The Afterlife

[The Liberated Territories]

Wouldn't it be nice. But no, there is only eternal oblivion awaiting all of us. A fitting end to our pathetic selves.

[Torisakia]

No such thing as an 'afterlife' does or will exist. It's isn't scientifically possible.

[Benuty]

I think you'd probably be disqualified, anyways. Afterlife implies that one first needs to have a life.

I do have a life.

Nonsense, you do have an afterdeath though.

[Galmarch]

I dont believe in a afterlife but it would certainly be nice if there were one.

[United Provinces of Swaziland]

No such thing as an 'afterlife' does or will exist. It's isn't scientifically possible.

Why is that? I understand the agnostic perspective but cannot comprehend why someone would think it is impossible (instead of unlikely) for there to be an afterlife.

[Torisakia]

No such thing as an 'afterlife' does or will exist. It's isn't scientifically possible.

Why is that? I understand the agnostic perspective but cannot comprehend why someone would think it is impossible (instead of unlikely) for there to be an afterlife.

When one dies, their being is no more. They can't be transported to a different world.

[Devvo Mate]

Wouldn't it be nice. But no, there is only eternal oblivion awaiting all of us. A fitting end to our pathetic selves.

Well aren't you impressive edgy?

[Esternial]

Why is that? I understand the agnostic perspective but cannot comprehend why someone would think it is impossible (instead of unlikely) for there to be an afterlife.

When one dies, their being is no more. They can't be transported to a different world.

Afterlife is a fairly ambiguous term and doesn't just include heaven and soforth. It may be more abstract than that.

It's implausible and unlikely, but not utterly impossible from a scientific perspective. Falsifiability is the basis of the scientific method.

[Liberty and Linguistics]

Why is that? I understand the agnostic perspective but cannot comprehend why someone would think it is impossible (instead of unlikely) for there to be an afterlife.

When one dies, their being is no more. They can't be transported to a different world.

You must remember that in many cultures, the afterlife is different than just "heaven." While the possibility of an afterlife is highly unlikely, I wouldn't call it impossible.

[Conscentia]

No such thing as an 'afterlife' does or will exist. It's isn't scientifically possible.

Why is that? I understand the agnostic perspective but cannot comprehend why someone would think it is impossible (instead of unlikely) for there to be an afterlife.

Modern neurology has determined that one's personality is nothing more than the totality of some of your neurological functions - these functions cease upon death.
The concept of an "afterlife" is simply incompatible with modern neuroscience.

[Devvo Mate]

Eternal nothingness is what awaits. Pretty difficult to wrap yer head around but nothing to worry about. The idea of an eternal afterlife legitimately scares me though, the idea of being conscious for all eternity freaks me out.

[Conscentia]

When one dies, their being is no more. They can't be transported to a different world.

You must remember that in many cultures, the afterlife is different than just "heaven." While the possibility of an afterlife is highly unlikely, I wouldn't call it impossible.

Except it is impossible. Belief in an "afterlife" is the belief that one's personality survives death and endures some place else - generally accessible to the dead only.
The existence of our personalities is dependent on our brain's continuing functioning - which ceases at death. An afterlife is not possible - to say otherwise is to reject modern neuroscience.

[Sanctissima]

Hopefully the afterlife is the epitome of perfection.

I believe the best is saved for last. We believe that death is the end because all of those that have died before us are never seen in the flesh again. It sure seems final and it is painful to lose those you love. What is perhaps saved for last is the knowledge, the realization that it isn't the last cognitive experience, instead just the contrary. You may find out that all those you saw die aren't in non-existence. Maybe some are gone for a later to be known reason, but most passed through, not away. The beginning of the afterlife is probably quite exciting for a long (I want to say time) interval. But it may not be time passing, just dark matter. Eventually like living, the after life evolves into the before life and perhaps you will recycle through again, if there isn't a better destination. Religions call it re-incarnation or heaven.
I don't expect angels with harps though, not at all. Our conception of all of these possibilities are almost surely completely inadequate. Finally, energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed.
I believe we are that stardust energy from the beginning of time and possibly last until the final stars burn out.

