The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas, produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. Martin Wagner and Matt Dillahunty discuss a question about life after death posed by a caller named David during one show. This particular part of the show was put onto YouTube where I came across it. After watching this segment, one can find out what atheists believe about what happens to people when they die.

Matt Dillahunty states early on that “until there is evidence to show what happens after death,” he will choose to think that he is going to rot in the ground and will cease to be (Atheist). Martin Wagner brings up a point that some people choose to believe in an afterlife because it is “happier” than the alternative, they would rather go somewhere after death opposed to rotting. He also talks about how if he KNEW that there was an afterlife he would be the “first-in-line”, but that no one knows. He articulates that it isn’t “intellectually honest to do this I’m going to hedge by bets approach to deciding what to believe (Atheist).” Martin thinks that people should be rational and make the best out of the life they know they have and he wants substantial evidence like pictures from someone that resurrected. Matt does not believe that things are credible if intangible and invisible.

From this video one can conclude that atheists believe that there is no afterlife and that our bodies are left to decompose. Atheists accept the fact that there is no evidence to prove life after death and they will continue to believe this until considerable proof arises. Although there may not be tangible evidence that an afterlife exists, one has to take into consideration the emotional evidence that comes into play. Because of this evidence within one’s self, I choose to believe that I do not just rot away when I am deceased.

The Atheist Experience. “Life After Death.” 17 October 2008. Online video clip.
27 March 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEWztlIteo4&feature=related.>