Why does having a "God" necessitate an afterlife?

[EGarrett]

Here's something I wonder about.

Most "spiritual" people argue staunchly for the existence of a God, believing that it naturally follows that they don't have to die.

Why? The common trait of a God is that it created the universe as we know it, and that it is "all-powerful."

Okay...so why does that mean you don't have to die?

Assume for an instant that you're right, and the world was created like a model airplane by a great being. We've observed that conscious is inextricably linked to the brain, and that all signs point to consciousness ending when the brain dies.

The being that created the universe may have made it that way. Just to see some other types of consciousness blink into and out of existence. He could have designed the universe exactly the way it appears, then left. So you'd have a God, but you still have nothing after death.

If you think about it...it kind of "melts away" most reasons that spiritual people argue for that sort of thing. You can have your God...but that still doesn't mean you get the warm fuzzies or that you don't have to kick the bucket.

I imagine a lot of them would stop wasting their time at that point.

[Kopji]

Most "spiritual" people argue staunchly for the existence of a God, believing that it naturally follows that they don't have to die.

This is stated as a fact but not really established. Might be an honest misconception due to culture or geography. There are many 'spiritual' people throughtout the world who believe in reincarnation or something similar. Their beliefs may or may not also include believing in God or various deities.
I suppose that technically, such 'god-free' people would be atheists, even though they held what might be called supernatural beliefs. (Begging the question 'what is natural?')

So anyway... belief in God and eternal life are unrelated.

[Correa Neto]

I always considered that the existence of a deity does not necessarily implies in an eternal soul. Actually, as in your "model airplane" analogy (OT digression - I love plastic scale modelism), there´s not even any need for a soul.

However, most religions (present and past) postulate an afterlife of some sort, and many present as some version of reward-punishment mechanism as well. Possibly because they were developed as means of control of the society. They needed to provide consolation, a meaning for life and good reasons for the citizens maintain the social order as it is (was).

So, basically what we are talking about applies to philosophical concepts of god relatively detached from religion. I don´t think such concepts would attract much people, specially because they, as you pointed out, offer no consolation or special meaning for all the suffering.

[P.S.A.]

Originally posted by Kopji

So anyway... belief in God and eternal life are unrelated.

Not entirely true; both God and eternal life are attempts to answer the same need religious people have... The need for the Universe to have some form of Justice within it. God is the Judge, and eternal life a form of the Justice, and one flows from the other. Of course, cultural factors can influence this somewhat, but at base the need remains the same across all religious people.

[spectacle]

Originally posted by P.S.A.
Not entirely true; both God and eternal life are attempts to answer the same need religious people have... The need for the Universe to have some form of Justice within it. God is the Judge, and eternal life a form of the Justice, and one flows from the other. Of course, cultural factors can influence this somewhat, but at base the need remains the same across all religious people.

no, not all religions believe in an afterlife. even if they have a God or Gods, that doesnt mean a religion thinks there is an afterlife (like the greco-roman religions). some believe that there is one afterlife that everyone goes to, no matter how they lived their lives... and this afterlife sucks (sheol).

so, not everyone thinks that God is a cosmic judge making sure everyone follows the rules

[P.S.A.]

Originally posted by spectacle
no, not all religions believe in an afterlife. even if they have a God or Gods, that doesnt mean a religion thinks there is an afterlife (like the greco-roman religions). some believe that there is one afterlife that everyone goes to, no matter how they lived their lives... and this afterlife sucks (sheol).

so, not everyone thinks that God is a cosmic judge making sure everyone follows the rules

You miss the point; all religions attempt to argue for a system of Justice. Karma plays that role on Buddhism, but it's an impersonal, one could say structural quality of the Universe rather than a Judge personified like God.. But there is still judgement of the acts you do within this life even in Buddhism. Most religions tend to go the God > Post Life Judgement route, but it's still the same basic need. Justify and reward decent living. Punish evil.

The Greco-religions did have an afterlife btw, Hades being the most famous part of it.

[Kopji]

PSA
Ok, I think I see your point and can agree with that.
I might describe justice as seeking/achieving a kind of balance in response to events.

The Navajo have a word 'hozho' that is not quite religious or secular in meaning, but refers to this balance and connects it with beauty rather than supernatural beings.

[c4ts]

I don't know, it's been a mystery to me for years. Somehow the existence of a divine being automatically signifies you're going to magic happy land when you die.

[Kopji]

There was a funny survey on this. 90% or so of people interviewed think THEY are going to heaven. That's like, all believers.

http://www.dountoothers.org/beliefbythenumbers.html

-this is a background music free site-
...but uses mildly obnoxious color combinations