Now, I am going to bed and to try and achieve lucid dream status, lol.

That's, actually very beautiful. Thank you.

[-Ebola-]

Eternal nothingness is what awaits. Pretty difficult to wrap yer head around but nothing to worry about. The idea of an eternal afterlife legitimately scares me though, the idea of being conscious for all eternity freaks me out.

The idea of being conscious at all would freak me out if I was conscious enough to think about it in the first place.

[The Grey Wolf]

Well, I'm kind of torn between reincarnation and Rene Guenon's view of the afterlife, but yes, I would say that I believe in a form of existence after death.

[The New Sea Territory]

...is irrelevant. If one exists, we have so little of an understanding of it, so preparing for it seems unnecessary.

[Conscentia]

Well, I'm kind of torn between reincarnation and Rene Guenon's view of the afterlife, but yes, I would say that I believe in a form of existence after death.

Why would you believe that?

[The Grey Wolf]

A fitting end to our pathetic selves.

Please don't project your self-loathing onto the rest of us.

[Wisconsin9]

I believe the best is saved for last. We believe that death is the end because all of those that have died before us are never seen in the flesh again. It sure seems final and it is painful to lose those you love. What is perhaps saved for last is the knowledge, the realization that it isn't the last cognitive experience, instead just the contrary. You may find out that all those you saw die aren't in non-existence. Maybe some are gone for a later to be known reason, but most passed through, not away. The beginning of the afterlife is probably quite exciting for a long (I want to say time) interval. But it may not be time passing, just dark matter. Eventually like living, the after life evolves into the before life and perhaps you will recycle through again, if there isn't a better destination. Religions call it re-incarnation or heaven.
I don't expect angels with harps though, not at all. Our conception of all of these possibilities are almost surely completely inadequate. Finally, energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed.
I believe we are that stardust energy from the beginning of time and possibly last until the final stars burn out.

Now, I am going to bed and to try and achieve lucid dream status, lol.

That's, actually very beautiful. Thank you.

Just because something is beautiful doesn't mean it's true. You could write all sorts of lovely poetry about what the stars are, but at the end of the day they're still going to be enormous spheres of plasma trillions and trillions of miles away.

[Vazdaria]

I've been wanting to bring up this topic for a while now, so, here goes. Please bare with me.

Of all the conundrums, trials and tribulations that humanity has ever faced, I think that there is one ultimate question which has haunted us since the dawn of time. Is there an afterlife? When our physical body fails us and dies, does a part of us live on, or is it simply lights out?

Most religions share at least one thing in common: the belief that, once we die, we do go somewhere. Although they may not agree on what the afterlife is, they do agree that there is, at the very least, something. Even many irreligious people believe that there is some form of life after death. For the purposes of this topic, I do not ask what the afterlife may hold, whether it is good or bad, or even who is or is not permitted to exist there. I simply ask whether or not it exists.

There are two thoughts on this matter. The first is that, as most religions hold as their core belief, a part of an individual is eternal, and goes on to the afterlife. The latter is that of personal oblivion: the individual has no soul, and we are but a conglomeration of cells and matter that inevitably dies, permanently.

So, what are your opinions NSG? Do you think that, once we die, there is an afterlife to look forward to? Or, rather, do you think that it is but a vain hope shared by most humans for fear of oblivion?

My opinion is that there is an afterlife. I don't know what it is or whether it's good or bad, but I think there's enough evidence to conclude that it exists. Some of the facts are a bit far-fetched, while others are more realistic. Basically, most evidence for an afterlife lies in NDEs (Near-Death Experiences), which, since they involve as their source of information a person whose body is slowly failing them, tend to be discredited as the hallucinations of dying people. So, needless to say, it's a field of science that doesn't get much academic attention. That said, I think it's an important one which is all too often overlooked.

