Page 2 | To ask if you believe in an afterlife?

DisneyDisney · 2023-03-23T19:30:26+00:00

I don’t know if I do? I want to, I lost my dad (he was young relatively speaking) and never ever seeing him again is a painful thought, we only had 30 years (we never have enough time though so we) but I don’t know if i actually believe in one, specifically in the theistic sense. do you believe in one ? What do you believe?

Rinkydinkydoodle · 23/03/2023 19:55

this is funny because of your handle @DisneyDisney but the closest I’ve seen to what I believe is represented in Coco (the Pixar film). Not so much that we go to a great city full of the animated skeletons of our ancestors (although I would love to see my loved ones again, I’d be a skeleton no bother for that ) but the concept that the afterlife is really in memories of the people left alive. It’s shown really poignantly when the little guitarist disappears because the last person still alive who ever thought about him had died, and so he was forgotten?

I’m an atheist, and I’ve often wished I believed in an afterlife. I have a terminally ill parent with great faith, and when she occasionally talks about what’s waiting for her ‘when all this is over’ this dark little voice in my mind says (…nothing?) I also don’t find any comfort at funerals when the priest talks of resurrection. To me it feels like a kind but unlikely story and it somehow makes it worse.

However, my DD was one when my DS died and she talks about her auntie as if she remembers her, in fact, she insists she does. I don’t think that’s possible but there are photos and DD has heard hundreds of stories about her mad antics. So now she feels she knows her. I think as long as people are remembered there’s a place for them in eternity. It’s a bit sentimental maybe but it feels more real than anything else I’ve heard.

Rinkydinkydoodle · 23/03/2023 19:57

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/03/2023 19:46

No but I find this a comfort:

You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.
And at one point you’d hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him that all the photons that ever bounced off your face, all the particles whose paths were interrupted by your smile, by the touch of your hair, hundreds of trillions of particles, have raced off like children, their ways forever changed by you. And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know that all the photons that bounced from you were gathered in the particle detectors that are her eyes, that those photons created within her constellations of electromagnetically charged neurons whose energy will go on forever.
And the physicist will remind the congregation of how much of all our energy is given off as heat. There may be a few fanning themselves with their programs as he says it. And he will tell them that the warmth that flowed through you in life is still here, still part of all that we are, even as we who mourn continue the heat of our own lives.
And you’ll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they’ll be comforted to know your energy’s still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you’re just less orderly. Amen.”
Aaron Freeman

This is brilliant

getafringenotbotox · 23/03/2023 19:59

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/03/2023 19:46

No but I find this a comfort:

You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.
And at one point you’d hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him that all the photons that ever bounced off your face, all the particles whose paths were interrupted by your smile, by the touch of your hair, hundreds of trillions of particles, have raced off like children, their ways forever changed by you. And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know that all the photons that bounced from you were gathered in the particle detectors that are her eyes, that those photons created within her constellations of electromagnetically charged neurons whose energy will go on forever.
And the physicist will remind the congregation of how much of all our energy is given off as heat. There may be a few fanning themselves with their programs as he says it. And he will tell them that the warmth that flowed through you in life is still here, still part of all that we are, even as we who mourn continue the heat of our own lives.
And you’ll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they’ll be comforted to know your energy’s still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you’re just less orderly. Amen.”
Aaron Freeman

That's made me happy and sad cry. That's beautiful.

Noicant · 23/03/2023 20:03

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/03/2023 19:46

No but I find this a comfort:

You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.
And at one point you’d hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him that all the photons that ever bounced off your face, all the particles whose paths were interrupted by your smile, by the touch of your hair, hundreds of trillions of particles, have raced off like children, their ways forever changed by you. And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know that all the photons that bounced from you were gathered in the particle detectors that are her eyes, that those photons created within her constellations of electromagnetically charged neurons whose energy will go on forever.
And the physicist will remind the congregation of how much of all our energy is given off as heat. There may be a few fanning themselves with their programs as he says it. And he will tell them that the warmth that flowed through you in life is still here, still part of all that we are, even as we who mourn continue the heat of our own lives.
And you’ll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they’ll be comforted to know your energy’s still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you’re just less orderly. Amen.”
Aaron Freeman

That is utterly beautiful

Southstand · 23/03/2023 20:05

I believe in an afterlife. I have no idea what it's like. I'm here to do my best and to love and be truly myself and be thankful. I don't know what the next bit will be like exactly.

💐 OP

Sheldoncoopersspot · 23/03/2023 20:06

I don't believe in the afterlife as such but I do believe that as our brain shuts down we see our loved ones again so we're not afraid of death.

usernother · 23/03/2023 20:08

No. I think when you die, that's it. There is nothing else. I'm really happy with that tbh.

Rosieposy89 · 23/03/2023 20:10

I do believe in something but not sure what. I have had odd things happen when someone close to me dies - visitation dreams, odd things in the house that I think this is a sign that there is something else. I struggle to see what the point in our existence is if this is it. I'm not religious but I don't believe this is all there is.

Robin233 · 23/03/2023 20:12

I believe we gone on after death.
We have a soul.
After my dad died I had half a dozen experiences when I could feel him around me.

It was very comforting, most unexpected ( nothing happened after my mum died ) and only lasted for a brief second or two.
I thought maybe I'd imagined it.
It stopped after about a month, and though I tried I couldn't get the feeling back ...
I feel dad was checking I was ok before he went with the angels (I'm not religious)

Penguinsmum · 23/03/2023 20:13

My son and husband are Hindu so believe in reincarnation. I just believe we live on in those we leave behind. Love on in their hearts. So I will live on through my son. I like that feeling.

