Discussion Afterlife or nothingness

[bipolarg0ner]

Let's say you hang yourself then you black out and your in a dream then you finally die do you still stay in your dream? I guess your dream would stop. But, then what? Like do you just stop existing? I mean people do believe that you just stop existing; That kinda scares me. But if you stop existing would That mean your emotions like wouldn't exist either so it wouldn't be scary? Idk it's pretty wack your thoughts?

 

[Soul]

It's a bit like what happens to the characters in a novel when you avert your eyes from the page. I like to do that at moments when I'm quite engrossed and it says: "Suddenly" - I shut the book. What are they all doing now??

@bipolarg0ner, there's a sticky thread about the afterlife (or lack thereof) in the Off Topic Section, and a bunch of smaller threads on the subject too, if you use the search gizmo. There are miles of different views among us.

 

[Astral316]

You don't stay in the dream, the one legged prostitute you ordered in the dream strangles you to death for not paying up. It's kind of like when you have to urinate in real life so you're searching for a bathroom in the dream world.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

It's a bit like what happens to the characters in a novel when you avert your eyes from the page. I like to do that at moments when I'm quite engrossed and it says: "Suddenly" - I shut the book. What are they all doing now??

that is such a surreal thought!!!

 

[Tom9999]

It's a bit like what happens to the characters in a novel when you avert your eyes from the page. I like to do that at moments when I'm quite engrossed and it says: "Suddenly" - I shut the book. What are they all doing now??

I really like this way of putting it, thanks for sharing this. I like your imagination!

I like to think of how long (to the dying person) the experience of dying may last. Have you ever had a dream that seemed to last for days, months, or even longer? Just so, the process of dying might create not only a fantastic and beautiful experience for the person, containing who knows what marvels, but it might also last for a very long and wondrous time.

 

[cryptic_cynic]

Did you have consciousness in the year 1920, before you were born?

Why would you have consciousness after your death if you didn't before your birth?

 

[Tom9999]

Did you have consciousness in the year 1920, before you were born?

Why would you have consciousness after your death if you didn't before your birth?

This is the exact same sensible comparison I use, which is why I have no fear of death. I like this quote from Nabakov:

"The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. Although the two are identical twins, man, as a rule, views the prenatal abyss with more calm than the one he is headed for."

 

[Jean Améry]

Did you have consciousness in the year 1920, before you were born?

Why would you have consciousness after your death if you didn't before your birth?

Exactly. Essentially it's Lucretius' symmetry argument. It's nice to see sound philosophical reasoning on this forum. We really should have a separate philosophy subforum.

I like this quote from Nabakov:

"The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. Although the two are identical twins, man, as a rule, views the prenatal abyss with more calm than the one he is headed for."

I did not know that quote. I like it. Do you happen to know its origins? If you don't know or remember the specifics the title of the book or publication it came from would be quite sufficient.

It's a bit like what happens to the characters in a novel when you avert your eyes from the page. I like to do that at moments when I'm quite engrossed and it says: "Suddenly" - I shut the book. What are they all doing now??

I have the same thing but in real life. Sometimes I wonder whether people actually exist when I'm not observing them. Reality truly is mysterious, isn't it?

 

[peacefully31425]

Hopefully, death will bring an end to this overwhelming anxiety that I've felt for most of my life. I don't want to feel anything when I die. I don't want to think anymore.

 

[bipolarg0ner]

Honestly I just want my afterlife to be in the elder scrolls world since it's the only game that ever gave me fucking peace on this planet.

 

[Wayfaerer]

It's nothingness. On the bright side, you won't care when you're nothing so it won't cause any stress.

 

[Fragile]

i'd definitely take afterlife over non existence, i know that the chances for an afterlife being real are basically 0 so i'm also comfortable with the idea of stopping to exist any way, after all, every single creature that has ever existed had or will have the same fate.

you shouldn't be scared of it, i know it's uncomfortable to know that fact but in the end,there is no point in worrying about the inevitable, even if you decided to live a normal life without suicide it will still happen.

 

[bipolarg0ner]

Shit I mean I guess when I'm nothing I won't know it right?
The possibility of there being nothingness after death is pretty high I have to agree.

 

[Mr2005]

All I know is if I never woke up I'd never know about it and none of this would ever bother me again.

 

[Asta]

"Using a special hypnosis technique to reach the hidden memories of subjects, Dr. Michael Newton discovered what happens after physical death. Journey of Souls is the record of 29 people who recalled their experiences. It's a record or "travel log" by these people of what happens between lives on Earth. They give specific details as they describe their experiences in the afterlife."
None of them knew each other, but they all had similar accounts to relate.

The Michael Newton Institute

Who am I? What is my life purpose? Where am I going when I die? These are some of the big life questions Dr. Michael Newton dedicated his life to finding answers for. In his search he discovered some amazing insights into what happens to us in the afterlife, the Life Between Lives (LBL). Using...

www.newtoninstitute.org

 

[vonvonwantpeace]

Nothingness, the same thing as before you were born.

 

[Wayfaerer]

"Using a special hypnosis technique to reach the hidden memories of subjects, Dr. Michael Newton discovered what happens after physical death. Journey of Souls is the record of 29 people who recalled their experiences. It's a record or "travel log" by these people of what happens between lives on Earth. They give specific details as they describe their experiences in the afterlife."
None of them knew each other, but they all had similar accounts to relate.

The Michael Newton Institute

Who am I? What is my life purpose? Where am I going when I die? These are some of the big life questions Dr. Michael Newton dedicated his life to finding answers for. In his search he discovered some amazing insights into what happens to us in the afterlife, the Life Between Lives (LBL). Using...

www.newtoninstitute.org

I was lost at "hypnosis"

 

[Asta]

Geewhizz, hope you found yourself!

