What do you think happens when we die?

[Frosty6611]

Just had this discussion with my DP and mum and we all had a completely different answers.

I believe in reincarnation.

My DP is an atheist and believes nothing happens.

My mum believes in heaven/hell.

[RainySeptember]

I can't accept that there is any sort of life after death.

Every attempt to prove the existence of spirits, the accuracy of mediums or the possibility of death bed visions has failed spectacularly under scrutiny.

You hear so often about people floating above their bodies, prior to being resuscitated, that it's almost become accepted as truth. Yet studies in operating rooms have all failed.

I wish there was something but I don't believe there is. I intend to make the most of this one life before winking out of existence forever.

[LeftRightCentre]

I'm a Christian so believe in that form of afterlife.

[Doubletrouble99]

I believe we have one life and we should make the most of it end of. My mother was a Christian and believed in the after life. She was very upset when I said I didn't believe in it. She had pinned all her hopes on seeing my dad again as he had preceded her!

[ParkheadParadise]

I hope I will be reunited with my dd.

[BonnieF]

what’s the bloody point

The point is to pass on our genes, just as it is for any species which has evolved by natural selection.

[RainySeptember]

what's the bloody point
I don't think there's any point to our lives really, as important as the life of a blade of grass in the grand scheme of things.

[causeimunderyourspell]

I think nothing, no consciousness.

[lazyhazysummer]

If atheists can say categorically that "there is no God" which they do in such a way as to leave no benefit of the doubt, then i will say catagorically that there is a God. I have no doubt whatsoever.

If you think of the universe and the sheer miracle that we exist at all there's no doubt. The perfect alignment of the sun and the moon, a fraction out either way and we couldn't exist. Such order couldn't come from chaos.


Physicist Paul C. Davies comments, "...to be a scientist, you had to have faith that the universe is governed by dependable, immutable, absolute, universal, mathematical laws of an unspecified origin. You've got to believe that these laws won't fail, that we won't wake up tomorrow to find heat flowing from cold to hot, or the speed of light changing by the hour. Over the years I have often asked my physicist colleagues why the laws of physics are what they are? ...The favorite reply is, 'There is no reason they are what they are--they just are.'"

Exactly. We have been created. It's the only logical explanation, it would be arrogant to dismiss it all as evolution. That's all i'm saying.

[lolalotta]

Surely we can't just stop being? I feel there's more to it than that! I hope there is!

[BunLovinCriminal]

It always makes me chuckle when atheists who are so sure death brings nothingness call those who believe in something, rrogant...how arrogant is it to believe that our knowledge of the universe and it's "rules" is in any way complete? As though we have a comprehensive knowledge of anything, really.

In fact, to be sure that the "nothing" before the life we remember is absolute- as though our memory of what was prebirth as nothing must be spot on- is also pretty hilariously arrogant.

I believe in something more than we can possibly comprehend. I think it makes sense since nothing actually totally disappears- everything merely changes state. So why would whatever makes us, us, be any different?

Body becomes mush or ashes, soul (or whatever you want to call it) becomes...what?

[BonnieF]

surely we can’t just stop being?

Does an insect or a worm or a jellyfish just stop being when it dies? Most people would say that it does. Does a much loved cat or dog just stop being when it dies? We might tell an upset child that it does, but few of us actually believe that. Does the pig that was slaughtered to make the bacon you had for breakfast this morning just stop being when it dies?

So what makes Homo Sapiens so special and different? I suggest that there is no evidence whatsoever that we are any different at all.

[RainySeptember]

"It always makes me chuckle when atheists who are so sure death brings nothingness call those who believe in something, rrogant...how arrogant is it to believe that our knowledge of the universe and it's "rules" is in any way complete? "

"Yet I don't see anyone who DOES believe, taking the piss out of the naysayers and disbelievers.

Speaks volumes really about the disbelievers. They are, more often than not, rude and ignorant about other people views and beliefs, and don't give a shit about their feelings, or how their comments hurt"

Tbf I haven't seen any unkind comments from the obvious atheists on this thread.

