I made this post framed in the context of how Christians proclaim that they will have eternal life.

This is often said as a 'gotcha' to atheists and skeptics as if we should dread not having an afterlife to look forward to after our deaths.

What's ironic is that Christians despite clamoring for and celebrating the eternal life they are promised but have no proof for is the loss of their lives on this side. What do I mean?

Take your average fundamental evangelical Christian who practices a form of Christianity based on what their pastor preaches, memes, songs, apologists, and maybe the occasional reading of the Bible if we are generous.

How many Christians have cut loving and supportive friends and family members out of their lives simply because they didn't practice their same faith? How does it feel for them to throw away friendships and companionship and to convince their selves they are much more emotionally satisfied?

How many times have Christians emotionally and physically abused children and justified it using the fear that their deity is going to burn their kid for eternity over finite violations of its subjective moral values? How many of them are sorrowful and try to understand why their children don't interact with them in adulthood?

How often have Christians dismissed and denounced their own children over their sexuality or religious beliefs (or in this subreddit's case the lack thereof) and patted their selves on the backs for 'counting the cost' and choosing Jesus over their own loved ones? How often have they convinced their selves that it was better to anguish over their child being gay versus choosing the joy and satisfaction that comes from being able to embrace and recognize someone for who they are?

How often have Christians willingly remained ignorant on various topics that would challenge their religious views to remain blissfully attached to a religious practice that makes them foolish and incomprehensible to those they consider lost? How much have they lost out in life by not enriching their selves mentally?

How often have Christians approached random strangers, pressed them on their religious views, and told said strangers that they deserve to be burned and tortured for eternity simply because they didn't believe in the right deity out of the thousands of deities that are known or worshipped today? How often have they estranged people that could have been great individuals to know?

How often have Christians thrown money at evangelists and preachers with the idea that God will bless them for blessing "their anointed"? How often have they been willing to invest ten percent or more of their paychecks into those who make claims? How often have they endangered their selves and their family members simply because they believed an all-powerful god wanted them to ignore their financial needs and obligations to give it a material good it supposedly created?

How often have Christians chosen to demonize fantastical works of fiction and art because the resonance of those works instilled more joy than their stale and oppressive religion? How often have they missed out on great songs, movies, videos, and inspiring novels simply because anything counterculture to their conservative religion is "witchcraft"?

How often have women who subscribed to the views of the Bible thrown away opportunities for career advancement, self-exploration, and happiness because they were convinced by a preacher that wifehood/motherhood should be their priorities?

How often have Christians who are a part of an oppressed group (ethnic, gender, sexuality, etc.) stood by idly praying for a deity to save their group from injustices committed by oppressors who practice the same faith? How often have they missed out on comprehending and wielding the anger, disgust, and frustration to affect their communities versus hoping and praying that God would change the minds of the oppressors?

How often have Christians missed out on such amazing and fleeting experiences this life offers simply because a millenia old text cobbled together from the mad ravings of an ancient people said not to?

How often have Christians been complicit in covering up corruption in their own churches if not their denomination as a whole? How often did they have regrets and feel dead inside from ignoring a guiding moral thought that conflicted with the horrible atrocities being committed by their church clergy?

How often have Christians so easily forgiven those of their same faith who have committed such disgusting acts of child molestation, grooming, r*pe, but then accused those being loving and swell people of being depraved degenerates destroying the moral fibers of society?

How often has a Christian prayed, cried, trembled, and begged God to create peace, prosperity, and to soothe the souls of those society has forgotten about, to provide finance to those poor and on tough times, and to heal the bodies of those who are sick and to sit on edge waiting for such an unconcerned deity to do such things?

How often have "pro-life" evangelical Christians screeched at those who are pro-choice, but yet they continue to vote for politicians and officials who further the suffering of pregnant women and children that are born?

Often, we have had people screech at us and become morose thinking about how we can only think about this life. Well, that's because until proven otherwise this life is the only one that we know of and the only we can experience. Our actions matter - we can love people, advocate for the greater good, experience the splendor of life, and impart onto the next generation the tools to succeed and to improve on the strides we have made.

It behooves us to think critically, to make life enjoyable for others, and to remove as much suffering as possible due to intellectually deprived, morally bankrupt, and misguided individuals that would oppress others in the name of a deity that approves of such acts.

Christian apologist John Piper once preached a message based on the Christian philosophy of looking to eternity versus living here in the now. It does poke some holes in the flaws with capitalism and the mental detriment that happens when people aim to meet societal expectations of wealth and livelihood. Otherwise it's standard Christian apologetics stuff. However, there are a few lines that I want to examine and contend with:

"With all my heart I plead with you: don’t buy that dream. The American Dream: a nice house, a nice car, a nice job, a nice family, a nice retirement, collecting shells as the last chapter before you stand before the Creator of the universe to give an account of what you did: “Here it is Lord — my shell collection! And I’ve got a nice swing, and look at my boat!”

Don’t waste your life; don’t waste it."

Now, Piper may be referring to the American dream, but I always find it interesting that Christians find a way to spin this message to apply to anyone who lives without worshipping their monster of a sky daddy. Sure, we can live our lives freely but supposedly we are all going to suffer in the end and all we will have is a bucket full of our own proverbial seashells to show for it all.

I don't know about you, but I take great offense to the idea that my bucket of seashells is worthless. In my bucket are things such as:

Having great friends who I can be close to and can celebrate who are lesbian, gay, trans, and queer and not have them concerned that I am befriending them to make them disregard their sexuality

Being able to enjoy great works of music and not having to panic because some oppressive deity may get angry with me for listening to them

Travelling to new places, being charitable with people regardless of their faith, and not condemning them or judging them because an ancient text of crackpot theories and conspiracies said I should

Being able to mentally and emotionally grow and not remain stunted just to avoid questioning the merits and validity of a faith claim

The experiences of damn good food, booze, occasional acts of childish or sexual debauchery, and extreme sports that make life exciting

Opportunities to explore whatever intellectual or economic opportunities I want making the world my oyster

Falling in love with the partner(s) of my choice and not worrying that som e minister, deity, or family will disregard me because of some religious bullshit reason

Being able to fight for and advocate on the behalf of those who are oppressed without worrying about how campaigning for gay rights or fair treatment of ethnic and religious minorities would somehow make me complicit in "sin"

I can vote for politicians based on the merits of their character and political stances versus voting on party lines based on allegiance to a faith

At the end of the day, I have a bucket of seashells that are precious to me that I can enjoy for every day of my mortal life. The Christian has to contend with not having as full of a seashell, throwing up their hands, and citing the fears of missing out on eternal bliss in an afterlife they can't prove because they tried or did one thing their insane deity didn't approve of.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll keep my dignity, my humanity, my morality, my joy, and my "little bucket of seashells."