know that when you're young there is this desire to live forever (which is why I think so many teenage readers are drawn to the Elves).

I've observed the same, and it's interesting that younger people may be drawn to the elves as they are both immortal and (at least) outwardly beautiful (if not perfect). Also, younger people have less of a sense of their own mortality which is what fuels the crazy (and sometimes destructive) behavior.

As one gets older, the elf-appeal is less as is the adrenaline addiction. You think more about the day. Will have to let you know sometime later if one's thoughts return again to 'afterlife.' We could have a poll that could correlate age with 'afterlife thinkingness'.

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Far be it from me to create the climate. It is hate and fear and lust (for power) and envy in the heart of humans that creates such a climate, not beliefs based on religious or spiritual texts.

Much agreed. Religion/belief systems aren't responsible for all of the problems that we experience in this world, and I think that it's just that animal inside us. Some choose to point at the devil as the cause for such evils, and like our discussion about God, I think that this incarnate evil is just another convenient excuse that creates a certain world view.