What a shame people can't stick to saying what they believe without running other people down.

[BunLovinCriminal]

@RainySeptember

I don't agree actually. Plenty of sentiments like this-

Belief in an afterlife only exists - as anyone knows if they think rationally and not with the terror of non-existence - because we know we will die and are terrified of it.

'Signs' from the dead are just coincidence, coupled with humans' desperation to believe there's something there.

I don’t need fear or worship to guide my moral compass.

Which are don't read to me as very respectful of others' beliefs...

[BunLovinCriminal]

Whoops clearer if I use quotes.

@RainySeptember

I don't agree actually. Plenty of sentiments like this-

"Belief in an afterlife only exists - as anyone knows if they think rationally and not with the terror of non-existence - because we know we will die and are terrified of it.

'Signs' from the dead are just coincidence, coupled with humans' desperation to believe there's something there."

"I don’t need fear or worship to guide my moral compass."

Which are don't read to me as very respectful of others' beliefs...

[ChoudeBruxelles]

Nothing. You turn back into carbon matter

[Hamiltoes]

It does make me wonder, if we are all nothing before and we are all nothing after... how can there be such different "levels" of human?

I'm using the term levels as really unsure what to call it. The age of your soul (or whatever it is that makes you, you. Is it all just education or upbringing? I've met people in life who, whilst not educated in the traditional sense, seem wise beyond their years. And similarly there are some awful, ignorant people in this world. Do they have different chemical balances than others? If it was possible that there was something before we were born, then would that explain it? There is probably a very clever sciency explanation for this and I'm just a bit dim but nonetheless I find it fun to ponder

[Hamiltoes]

So what makes Homo Sapiens so special and different? I suggest that there is no evidence whatsoever that we are any different at all.

I would say we are very different from all other animals in that we (on the whole) know the difference between right and wrong. We have somehow evolved to see past just basic survival instict. We are capable of love, of rational thought. We're capable of reasoning. We are more than staying alive and reproducing. What this has to do with death I'm not really sure, but I'd say we're different to worms and pigs- we have souls. Of course a soul is just something people choose to believe exists, but I do believe it's what gives us all of the things listed above.

[Tika77]

As I said above... just existing for passing the genes on is depressibg still.

And I don’t think we’re special either in the sense that only we would deserve ‘more’. Animals do as well. (Except wasps. )

[thegreylady]

I haven’t a clue. My dgs once asked me,”Where were you before you died Grandma?”
The conversation went on at length but the answer to his original question makes as much sense as anything else.
One thing is certain, we will all find out one way or another one day.

[73kittycat73]

Anyway, I personally believe nothing happens, we become worm food. Because although yes no one can know for sure of course, there is so much more science and evidence in life that points to that, than points to heaven or reincarnation or ghosts or any of the rest of it.

Would you be able to link to some of that please?

[Aintnothingbutaheartache]

We live on in the hearts and minds of those we have ‘touched’ in our lives.
Life is far too complex to just dismiss such energy

[rebelrosie12]

Nothing. Your body decomposes.

[73kittycat73]

Every attempt to prove the existence of spirits, the accuracy of mediums or the possibility of death bed visions has failed spectacularly under scrutiny.

You hear so often about people floating above their bodies, prior to being resuscitated, that it's almost become accepted as truth. Yet studies in operating rooms have all failed.

Not all of them: www.independent.co.uk/news/science/life-after-death-largest-ever-study-provides-evidence-that-out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-9780195.html
I remember a also a study where it was proved consciousness had been proved to survive 3-4 minutes after death.
Also, this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds_case
is interesting.

[Aintnothingbutaheartache]

Of course the body decomposes, or is cremated.
I’m talking about love, memory and energy.
Haven’t you lost a loved one that ‘lives on ‘ in your thoughts

[Vitalogy]

I think the life force or soul is in everything, there's just different levels of consciousness.

@Hamiltoes I was reading this about different soul levels/ages:

lonerwolf.com/soul-age/