What makes more sense to you, afterlife, reincarnation, or nothing?

[antiabort]

I am a believer in reincarnation. I think it simply makes more sense than an afterlife. Wouldn't eternity get boring as fuck after a while? Also it is basically recycling, and a lot of things in the universe recycle, why couldn't life do the same? Also I just like the idea of reincarnation. heaven is nice, but it would be like playing a game on god mode, it wouldn't be so fun after a while. And when you reincarnate, you literally start all over again. You have no knowledge of previous lives.



---Please do not double post! Use the edit button! :) ~Lexi---

[dark_soul777]

From a scientific standpoint, nothing/oblivion makes more sense. But whether it is part of the human condition or some kind of instinct, it seems people want/need to believe in something after death.
Whether this is just a way to lessen their fear of death, or some kind of built in instinct about death and what comes after I don't know.
And after all, we can never really know until we actually die.

[Suicune]

I do not believe in an afterlife, and the idea of reincarnation interests me. However there really isn't a way to test either one so I'm going to have to believe that nothing is there after death.

[kenoloor]

Proof.

[shadowhunter320]

I agree with you, reincarnation is what I believe in.

[Clawhammer]

I don't know what there is. I don't want heaven, never have, I don't love God. Hell obviously isn't much fun sounding either. I don't want to be reincarnated, one life is enough for me. I don't want to come back. I just want to sleep. That's all. If that doesn't happen, I'd like to find a quiet place and live in one moment of contentment forever. Not happiness. Just peace. Valhalla doesn't sound too bad, either, really, but I highly doubt I'm going to die gloriously in battle, thereby gaining entrance. So yeah, that's all.

[Unique Physique]

I have a gut feeling that we come back as other lifeforms for some reason, there's absolutely no scientific evidence, but it just makes sense..

Either that, or nothing.

[Rayquaza]

I believe in reincarnation until heaven. Basically it's like this. You keep reincarnating as an animal, and once you reach the final stage: human, you need to complete 4 life tasks. But I forgot. And if you don't, then when you die then you start your reincarnation process all over again, however, if you do well then you go to heaven with your soul in your final form.

[Desuetude]

i don't believe in afterlife, maybe reincarnation im not sure about it yet no one knows and i don't think can ever find out what happens after you die, i mean when you die your gone from the world as it once new you, there have been some cases of reincarnation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RRs7fXjs_w so im starting to believe it more.
but i don't believe in heaven or hell either so if there is no reincarnation i don't know where that puts me, you need somthing to believe in.

[embers]

I don't think conscience, sentience, your own thoughts exist outside of your own brain activity. A personality dies with the brain.

[CrossingtheCourtyard]

I like to believe there is an afterlife, but... I think it would get boring after a while. Maybe reincarnation would be interesting.

[rusty171610]

I like the idea of reincarnation but there is no afterlife. i like the idea especially of when we die we then live as a plant or animal

[Professional Russian]

Proof.

Will stop saying the same thing a million times
Saying something over and over again doesn't make it right. People have beliefs because they make them comfortable, they have grown up with the idea or just because they want to. People also have different beliefs cause they have different life experience and ideas about the world. That's what makes the world diverse.

[Schnope]

I would like to believe there is an afterlife, but I just don't see it, I personally think we just become of nothing

[Gaybaby94]

Well from my religious (or lack of) stand point, nothing. It makes A LOT more sensE than afterlife or reincarnation.

[Jupiter]

I am a believer in reincarnation. I think it simply makes more sense than an afterlife. Wouldn't eternity get boring as fuck after a while? Also it is basically recycling, and a lot of things in the universe recycle, why couldn't life do the same?

Um. I don't know if this is absolutely true, so I am just putting this on what I have learned in social studies.

But, once you get finished with the cast system, don't you reach enlightenment? which..... is eternity?

[ImCoolBeans]

Well, since there is no scientific proof for them - I tend to think nothing. It just makes more sense to me.

[trooneh]

Well, since there is no scientific proof for them - I tend to thing nothing. It just makes more sense to me.
Same, I believe our entire being is embedded in our brain, and when we die, our brain cells die, and everything that we are died with it.