 

[bipolarg0ner]

Nothingness, the same thing as before you were born.

Possibility of reincarnation?

i'd definitely take afterlife over non existence, i know that the chances for an afterlife being real are basically 0 so i'm also comfortable with the idea of stopping to exist any way, after all, every single creature that has ever existed had or will have the same fate.

you shouldn't be scared of it, i know it's uncomfortable to know that fact but in the end,there is no point in worrying about the inevitable, even if you decided to live a normal life without suicide it will still happen.

Then those "I could of done more with my life" thoughts roll in.

 

[Asta]

Does anyone here do any research or reading on the subject? If I were heading for the exit, I would certainly want to know more. There's very little to be found on "nothingness", but tens of thousands of reports, articles, personal experiences, videos about the afterlife, communications from loved ones, NDE's, etc. Just sayin'...s

 

[Jean Améry]

Does anyone here do any research or reading on the subject? If I were heading for the exit, I would certainly want to know more. There's very little to be found on "nothingness", but tens of thousands of reports, articles, personal experiences, videos about the afterlife, communications from loved ones, NDE's, etc. Just sayin'...s

What you're referring to is not scientific research but anecdotal evidence which proves nothing. If you find that convincing that's your business but untill there's some actual, solid evidence of consciousness surviving physical death (a.k.a. irreversible brain death) I'll assume this is it and death is the final end of my existence and experience.

It still surprises me that while literally everything in the universe perishes at some point (including stars and planets) humans think that they're somehow the exception to the rule and their mythical soul will somehow survive... The law of entropy is clear: complex systems will break down into smaller components and this process is irreversible. Everything tends to chaos.

Even the universe itself will probably 'die' at some point: heat death where maximum entropy is reached and nothing can arise anymore. The result will be a uniformly peaceful universe where nothing happens and nothing can happen.

Death in the physical sense is not 'nothingness': obviously the matter and energy storend in your body will not vanish but be converted into useful food for other organisms. In a way we don't dissapear but return to the earth. Or space in case our body is cremated.

 

[Asta]

Neither your post or mine actually proves anything, so it still remains a moot point.

 

[mnjkl]

Definitely nothing. I think that most people who claim otherwise probably know deep down that they're only being optimistic. You are probably nothing more that your brain.

 

[Dawn0071111]

Who cares, I want to get the FUCK out of here

 

[Asta]

No one in this world has actual proof that there is "Definitely nothing", and no one can prove to another that there's "Something".
I agree, who cares?

 

[Jean Améry]

Neither your post or mine actually proves anything, so it still remains a moot point.

A moot point you raised. Obviously 'tens of thousands' of meaningless pseudo-studies mean nothing although you implied the opposite in your original post.

If the question of the existence of an afterlife could be settled scientifically there would be no need for a debate just like there isn't one on gravity or evolution. That being said nothing in our scientific knowledge indicates that it's even possible for human consciousness to survive physical death as it's obviously linked to the brain which is destroyed upon death (destroy certain parts of the brain and it has a clear, predictable negative consequence for the organism up to and including change in personality). Unless there is a part of reality that has eluded us so far all this boundless, empty talk (a religious speciality: unverifiable statements to be taken solely on faith) about an afterlife seems rather-fetched and the product of the weakness of our psychological make-up (wishful thinking, fear).

Philosophically I'm a sceptic: if there is no credible evidence I simply refuse to believe it. I therefore assume death is the end untill proven otherwise. Of course I'll find out one way or the other and most likely sooner than later.

Anyone claiming something exist bears the burden of proof. Especially when it comes to what would amount to a complete change in our knowledge of the universe and ourselves.

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." (Carl Sagan)

 

[Soundgarden]

I agree with your position, Jean, but one must not forget that religion and superstitious belifs in general are just that: something people believe in.

Belifs have nothing to do with science. They do not belong in science books and any attempt to investigate them using the scientific method is absurd.

We can only try to answer the question of an afterlife from a philosophical point of view, but not by using the tools science provides us with.

So, I don't think we'll ever get that extraordinary piece of evidence.

We will, however, be discussing this topic until kingdom come :-)

 

[Asta]

Jean dear, why are you dragging this out? You are a stranger to me and I don't give a damn what you think or believe, so why should you care enough about what I think to keep on with this? I simply offered information that I found. I have never tried to convince a person of anything, except to be kind to others and to animals. This is a crashing bore! You may have time to create walls of text, but I don't.

 

[Jean Améry]

Jean dear, why are you dragging this out? You are a stranger to me and I don't give a damn what you think or believe, so why should you care enough about what I think to keep on with this? I simply offered information that I found. I have never tried to convince a person of anything, except to be kind to others and to animals. This is a crashing bore! You may have time to create walls of text, but I don't.

Lets leave the childish condescension out of this, shall we? The fact that you actually replied proves you do care about my opinion.

To think I write only for you is rather egocentric, isn't it? I happen to enjoy formulating my thoughts, I've long since abandoned the notion that (most) people can be convinced by reasonable, critical thinking.

It's clear you're perfectly aware you have no argument whatsoever and all you posted was basically hot air.

'A wall of text' (in reality a few paragraphs) that according to you took a long time to write... It's clear you neither read nor write much.

I do agree it's a complete waste of time replying to you. Enjoy reading those 'tens of thousands' of studies and articles about a supposed afterlife: that must a crashing bore. Hot tip: save yourself the trouble and pick up any religious text. They're all full of wishful thinking and pipedreams about personal immortality.

 

[Soul]

We can all always try that old trick of "averting our eyes from the text and - " ... well, what?