Afterlife deals with many issues arising from religious beliefs regarding an afterlife. These include the belief in the coming or returning of the messiah, the belief in an immortal soul and the belief in heaven. At the end of the day there is no evidence for any of these claims and while they may provide comfort in the face of death, they can have a negative impact. That negative impact can range from not living life to the fullest, to neglecting environmental conservation to full blown martyrdom.
Song Lyrics
Follow the guidebook for an afterlife
Which one do I try which one do I try?
I’d like to believe that i’ll never die
But I can’t comply, no I can’t comply
All the self appointed representatives of their own imaginings in the sky.
They want to usher in the messianic age.
They don’t mind if it’s brought on by nuclear rage
They are so sure of their ability to outlive the utility of their bodies
But just remember that was the last thought in the brain of every suicide bomber
in every hijacked plane
Follow the guidebook for an afterlife
Which one do I try which one do I try?
I’d like to believe that i’ll never die
But I cant comply, no I can’t comply
Thousands and thousands are humming that the second comings coming
And environmental responsibility is succumbing
To the suicidal longing for paradise
Can’t we see it’s already before our eyes?!
All that makes us who we are we find, cannot survive without a mind
But you’re so afraid to die you’re willing to sacrifice
Living through it all with the knowledge that you have only ONE LIFE
Follow the guidebook for an afterlife
Which one do I try which one do I try?
I’d like to believe that i’ll never die
But I cant comply, no I can’t comply
From the day that you are born, you are going to die
It’s not a pleasant thought at all but way that I deal with it
Is to treasure each moment with my surroundings and those I love
I spend my days, trying to engage with the world,
To learn as much about everything as I can
Using the body of knowledge which is our shared heritage to further understand
The historical and evolutionary context of man.
To hold revelation in a higher place is to spit in the face of those who chose to dedicate their lives to enrich our own
Follow the guidebook for an afterlife
Which one do I try which one do I try?
I’d like to believe that i’ll never die
But I cant comply, no I can’t comply
[…] only inkling of religion was during Afterlife, which was interjected with a recitation of a Jewish prayer in […]
So true! so true. Thank you for speaking for those of us that are not ready to go public with our beliefs.
Live now! Live fully! Let go of the silly fantasies that cause believers to do so much evil. Some of those evils are the extremes of murder, and some as mundane as oppressing the enjoyment of the moments we live in.
Write on!
Enjoyed hearing Sholom Aleichem at the end of Afterlife.
Catchy chorus. Seems fast and disjointed with the other lyrics.
Wow you can sing fast. Another wonderful track.
Thanks Steve
Without going into my own views on religious twaddle, I think the Shalom Aleichem at the end is perfectly appropriate. “This life is all we have, so while we’re here, t wish you peace.” Perfect example of anti-nihilism.
Thanks Peter!!!! I recorded a version of it live on a podcast with a longer Shalom Aleichem 😀
If you were interested – http://askanatheist.tv/2017/03/06/listening-to-shelley-and-rob/
Hey Shelley, I love every song on The Atheist Album and Afterlife is one of my favorites. Do you have the “Sholom Aleichem” section of the lyrics complete somewhere that I can find them? I’ve tried googling but only the English lyrics show up; also, what is the meaning of that section? Thank you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalom_Aleichem_(liturgy)
Hi Scott!! I don’t have the lyrics on my site but this should cover it 😀
I change the Hebrew in the last line…
Instead of ‘from the king’ or ‘mi – melech’ I change it to ‘Who is the king’ or ‘mi ha-melech’
and finish it with – ‘I am the king’ or ‘Ani Ha-melech’
All those Hebrew classes coming in handy
hope you’re well 😀