[antiabort]

Um. I don't know if this is absolutely true, so I am just putting this on what I have learned in social studies.

But, once you get finished with the cast system, don't you reach enlightenment? which..... is eternity?

My dad studies Buddhism and told me that nirvana is a choice, you don't have to do it.

[Amnesiac]

My dad studies Buddhism and told me that nirvana is a choice, you don't have to do it.

This is very true, Buddhism is more than just the concept of nirvana. For those that are interested, I'd recommend the book "Buddhism Without Beliefs" for more on "secular" Buddhism.

That being said, I don't have any reason to believe in the existence of any sort of afterlife concept. I also don't mind knowing that my life is insignificant; I am simply one of tens of billions of humans who will exist throughout time, and furthermore, the human race as a whole exists as a speck in the Universe. Those facts give me more reason to enjoy life.

[sammy1996]

I'm quite a scientific person and believe in death is final. I believe the afterlife is just something people want because they are scared of death.
Not to say i'm not scared of death because of course i am just like most people but it is something that will happen regardless and so i accept it

[northskater110]

Personally, i like the idea of an afterlife. Growing up wasn't that great at times, so I would prefer to not go through that again.

[Professional Russian]

Personally, i like the idea of an afterlife. Growing up wasn't that great at times, so I would prefer to not go through that again.

Agreed

[RoseyCadaver]

This is a very touchy subject, because no one really does know what happens to us after we die. I'm sure all of us, admittedly or not would love to live in our own little heaven after death.

I would love to think my conscience and mental being join with others, but the odds of it are very slim. I think that death will be different for all of us. Maybe the thought of going blank for eternity is already a depressing or horrid though our brain makes it feel like eternity as it has its final seconds on earth alive to comfort itself.

Maybe that spark of life we have enters into another world to join with once dead loved ones.

I just think that the more you think about it, the more complicated it gets(not that I'm discouraging thinking LOL). I think us being here, a coincidence or a great plan led by a God is amazing itself. I mean 1 out of 8 planets(not counting dwarfs and planets outside our solar system) having life is amazing. So the thought of being unique(alive) versus dead is a pretty sad thought.

Personally, I'd much rather enjoy my life right now, be it not much, then worry or ponder over the silly question we have still yet to answer over 1000's of years.

Plus, when you think about it, wouldn't life be a waste of time if all you're doing is waiting to enter another phase?

[ryan2000]

I do not believe in any afterlife of any variety. I am a man of science and proof, and i can not believe what seems illogical to me. I simply believe, like Samantha, that the human race created the idea of an afterlife because they are afraid that life ends after death. They can not cope with the fact that at some point, a human ceases to exist forever. The same concept exists with religion in general. Humans as a whole are afraid to be unknowing, or accept that they do not know the way the world works, thus, God was created to fill the void of knowledge. This comes from an atheist standpoint, and i in no way whatsoever, intend any offense on those who believe of a deity or afterlife.

[Jess]

Although I hope it's something like an afterlife or reincarnation, I really think nothing happens. you die...your body stops functioning...there's no evidence obviously for an afterlife or reincarnation nor has anyone dead told us what it's like after death.

[Jupiter]

This is a very touchy subject, because no one really does know what happens to us after we die. I'm sure all of us, admittedly or not would love to live in our own little heaven after death.

I would love to think my conscience and mental being join with others, but the odds of it are very slim. I think that death will be different for all of us. Maybe the thought of going blank for eternity is already a depressing or horrid though our brain makes it feel like eternity as it has its final seconds on earth alive to comfort itself.

Maybe that spark of life we have enters into another world to join with once dead loved ones.

I just think that the more you think about it, the more complicated it gets(not that I'm discouraging thinking LOL). I think us being here, a coincidence or a great plan led by a God is amazing itself. I mean 1 out of 8 planets(not counting dwarfs and planets outside our solar system) having life is amazing. So the thought of being unique(alive) versus dead is a pretty sad thought.

Personally, I'd much rather enjoy my life right now, be it not much, then worry or ponder over the silly question we have still yet to answer over 1000's of years.

