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[evileye]

What kind of arguments would a Christian be able to come up with if there were no references to, or promises of an afterlife?

The question is: If God was absolutely empirically real, but there was nothing after you die.... would they still follow Him? And if you are a Christian or religious.... would you still follow your God if there were no afterlife? And why?

(Edited to add) - Michael in Mount Dora, FL

[humanguy]

What kind of arguments would a Christian be able to come up with if there were no references to, or promises of an afterlife?

The question is: If God was absolutely empirically real, but there was nothing after you die.... would they still follow Him? And if you are a Christian or religious.... would you still follow your God if there were no afterlife? And why?

(Edited to add) - Michael in Mount Dora, FL

Great question. I think the entire central concept of Christianity is that there is an afterlife, as promised by Jesus. Heaven is a big thing to Christians. Take that away and what, really, is left? If anything I'd think that people would be pretty pissed off at God. Okay, yes, you're there, so what? What's in it for me, you know?
Now if God was absolutely empirically real but there was nothing after you die, but believing in him and doing what he tells you to do means that you'll be wealthy and that you'll get to have sex with lots of beautiful women (or men if that's what floats your boat) and you'll get to own houses and yachts and private planes and all that, then sure, why not?
But seriously, take away the afterlife, take away the promise of heaven and the threat of hell, and you've got absolutely nothing. Arguing about religion would be like arguing about Fords versus Chevys.

[Pseudonym]

What kind of arguments would a Christian be able to come up with if there were no references to, or promises of an afterlife?

What do you mean by "arguments"?

For what it's worth, I think that Christianity didn't concern itself anywhere near as much about the after-life consequences of belief versus those of unbelief (as opposed to outright wickedness) before Constantine and the dominance of the Roman school of theology.

If it helps, ask yourself if you've ever heard a rabbi talk much about an afterlife. No, me neither.

[humanguy]

For what it's worth, I think that Christianity didn't concern itself anywhere near as much about the after-life consequences of belief versus those of unbelief (as opposed to outright wickedness) before Constantine and the dominance of the Roman school of theology.

If it helps, ask yourself if you've ever heard a rabbi talk much about an afterlife. No, me neither.

Maybe it didn't back then but it sure does now, and that's the whole point.
If it helps, ask yourself whether you'd still be a Christian if there was no promise of enternal life in heaven, if instead the Bible came right out and said that there is no afterlife, when you die you die and that's it. No reward for the good people and no punishment punishment for the bad people, just the same nothing for everybody.
Oh, and a rabbi won't talk about an afterlife for the simple reason that he's not Christian. His religion doesn't have an afterlife, anyway that's what I've always heard.

[tigrrrlilly]

Hey there. Long time podcast listener, first time forum posting.

Like Emery, I'm also a recovering evangelical (along the similar lines of Southern Baptist theology -- but even scarier, I'm from a nondenominational church-turned-megachurch). I was wondering if you could do a show about coping, relationship-wise, with your still highly-religious family and friends. The episode you guys did on Parenting sort of started talking about the issue of a parent dealing with a non believing child -- in fact, when Scott said he'd have to "change my theology" if any of his kids ever rejected their faith, I think my heart dropped a little. I've only been "out" as an atheist for a couple years now, but I get the distinct feeling that my family has given up on me and prefers their connection to God over one with me.

Anyway, I'd be really interested in hearing how you guys tackle the subject. Thanks!

[Pseudonym]

If it helps, ask yourself whether you'd still be a Christian if there was no promise of enternal life in heaven, if instead the Bible came right out and said that there is no afterlife, when you die you die and that's it.

This is only half-hypothetical for me. I don't care about, nor do I spend any time thinking about, what happens after I die. Yet I'm a Christian.

Oh, and a rabbi won't talk about an afterlife for the simple reason that he's not Christian. His religion doesn't have an afterlife, anyway that's what I've always heard.

More or less. Judaism sort-of has an afterlife, but they don't really waste any time thinking about it. They're more concerned with life, rather than death. Christianity, being the offshoot of Judaism that it is, lost this very important idea somewhere along the line.

[Rian]

Hi Tigrrrlilly, and welcome to the board! Your username was my dad's nickname for me growing up

And welcome, too, evileye! Hope both of you like it here. You'll find that if you treat others with thoughtfulness and respect, you'll have some good discussions.

As far as the topic - I think I would still be a Christian, because for me, Christianity is mostly about the search for truth, and the here and now.

[yjoeyh]

As far as the topic - I think I would still be a Christian, because for me, Christianity is mostly about the search for truth, and the here and now.

I agree, although admittedly, without the afterlife, Christianity changes a LOT, but there would still be something to it. Of course, we're presupposing that everything else remains the same. i.e. there would still be something called the Bible and the history of Israel, the Church and the growth of Christianity would be unchanged. Now the hypothetical seems a lot less likely, but for the sake of it, we'll presuppose all that stuff is unchanged.
Debates about whether or not there is an afterlife has been a topic of debate among religious people throughout history. I'm assuming I don't need to post references for this, but I would be glad to send some if anyone thinks this to be an overstatement. So there are plenty of people who have held strong to their respective religions without any belief in an afterlife. They seem to gravitate towards either a "reap-what-you-sow-in-this-life" mentality or one that places hardly any value on human individuality and purpose at all. I think most Christians in this scenario would adopt the former attitude.
I doubt there would be as many Christians, but I'm sure there would still be quite a few.