"What happens when you die?"
- Thread starter Doitpow
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No worries. Just a pet peeve, having been repeatedly strawmanned on the basis solely of describing myself as an atheist. And, on that note, your earlier statement about belief in a soul negating one's atheism is also false. Example: Buddhists.Sonic Doctor said:
The idea of a soul may draw some of its history in western thought form religious sources, but it is neither dependent on, nor intrinsically related to, theism in any form. There are atheists that believe in an afterlife of some form (though I am fairly confident that, among the atheist population, they are in the minority), just as there are atheists who believe in a soul (again, though, minority).
Pet Sematary i do believe?ethaninja said:
OT: i would honestly tell them i don't know and don't claim to know, though i do lean towards believing in reincarnation because of a lot of my personal theories about how energy transfers in the universe
I believe that there's an afterlife. Can I be sure? No. Do I still believe it? Yes, and that's the only answer I need.
Even if you don't think so, that's probably the best thing to tell to kids. That or "I don't know. Nobody does."
Even if you don't think so, that's probably the best thing to tell to kids. That or "I don't know. Nobody does."
Unless they're pulled from Tel'aran'rhiod before their time in which case the Pattern will try to make roomAntitonic said:
The atheist version is that your soul was a Category Mistake and never existed in the first place. Well, not strictly the atheist version, the coherent atheist version. But then, there's nothing about theism that implies an afterlife.BlackandBlueMage said:
You answer honestly. You say we don't know but there are many theories, possibly take a moment to briefly explain various religious and non-religious ideas if you want and move on. Also, you could quote Picard.
If he's particularly clever, you could try to turn the question around on him. Ask him "What was it like before you were born?"
You respawn where you saved last.
In all seriousness, I'm not quite sure what happens when you finally kick the bucket, but I believe that matter cannot be created nor destroyed, so when we do die, perhaps our consciousness continues to live on somehow?
I'd go with the, "I don't know reply", though.
In all seriousness, I'm not quite sure what happens when you finally kick the bucket, but I believe that matter cannot be created nor destroyed, so when we do die, perhaps our consciousness continues to live on somehow?
I'd go with the, "I don't know reply", though.
Well, my problem with that idea of death that goes like this. Let's say I got a video game DVD, the matter in it never gets destroyed BUT, let's say if I break the DVD into tiny little bits. The info pattern is GONE. I think it is probably the same way with human consciousness. That yes, the matter and energy making our bodies isn't destroyed but that isn't what is important, what is important is how that matter and energy are organized. (I could be wrong here, I'm rather ignorant of physics... but I read random stuff about consciousness and to me it is a pattern. I'm also not sure if I should have posted this here, if anyone finds it stupid or too off topic I will delete what I said.)Starscreamed said:
I think if there is something about us that still exist after death like our consciousness it depends on the existence of some kind of supernatural stuff.
Its mostly a theological question.
I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.
But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.
But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.
I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.
But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.
But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.
There really is no real answer you can give a child, it's one of life's unanswerable questions. I'm an atheist so I would probably tell him I don't know but that's just me. My friends and I were talking about this one day and my friend said "I believe that when we die, we start to decompose and then become food for worms" so I don't think that's something you would want to expose children to. But what if this is how it's been for centuries? Parents not telling their children the truth and making up stories about this and that afterlife. Lies upon lies coming from fear of death. That's depressing. To counter-act this I believe you should watch "the invention of lying", it explores the theme quite well.
Take him to a graveyard and explain that's what happens after you die. As a cold hearted atheist there's really no issue here. Sure, I don't know what happens with the end of one's own consciousness, but biologically we know it all stops, so that's pretty much a damned good indicator that consciousness ends when the biocomputer on which it is running ceases to function. Issues of religion are beyond the scope of rational inquiry, and too diverse for any reccomendation. Even if I were to entertain some belief in the supernatural, it seems impossible to decide just which flavor of fantastical afterlife would be "correct."
If a child understands that one life is all he/she gets, maybe they'll make more of it, and drive a bit more safely, and realize the sheer magnitude of decisions that affect other people's lives adversely, such as in matters of war or the infliction of pain and suffering. It might...lend them a conscience, something far too many people lack, unfortunately.
If a child understands that one life is all he/she gets, maybe they'll make more of it, and drive a bit more safely, and realize the sheer magnitude of decisions that affect other people's lives adversely, such as in matters of war or the infliction of pain and suffering. It might...lend them a conscience, something far too many people lack, unfortunately.
But you do choose to remain being Roman Catholic. I'm not saying that is wrong or right though.emeraldrafael said: