Mordred: Because the notion of atheism is often met with anger by christians, citing that it is amoral, I can't help but wonder, just for the sake of hypothesizing: what would you do if you found out your religion was false and that your life now is the only thing that matters, that there was no afterlife? How would you live your life from that moment onward? Would you run around madly and commit savage acts because "nothing matters", or would you try to make every moment the most meaningful and profound moment of your life? I prefer the latter of the two choices.

Jeanie: Thats a good question. But hard for me to answer since I do believe. I've lost a lot of loved ones, but truly don't believe they are gone...and they aren't living on in my mind! Their intelligences and spirits ARE living.

Personally, though, I learned a long time ago to be happy I have to respect my own self. To thine own self be true. I don't live for the afterlife....I live how I do because it makes me happier to now! I actually grew up pretty much untended I guess you could say.... There was a song which was a hit back in '73, "Wildflower" by Skylark. I loved that song. Oddly enough my husband was the guitar player at the time it was a hit and then David broke the band up because the singer wanted more of a percentage on the song. Long story...but I was a wildflower. I tried things to a point but was traumatized (raped) which actually served to get me on a better track in the long run. I was only 13.... I actually saved myself for my husband after that. (But not like I was really experienced either). Not saying it was easy, but he loved me partly because he knew he could trust me because he had been hurt himself by groupies. I doubt you are only talking about these kind of issues, but I actually feel strongly that self control is actually at the heart of happiness. Moral self control. I've always been honest... I think half of growing up is learning to control yourself. Otherwise people are pretty much just doing what they have to to get their own way. Actually, I'm afraid society as a whole IS about that. I'd rather like myself, though, than succeed that way.