People who experience NDEs are, as the name implies, experiencing a near death situation. The circumstances vary, but the general scenario is that they're nearly brain-dead and are about to die. So, basically, it's a person who almost dies, experiences something surreal while they're essentially brain dead, and comes back to life (usually after doctors have saved them). These people usually claim they experienced the afterlife, and tend to go through the rest of their lives with a new sense of happiness. What's intriguing about NDEs is not so much what people say, but how universally similar it is to the stories of other people who experience NDEs. There's always a white light and an "outer-body" feeling which most people describe as the soul temporarily leaving the body. Yes, this could be discredited as a final bought of dopamine-induced semi-consciousness as the many chemicals comprising the brain begin to coagulate, but I think it's something more. You could ask a Canadian and an Indian about the NDE they experienced, and both would mention the white light and outer-body experience. What's even more intriguing is that in some cases, people describe watching their own surgery take place, but from a bird's-eye view. After their operations, some have even described the entire layout of the operation room, right down to the medical equipment that was used, things they could not possibly have known during their comatose state. Things they could not possibly have known, unless, of course, they had a soul, and the afterlife truly does exist.

I could add more evidence aside from NDEs to explain why I believe in an afterlife, but I'm curious about your opinions. So, what do you think?

If man had his way, there would be no afterlife. There would be no one for which you would have to give an accounting to for one's actions. Yes. If man had his way he would say "There is no afterlife, and I have nothing to fear after death"

[Auroya]

A fitting end to our pathetic selves.

Please don't project your self-loathing onto the rest of us.

The universe doesn't care if we think we deserve to have an afterlife. All the evidence points to there being none.

[Wisconsin9]

I've been wanting to bring up this topic for a while now, so, here goes. Please bare with me.

Of all the conundrums, trials and tribulations that humanity has ever faced, I think that there is one ultimate question which has haunted us since the dawn of time. Is there an afterlife? When our physical body fails us and dies, does a part of us live on, or is it simply lights out?

Most religions share at least one thing in common: the belief that, once we die, we do go somewhere. Although they may not agree on what the afterlife is, they do agree that there is, at the very least, something. Even many irreligious people believe that there is some form of life after death. For the purposes of this topic, I do not ask what the afterlife may hold, whether it is good or bad, or even who is or is not permitted to exist there. I simply ask whether or not it exists.

There are two thoughts on this matter. The first is that, as most religions hold as their core belief, a part of an individual is eternal, and goes on to the afterlife. The latter is that of personal oblivion: the individual has no soul, and we are but a conglomeration of cells and matter that inevitably dies, permanently.

So, what are your opinions NSG? Do you think that, once we die, there is an afterlife to look forward to? Or, rather, do you think that it is but a vain hope shared by most humans for fear of oblivion?

My opinion is that there is an afterlife. I don't know what it is or whether it's good or bad, but I think there's enough evidence to conclude that it exists. Some of the facts are a bit far-fetched, while others are more realistic. Basically, most evidence for an afterlife lies in NDEs (Near-Death Experiences), which, since they involve as their source of information a person whose body is slowly failing them, tend to be discredited as the hallucinations of dying people. So, needless to say, it's a field of science that doesn't get much academic attention. That said, I think it's an important one which is all too often overlooked.

People who experience NDEs are, as the name implies, experiencing a near death situation. The circumstances vary, but the general scenario is that they're nearly brain-dead and are about to die. So, basically, it's a person who almost dies, experiences something surreal while they're essentially brain dead, and comes back to life (usually after doctors have saved them). These people usually claim they experienced the afterlife, and tend to go through the rest of their lives with a new sense of happiness. What's intriguing about NDEs is not so much what people say, but how universally similar it is to the stories of other people who experience NDEs. There's always a white light and an "outer-body" feeling which most people describe as the soul temporarily leaving the body. Yes, this could be discredited as a final bought of dopamine-induced semi-consciousness as the many chemicals comprising the brain begin to coagulate, but I think it's something more. You could ask a Canadian and an Indian about the NDE they experienced, and both would mention the white light and outer-body experience. What's even more intriguing is that in some cases, people describe watching their own surgery take place, but from a bird's-eye view. After their operations, some have even described the entire layout of the operation room, right down to the medical equipment that was used, things they could not possibly have known during their comatose state. Things they could not possibly have known, unless, of course, they had a soul, and the afterlife truly does exist.

