Originally Posted by detail
I don't agree simply because i think they are unrelated. Like i think it's weird the statement holds for premise that the belief that there is a life after is the main and only reason to hold moral principles. Sure they can be reconciled with religious concepts, but in the end it's more a matter of moral authority and actual, written, definite laws than the actual fear of paying for one's sins i think. Anyways, i don't need more explanation than: I know many people who are certain that there is no life after death and they still abide by moral principles. I am one of those (From the point of view of my beliefs and spirituality, not scientifically certain, as i don't have any proofs) and i have reasons such as: I don't want to inflict to others what i wouldn't like them to inflict to me, i don't want to live in constant useless conflict, there is also some kind of unexplainable drive to act "correctly" towards others.
I realize the goal was not to try to disprove the statements, but i think to explain correctly what effect they had on me, i had to include the context of my thoughts, which seemed like i was trying to argue when i was not.