We just passed the 50th anniversary of “2001: A Space-Odyssey” (11968-04-02 HC (HoloceneCalendar)). In the movie, the HAL 9000 onboard the Discovery 1, a scientific computer, programmed never to hide or distort information, had instructions to not inform Astronauts David Bowman and Frank Poole about the true purpose of their mission. Its solution was to murder all humans onboard Discovery 1, including 3 Astronauts in hibernation and cutoff communication with Earth.

It occurred to me that this is why religion exists:

We have an instinct to continue, but the knowledge that we shall not. Inventing an afterlife solves the crisis, at the cost of our mental health (believing without evidence is irrational*).

* One should not except claims without evidence, but when sufficient evidence exists, accept the claim. Accepting claims without evidence is gullibility. Rejecting well supported claims is denialism. The Principal of rejecting claims without evidence, but accepting well-supported claims is Skepticism.

This mental illness can lead to flying æroplanes into buildings, killing thousands of innocent people. The solution is to accept that one will seize to exist. This resolves the conflict and leads to mental clarity, skepticism, and mental health.