I could add more evidence aside from NDEs to explain why I believe in an afterlife, but I'm curious about your opinions. So, what do you think?

If man had his way, there would be no afterlife. There would be no one for which you would have to give an accounting to for one's actions. Yes. If man had his way he would say "There is no afterlife, and I have nothing to fear after death"

I'm actually (probably irrationally, I admit) terrified of the thought that there's oblivion after death.

[Sanctissima]

I've been wanting to bring up this topic for a while now, so, here goes. Please bare with me.

Of all the conundrums, trials and tribulations that humanity has ever faced, I think that there is one ultimate question which has haunted us since the dawn of time. Is there an afterlife? When our physical body fails us and dies, does a part of us live on, or is it simply lights out?

Most religions share at least one thing in common: the belief that, once we die, we do go somewhere. Although they may not agree on what the afterlife is, they do agree that there is, at the very least, something. Even many irreligious people believe that there is some form of life after death. For the purposes of this topic, I do not ask what the afterlife may hold, whether it is good or bad, or even who is or is not permitted to exist there. I simply ask whether or not it exists.

There are two thoughts on this matter. The first is that, as most religions hold as their core belief, a part of an individual is eternal, and goes on to the afterlife. The latter is that of personal oblivion: the individual has no soul, and we are but a conglomeration of cells and matter that inevitably dies, permanently.

So, what are your opinions NSG? Do you think that, once we die, there is an afterlife to look forward to? Or, rather, do you think that it is but a vain hope shared by most humans for fear of oblivion?

My opinion is that there is an afterlife. I don't know what it is or whether it's good or bad, but I think there's enough evidence to conclude that it exists. Some of the facts are a bit far-fetched, while others are more realistic. Basically, most evidence for an afterlife lies in NDEs (Near-Death Experiences), which, since they involve as their source of information a person whose body is slowly failing them, tend to be discredited as the hallucinations of dying people. So, needless to say, it's a field of science that doesn't get much academic attention. That said, I think it's an important one which is all too often overlooked.

People who experience NDEs are, as the name implies, experiencing a near death situation. The circumstances vary, but the general scenario is that they're nearly brain-dead and are about to die. So, basically, it's a person who almost dies, experiences something surreal while they're essentially brain dead, and comes back to life (usually after doctors have saved them). These people usually claim they experienced the afterlife, and tend to go through the rest of their lives with a new sense of happiness. What's intriguing about NDEs is not so much what people say, but how universally similar it is to the stories of other people who experience NDEs. There's always a white light and an "outer-body" feeling which most people describe as the soul temporarily leaving the body. Yes, this could be discredited as a final bought of dopamine-induced semi-consciousness as the many chemicals comprising the brain begin to coagulate, but I think it's something more. You could ask a Canadian and an Indian about the NDE they experienced, and both would mention the white light and outer-body experience. What's even more intriguing is that in some cases, people describe watching their own surgery take place, but from a bird's-eye view. After their operations, some have even described the entire layout of the operation room, right down to the medical equipment that was used, things they could not possibly have known during their comatose state. Things they could not possibly have known, unless, of course, they had a soul, and the afterlife truly does exist.

I could add more evidence aside from NDEs to explain why I believe in an afterlife, but I'm curious about your opinions. So, what do you think?

If man had his way, there would be no afterlife. There would be no one for which you would have to give an accounting to for one's actions. Yes. If man had his way he would say "There is no afterlife, and I have nothing to fear after death"

From all I've gathered about human nature in my life, I think it would be quite to the contrary. Man tends to want to live eternally. I think there's few who would yearn for nothingness.

[The Grey Wolf]

Please don't project your self-loathing onto the rest of us.

The universe doesn't care if we think we deserve to have an afterlife. All the evidence points to there being none.

Word of advice, it's a good idea to read posts you're replying too.

[Devvo Mate]

From all I've gathered about human nature in my life, I think it would be quite to the contrary. Man tends to want to live eternally. I think there's few who would yearn for nothingness.

Fuuuuuck that, the idea of eternal existence is far more horrifying than eternal nonexistence.