Do atheists think their is no essence beyond your body, and at death you will cease to exist entirely?

Question

so every choice you make is all pre-programed...then why should people be held accountable for their actions if we are just we are born to be and have no "real" choices in our life...

Answer 1

To answer your posted question:

This one does.

You additional details are a total non-sequitur.

Answer 2

Unlike you, we don't need a fairytale book to keep us from doing evil. If that's what it takes for YOU to be moral, then don't stop believing please!

Answer 3

How do you make the connection between there being no "soul" or "essence" and everything being pre-ordained?

I would argue that as an atheist I am under less constraint than religionists who feel compelled to conform to certain behaviour patterns in order to appease their imaginary friend. If anything it is religionists for whom life is pre-ordained; atheists are free of all "supernatural supervision" and at liberty to exercise their freewill and independence in any way they choose.

and it's THERE; not THEIR

Answer 4

So we have no free will because there -isn't- an omnipotent being who could prevent free will but chooses not to?

Er, what?

Answer 5

You are held accountable for your actions by society and the law.... doesn't matter what you believe.  It stops chaos and keeps order in all lives.

What are "Real" choices?  Everyone has the same choices in life.... it depends on which choice you choose.

Answer 6

I have no idea how you built a bridge between no essence beyond your body and decisions being pre programed.

I don't think your decisions are pre programed. Your brain is capable of making independent thoughts.  And when you die, your brain is dead, so you can no longer do this.

Answer 7

Choice doesnt exist only if a divine being is in control of our lives.

Just because we cease to exist in the end, doesnt mean we lost our ability to make choices.

Basically I'm failing to see the relation between an afterlife and free will, that you seem to be making a claim for.

Answer 8

atheism isn't a philosophy that compels any particular behavior.

Answer 9

Your logic flows with the rhythm of a fish riding a bicycle.

Answer 10

How is a lack of afterlife at all related to free will?

Answer 11

It doesn't matter what they think...they are all going to h**l anyways.

Answer 12

Duuuuuur- because we have a little thing called the Golden Rule. Secondly I don't see the link you're trying to make between predestination and an afterlife- care to elaborate?

Secondly (and I'm so very tired of explaining this...) the *only* common link between atheists is a lack of belief in any higher power. That's it. Everything elseessentially varies from person to person.

Answer 13

Not all atheists.  But I personally do not believe in any "spiritual" essence beyond our physical bodies, and at death our consciousness shall cease entirely.  That does not mean, however, that every choice is "pre-programmed."  People do have the ability to make decisions, and individuals should be held accountable for choosing to engage in behavior which society has deemed inappropriate by passing laws against it.

Answer 14

I'm an atheist and I do think there's some form of human existence after death of the physical body.

But I have no idea what the h**l you're talking about with the "pre-programmed" and "no real choices" stuff. That makes no sense and is totally unrelated to your first point.

Answer 15

what are you talking about now fmko?

no, life after death and morality are not really connectible  in this way, you seem to have missed out a whole section of your question and its not worded very well

we are held accountable because, while we are alive, our choices affect others and soceity

we have plenty choices, what are you talking about?

the only choices we dont have is that we are born and that we die, all the stuff in between is left to only us and our choices as individuals and as societys

Answer 16

We ARE held accountable for EVERY action we take..

You and i will rot in ground one day, whether you like it, or not.

What essence???

Answer 17

I don't necessarily believe that.  I believe our energy stays around after we are gone.  I don't believe in the rest of what you are saying either.  Of course we have choices in our lives.  You get out of life what you put into it.

Answer 18

I am not sure how you make that leap. Why do you assume that I believe all things are pre-programmed just because I believe death is final?

Answer 19

Once you're dead, you're dead.  That's it.

And what's with the non-sequitur?

Answer 20

I say this with all sincerity....HUH???

How does seeking to exist at death lead to pre-programmed? That doesn't make a bit of sense...

Aside from that, people SHOULD be able to be good for the sake of being good and not because some type of punishment will happen if you don't.  

Answer 21

I'll let you know after I die...

Answer 22

The question does not match the details.  Your conclusion is wrong.

I suggest you look again at who claims pre-programming or pre-determination is occuring.

Answer 23

Atheists don't believe in gods.

It's really not difficult to understand.  There are plenty of spiritual religions in this world that do not believe in gods.

Answer 24

You have a logic error.

Atheism and being pre-programmed are two separate things.

The idea of being pre-programmed is an idea shared by many, including non atheists, e.g. "God's plan."

But... most people do not know they have real choices. They just ride the wave life gives them and never fight the current. This isn't God that decides this. It is us.

Answer 25

Doesn't matter - society should still move to protect itself and its members, and it does.

You might be confusing "no soul or afterlife" with "deterministic universe/no free will". I don't believe in souls, afterlife, and I do believe we live in a deterministic universe but my first line still holds - in a society of little meat robots reading/writing to and from each other and their environment, rules will emerge. Some people will break those rules, and others will try to stop them.