What do you think happens when you die?

[mintcorneto]

I genuinely interested in people's beliefs. I've been thinking about it a lot recently and despite always being an atheist, I still believe the soul lives on and is around the people you loved and that loved you. Maybe I'm more open to religion that I previously thought. What do you think happens?

Nothing. You just die. That's it.

I think you find eternal peace.
I also believe that you are reunited with your loved ones.
I strongly believe that I will be reunited with my dd when I die.

You die and rot away and you may be remembered for probably about 50 years by your loved ones then it is like you never existed - unless you are famous

Interesting to have a physicist speak at a funeral. What if that physicist has a faith? 🤔

(Not entirely theoretical - I go to church with two physicists who are also committed Christians)

Presumably they could give the bulk of the sermon above and ALSO believe in a soul/heaven/judgement.

Science and faith are not mutually exclusive.

So what happens? No one knows. Not 100% but I find it fascinating how definite some people appear to be.

As a curious atheist OP I wonder if this thread will influence you at all.

Do we just die immediately or does our brain "wind down". If it does, is it like sleep or do we know its happening like real life?

I think I am no more and it will be like before I was born.

I would love it if I could come back as a ghost and play havoc with the light switches and slam a few doors.

I hope it’s like falling asleep. I wouldn’t want to be reincarnated I don’t think. I’d like to think there is a heaven where I’ll be welcome but I’ll probably not end up there. I think I prefer to fall asleep but who knows. I often think the spirit of my miscarried babies are with me but it’s probably wishful thinking

Interesting responses. I find mine hard to put into words. I am not scientific and don't understand particles/protons etc but I like that physicist stuff. I kind of want to believe your energy lives on, as well as the memories and the influence you have had.
I don't believe in reincarnation or souls or heaven.
But as for the experience itself I think it's like going under anaesthetic or at least I hope it is. I have been put under twice and I loved it. Just letting go.......

Nothing. You die and there is nothing.

Nobody has a clue. Most likely - nothing. Least likely - heaven and hell. Reincarnation is somewhere in the middle.

Kez200 I hope it's like anaesthetic or drugs - still in pain and aware but no longer caring as much. And caring less and less. And just drifting away.
But this thread has made me realise I have always envisaged one specific kind of death - in a hospital bed, incurably ill and with lots of access to drugs. Mmm food for thought.

It will be as it was before I was born.

Won’t anyone remember you?

Absolutely adore that Physicist quote. Thanks Terry

I’ve been looking for something like that physicist quote, thank you @MrsTerryPratchett

I really should tell someone I want that at my huge piss up funeral. And I want buried under a tree. I want someone to eat fruit made of me. Because I'm weird.

Nothing, you're dead and gone and that's it.

I like the thought/saying that we all die twice - the first when our bodies cease to be 'alive', and the second death occurs the last time your name is spoken. So, we live on through the memories and stories of those we shared our lives with.

I believe we get to see our loved ones who have gone before us. I know it's wishful thinking though.
I do strongly believe in reincarnation though. I just feel like I've been here before in another life and I've always felt like this ever since I can remember and was too young to understand.

The night my grandma died I had a very vivid dream of her and we went to a grand circular hall that had rings of people seated stretching up beyond where I could see. Like being inside a tall circular tower. And everybody was singing together. I don’t recall what it sounded like now but it was beautiful and positive and made me feel serene. And after a while or a moment she said to me that she was going to stay there but that I should be going and so I turned and left. I woke up and my mum called to say she had passed.

I’m not religious and my inner realist does expect there’s no afterlife but that has been such a comfort to me and I get such a sense of peace when I think of it. During her lifetime my grandma dreamed of every person she lost on the night she lost them so I like to think she was saying goodbye to me and that I shouldn’t worry.

So I will tell my kids when they ask, that when we die we become songs and exist in an endless harmony with all the people who have gone before us. Corny as hell I know but better than some things I’ve heard.

It goes black and that’s it. If you have had a general anaesthetic you know that

@littlejalapeno that must have been such a comfort to you, thank you for sharing it.

My mum often dreamt of people on the night they died too, often at the exact time they passed away. She always took it as a cue to pray for them.

I'm sure there are explanations; coincidence, sub-conscious, a divine prompting. Whatever the reason she felt a profound peace from those experiences.

Nothing but eternal sleep

I am personally quite convinced there’s no reincarnation, no soul and no afterlife. However, on the slim chance I’m wrong, it would be nice if my dad is waiting for me with a cold pint of Guinness and a smile.

My belief/understanding

You live on - in others memories - once the memories have gone so have you - peacefully

Once dead - no conscious awareness

I think that we go on somewhere else. Either back to nothingness or to a different dimension, not sentiment souls but energy of some sort.

I find it hard to believe in an afterlife. Heaven and Hell are on earth.