"What happens when you die?"

[Extraintrovert]

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

This is unbelievably offensive. There is absolutely no evidence to support that statement yet you use the word "truth". It is your opinion, and you are allowed to present it, but you are not allowed to claim that your opinion is fact. On that note:

I'd probably let them know that many people think that different things happen. Some believe you go into an afterlife, some believe that you are born again in a different form, and some believe you just cease to exist. I wouldn't lie to them and act like I really know. I'd tell them nobody knows and that they'll have to decide what they think happens. It may not satisfy their curiousity, but I wouldn't be lying and it would allow them to decide on their own.

This is probably the best answer. I don't agree with it, but it does acknowledge that people have vastly different opinions on the matter and the probability of a consensus is slim.

 

[Dango]

Tell them that no one knows for sure, and that they need to form their own opinion on it by themselves.

 

[Bravo 21]

id just tell him
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once"
-William Shakespeare
or something to that affect,
I think of it not so much as about death, but about life, and how to live

 

[crudus]

I completely locked up. I am completely uncomfortable around the subject of death (being utterly terrified of it). I know what I think happens, you end, decompose and nothing of your consciousness is left, but as much as I don't believe in talking down to children, there was no way in hell I was telling him that.

Next time say "the same thing that happened before you were born".

 

[Sonic Doctor]

If I was in that situation, I would tell the kid what I believe in, that there will be an after-life. But, I would also say that not everybody believes in it, and nobody is exactly sure what happens. Besides that would be the truth, nobody knows what truly happens when we die, there is no proof to support either claim. It is all opinion until someone dies, then they get to see what happens.

Edit: Oh yeah, why is this not in the politics and religion forum. We really need some kind of automated system that moves threads like this the appropriate forum, because obviously only a select few of people no that threads like these will get people talking about religion.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

This is unbelievably offensive. There is absolutely no evidence to support that statement yet you use the word "truth". It is your opinion, and you are allowed to present it, but you are not allowed to claim that your opinion is fact. On that note:

I'd probably let them know that many people think that different things happen. Some believe you go into an afterlife, some believe that you are born again in a different form, and some believe you just cease to exist. I wouldn't lie to them and act like I really know. I'd tell them nobody knows and that they'll have to decide what they think happens. It may not satisfy their curiousity, but I wouldn't be lying and it would allow them to decide on their own.

This is probably the best answer. I don't agree with it, but it does acknowledge that people have vastly different opinions on the matter and the probability of a consensus is slim.

I have to admit I was somewhat put off by that post as well, but its more a matter of how they worded it. Rather than saying "Tell them the truth..." which implies that this is fact, instead they should have said "Tell them my opinion". Even if they believe their opinion is the truth they should at least state that it is their opinion. I believe that when you die you (as a collection of thoughts and memories) cease to exist and your body simply decomposes. I do realize that this is simply my opinion and that others have differeing opinions, and that I shouldn't impose my opinion as fact upon someone else. I would even go a step further and avoid my opinion entirely and just state that everyone gots different theories.

Still though, I think you came off a little strong on Skullkid. Perhaps you should have just corrected their choice of words rather than get all righteous on 'em.

 

[dickseverywhere]

im hoping id be honest and be able explain to them that essentially your conciousness is just electrical pulses and most likely when you die the pulses stop so what makes you you disappears. but im a damned coward so i probably wouldn't have the guts to. im pretty sure we'd have a lot less hangups about death if we quit with the whole heaven and hell crap. i was a lot less screwed up over death once i realised it was all crap and it was best just to enjoy and appreciate the short time we had with each other.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

As much as I agree with this statement, you can't say that it is true. It is all opinion until people experience it for themselves.

 

[Blemontea]

I wouldnt want to give this answer to a kid if put on the spot but i feel like saying it now.
"You'll just have to wait and see..."
but i wouldn't say that, probably just throw a smoke bomb and ninja my way out of there...

 

[Ashcrexl]

depends on how much i like the kid. knowing kids, probably not a whole lot, so, i'll give them the retarded atheist version. you die, soul ceases to exist, and body becomes a freaking tree.

 

[kidigus]

Well I'm both an ateist and a smart-ass, so I'm gonna say that in most casses your circulotory system ceases to function properly, causing a chemicle imballance in the brain tissue, which eventualy leads to brain-death if circulation cannot be restored in time. Technicaly speaking, death occurs if/when the heart stops. Formaly speaking, it's the point when the heart can no longer be restarted.

However the standard prosses has been deviated from on numerous occasions ever scince we've coined the phrase: "Hey, watch this!"

Sorry, how old is your cousin again?

 

[Sonic Doctor]

As I don't like children either, I would tell them that you to a magical place where everyone you love is and there's unlimited candy and video games in the hopes they would kill themselves and thin out the herd a bit.

If you were offended by that, you have no sense of humor.

Very humorous.

I like to think that when we die, we go to a place where we can live like we've always wanted, without stress, school, work, or money to limit the things we can do.

I can't hang around people that think that when we die we just die. What fun is that, this sucky life too much of a downer for it to be all there is.

 

[Harrowdown]

Ask him what he thinks. If he pushes you for an answer, explain the theological theory of an afterlife, then point out that this isn't proven, and it may be the case that there's nothing. Encourage him to think about his question. He isn't too young, although you should take things slowly and explain things as you go. My nephew can be pretty bright sometimes, and he'll ask all sorts of questions about politics, religion etc. I try not to be biased, although my opinions will slip out often, and I do my best to sum up the situation and help him find his own view.

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

This is unbelievably offensive. There is absolutely no evidence to support that statement yet you use the word "truth". It is your opinion, and you are allowed to present it, but you are not allowed to claim that your opinion is fact.

Why are people so easily offended? Why the hell are you offended at what someone believes? Sure, religion is bullshit, and you can't just go around claiming unproven fairytales are true, but why should anyone give a shit that you're offended? It's not like him saying that has harmed you or anything. It's fucked up when people start imposing restrictions on speech because they're offended.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

depends on how much i like the kid. knowing kids, probably not a whole lot, so, i'll give them the retarded atheist version. you die, soul ceases to exist, and body becomes a freaking tree.

lol, Atheist, soul. If they believe in a soul, they can't be Atheists can they?

 

[badgersprite]

I'd say the truth.

"Nobody really knows. Ask 20 people and you'll probably get a hundred different opinions. But it doesn't matter whether someone's right or someone's wrong. Everybody's beliefs are their own, and they hold them for a reason; a reason that matters to them. It's up to you to decide what you believe. You'll find an answer that works for you as you grow up, or maybe you'll come to think that you don't need to know. Either way, all we can be sure of is the life we have on Earth right now, so it's better to spend your time focusing on that than wondering about the mysteries of death."

 

[sabbat]

I'd tell him that part of growing up is figuring out the answer for yourself. This is something I believe myself.

 

[Ashcrexl]

depends on how much i like the kid. knowing kids, probably not a whole lot, so, i'll give them the retarded atheist version. you die, soul ceases to exist, and body becomes a freaking tree.

lol, Atheist, soul. If they believe in a soul, they can't be Atheists can they?

really? i thought atheists just didnt believe in deities of any sort? that they are just bags of meat that are distinguished from other bags of meat by their specific soul, but their existence is all pointless, pointless? no?

on a side note, i would totally tell a kid that if i hated him enough.