Where in scripture does it say that people's souls exist eternally, and that Christians' souls go to heaven immediately after they die? Is it not more reasonable that "everlasting life" is actually a physical, post-apocalyptic resurrection of those who have "died in Christ"? And rather than eternal punishment for non-believers, just the complete cessation of existence they already presume and profess. What would you say to that?
You probably know scripture far more in depth than I, so we could go back and forth with new and old testament..meh..the one flaw that stands out in your logic is that the concept of hell being ruled by the fallen Lucifer, the prophecy of him dominating the earth in the end days, implies that there is an actual plane that he exists in and that he will be able to arrive from...to take that a step further, if the dominion of evil belongs to Satan, then so do all of the souls that reject God.
Satan's existence notwithstanding, why do the souls of deceased unrighteous necessarily need to be housed in the actual plane in which Lucifer presently exists? Why must he have ownership of the souls that reject God? Is there a scriptural basis for that notion? I'm not making any statements here, just asking questions.
If there's no heaven, there's no reason to be good, therefore I will rob your house since there is no reason for morality.
They were raised in cultures where moral codes via religion have been long established. They are atheists, but the society they were raised in is one that has laws and rules that were based on reward or punishment in the afterlife.
You know, I cant think of any specific instance that would support that they would be housed, per say..And , I did find reference to those that do not believe dying a "second" death.. so you may have something here.. I will have to give this some thought I often find that my preconceived beliefs, when held to the light of study, are not always correct...if you are interested, I would share an example some other time.
Even your belief does EDIT: explanation When you die, your organic self is always part of the universe. Your entire lineage has been mapped out the moment the universe expanded.
hmm the only exception that I can think of off hand, is the belief that when you die the rest of what we precieve to be reality ceases to exist
That's the funny thing about atheism. They really don't want to believe life exists after death, but it really does. Even with their belief.
When I die, the chemical and electrical processes that give me consciousness stop and it's lights out forever. That's all there is to it. My body is an empty shell.