LittleFingerStrength · 23/03/2023 20:13

DisneyDisney · 23/03/2023 19:50

Is that not a bit like god choses who he wants to save.

see there’s certain parts of religions I can fully get behind and then others I find myself raising an eyebrow at. I think I’d quite like to have full robust faith.

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I am no theologian.

When I was younger, I wanted to investigate others beliefs otherwise how would I know mine were genuine, the process took many years. So for me it's likely purgatory and hopefully one day cube shaped Heaven, where it won't matter if my family and friends aren't there.

My friend was not brought up in any religion, we were friends on and off for over 20 years, so she saw me go through the process, she said she envied not having a faith, eventually after trying a different church to mine (I don't know what made her settle on that one it wasn't discussed, she just announced she was attending) she later came back and said with sadness that she just can't make herself believe in God.

Isthisexpected · 23/03/2023 20:15

It’s shown really poignantly when the little guitarist disappears because the last person still alive who ever thought about him had died, and so he was forgotten?

^ this has made me well up. When I lost my husband I remember walking through the churchyard crying about how I'd never have a "beloved wife" etc stone and who would remember me when I was gone. It was a temporary selfish but terrifying thought that one day no one would be left that would ever know I had existed. I would love to believe in more.

IncompleteSenten · 23/03/2023 20:16

I believe Einstein. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only change states.

Original poster

DisneyDisney · 23/03/2023 20:16

Rosieposy89 · 23/03/2023 20:10

I do believe in something but not sure what. I have had odd things happen when someone close to me dies - visitation dreams, odd things in the house that I think this is a sign that there is something else. I struggle to see what the point in our existence is if this is it. I'm not religious but I don't believe this is all there is.

I’ve had that too! With my grandmother, so markedly different than any other dream. My husband even had it when my father died, husband even said dad had told him in the dream, he only gets one visit, and when DH said something along the lines of this isn’t real you died my dad apparently said, I know but I like it here, it why we came. I don’t talk about it in real life because I don’t want any one really to tell me how ridiculous I am, but there’s something so different about them.

thanks for sharing :) xx

OP posts:

Masterofcats · 23/03/2023 20:17

Sadly no I don't believe. I lost my dad in my early 20's and so desperately wanted to believe in an after life. But honestly I don't. We continue to exist in DNA passed down and the carbon cycle. Either cremation or burial we leave behind our trace so I guess we all live on in different forms.
The idea of after life ,god and heaven I feel was created in our minds as humans desperately needed/ wanted to feel we continue. If people truly believe that and get comfort they are very lucky.

pookiebottom · 23/03/2023 20:18

If there's nothing after this life, then that's really shit! 😕

Original poster

DisneyDisney · 23/03/2023 20:18

LittleFingerStrength · 23/03/2023 20:13

I am no theologian.

When I was younger, I wanted to investigate others beliefs otherwise how would I know mine were genuine, the process took many years. So for me it's likely purgatory and hopefully one day cube shaped Heaven, where it won't matter if my family and friends aren't there.

My friend was not brought up in any religion, we were friends on and off for over 20 years, so she saw me go through the process, she said she envied not having a faith, eventually after trying a different church to mine (I don't know what made her settle on that one it wasn't discussed, she just announced she was attending) she later came back and said with sadness that she just can't make herself believe in God.

Show quote history

What’s cube shaped heaven?

OP posts:

Honeyroar · 23/03/2023 20:19

No I don’t. I wish I could, but it’s just not credible for me. But I still speak to people I’ve lost all the time in my head.

namechange8621 · 23/03/2023 20:21

I don't believe in the simplified explanations of the afterlife, heaven, hell and reincarnation offered by religions. I believe in the continuity of the soul in different incarnations but not in soul memory between those incarnations.

I have also experienced unexplained things after people have died so I believe that the etheric body does release from the physical one upon death.

Wrt seeing loved ones again, I don't think that that physical body and that soul will ever combine again in a way recognizable to you right now but when you also die, that you will also be out-of-body and be able to recognise a previous loved one on an energetic level.

Rosieposy89 · 23/03/2023 20:22

@DisneyDisney oh I am sorry about your dad - that is a lovely dream. Yes there is definitely something very different about a visitation dream. I had one when my Grandad died last year and I woke up with such an overwhelming feeling of love. I also had one the night my Nan passed away (she passed in the night and I didn't know until I woke up). They are a great comfort to me xx

LittleFingerStrength · 23/03/2023 20:22

DisneyDisney · 23/03/2023 20:18

What’s cube shaped heaven?

Show quote history

Heaven is said to have layers and is shaped like a cube.

I did come close to death when in intensive care, and the process doesn't scare me as I know you slip away slowly. I didn't float, no tunnel, no angels, nobody, no light as many claim to.

AxolotlOnions · 23/03/2023 20:25

I don't believe in an afterlife and I wouldn't want to, I am nothing without my brain. It;s painful to lose someone but I take comfort in the fact that they will never have to worry about me again, they will never feel pain, depression, loss. I find it a relief that all that will stop for me too one day.

Frozendaquiri · 23/03/2023 20:25

Yes, I believe there is a heaven and hell.

Honeyroar · 23/03/2023 20:26

pookiebottom · 23/03/2023 20:18

If there's nothing after this life, then that's really shit! 😕

That’s why you’ve got to make the most of it while you’re here.

Mummadeze · 23/03/2023 20:26

I have had three visitation dreams too. My grandmother very strongly warned me about something that turned out to be true. A guy I had a fling with that ended badly passed away after a shock short illness and he visited me to clear the air which was very comforting. And finally, my childhood first love visited me one night and said he had been looking for me for years. That was a tough one as I was so happy to see him but it was quite fleeting. I never saw him again. These dreams weren’t ordinary dreams, I really feel like they were very different. It is hard to explain.