Philosophy of Loss, Friday, Period 2

[living_endless]

"Welcome back," Didi said, from her usual desktop perch. "Sorry I couldn't make it last week, but I hear Atton did a good job."

"We're watching part of a movie called Justifying Your Existence today. It's about a guy who was so afraid of things his whole life that he never really lived, and now he's dead and he has to convince the people in Heaven that he did a good enough job to be allowed to move on."

She played a clip of the main character's trial, then turned the TV off.

"A lot of cultures believe in some kind of judgement after death, even if it normally doesn't come in a courtroom," she said. "If you're good, one thing happens. If you aren't good enough, something else happens. What do you think about the idea? And if you don't believe in something like this" -- she nodded to the TV -- "why do you think people might find it comforting?"

She paused, rubbing at her chin. "Or you could just tell me how awesome Meryl Streep is in the movie. That's always good."

Comments

Discussion [9/25]

[living_endless]

Do you believe in judgement after death? Regardless of your personal beliefs, why do you think other people might?

Also the place to gush about the movie, if you've seen it.

Re: Discussion [9/25]

[halfaclink.livejournal.com]

"I'll buy that it happens, but I don't see why I'd let that stop me from going wherever I want if I ever die," Frank decided.

Re: Discussion [9/25]

[living_endless]

"So you think you're going to get to choose?" Didi asked, face betraying no particular personal knowledge on the question. "Interesting. How do you figure?"

Re: Discussion [9/25]

[halfaclink.livejournal.com]

"I expect that by the time I've moved on, I'll be well-known enough in the supernatural realms that spiritual beings will either owe me a favor or not want to see my face for all eternity. Add a dash of a natural, casual disregard for rules I'm not particularly enamored by," Frank said while stirring his drink, "and no particular religious affiliation holding me down to any set of rules in the first place, and you get a spirit with an especially strong sense of self who should avoid the coin sorter at the outset."