Plus, when you think about it, wouldn't life be a waste of time if all you're doing is waiting to enter another phase?

a lot of points were made in this post, and i feel that this is something that really changed my way of thinking of life. from half empty to half full, thanks.

[gazazi1997]

There has to be reason we go all this shit. I believe in an afterlife that you go to after you die. But if your soul is restless or you have a grudge when you die you're trapped here as a ghost until you simmer down.

[kenoloor]

There has to be reason we go all this shit. I believe in an afterlife that you go to after you die. But if your soul is restless or you have a grudge when you die you're trapped here as a ghost until you simmer down.

Is there any particular reason you believe this? Besides "there has to be a reason..."

[Syvelocin]

Nothing > reincarnation > afterlife

Least that's how it is in my head of course. But it matches up with science as well I guess. I'm very much into carnal existence. Nature, simplicity. I don't understand the constant struggle to understand the mysteries. I like to take life as it is. And, well, I'm rather atheistic. Sure, being someone who thinks all the fucking time about the puzzles of life, the idea of death and ceasing to exist really frustrates my logic. But I'm rather confident that we just die, and there's no doubt in my head that there isn't an afterlife. Part of me also toys with the idea, for the sake of having something to contemplate, that heaven is a dream rather than a place you go to. Maybe even having something to do with the collective unconscious. Wouldn't that be interesting? Being forever in dream mode. I think I'd like that. But how that would be possible, no idea.

I'm back into my religious study and I'm currently exploring Wicca and other pagan witchcraft-based religions. So for the point of my study I'm going with reincarnation and exploring that a bit more. I can at least grasp it a bit better than an afterlife, that makes no sense to me. At least reincarnation there's an actual end-of-existence happening. Not living forever in some "paradise." Not only can I not grasp that concept but it's death, it's the end, and I have difficulties with people who don't live life to the fullest because they don't think death is the end. I have actually met people like that. It's sad, really.

[Schnope]

It's sad and depressing, but I believe in nothing. Once you die, you die thats it.

[deadpie]

I've addressed this before, but I think of it as entering that type of dream you might get once in a while where nothing happens; everything is just black, silent, but it's somewhat relaxing. Death would just be like that dream expanded by infinity. The thing that's wrong about that is you can't be conscious if your brain isn't, so that means nothing at all is much more logical of a stand point.

People need to understand that life is about death. Your grandparents die, uncles, nieces, parents, pets, friends, enemies, brothers, sisters, cousins, the world around you and then you. That's life when you decide to live long. It's not happy or exciting at all to know that an entire person whom held so much knowledge or whatever was special to them is dead and that brain will never be able to recover again, but that's just how things are. Maybe the key to living forever will come up one day. Maybe a virtual afterlife will created one day too.

Of course I don't believe wacky religions are correct and there's an afterlife. If everything else out of religion is complete garbage why would I think this wouldn't be, no matter how interesting the idea might be? It's just not logical. I can understand why people are attached to the thought though.

[Philleeep]

Reincarnation duhhhh

[Donkey]

I have always wanted to believe in reincarnation and afterlife, but I realise that the philosophies I try to make of it are purely idealisations and optimism. I believe there is nothing after death, but that doesn't spoil life for me. Sometimes you need a time limit to enjoy stuff.... I mean street racing would not be fun if you just went round and round... three laps is fun but fifty ain't.

[Celeste]

i don't think can ever find out what happens after you die

Oh....i knows wat happenz after u dies. Lemme tellz u wat happenz. U dies, getz puts in a coffins and bacteriaz and bugz startz eatingz u up untils u disintegratez completelys. And therez noting lefts of u.

Ur life haz finishedz. Otherz peoplz lifes goes on. datz wat happenz after u dies.

[Stacey.]

I believe that we just die and that's it. Probably because I want to believe that aswell. I think it's creepy to think anything else happens after.

[Magus]

I believe that we just die and that's it. Probably because I want to believe that aswell. I think it's creepy to think anything else happens after.

We will be going to another world, where our existence will be replanted to other newborns. But is is your luck in which world you will be going to. There are boring good worlds and terrible bad worlds. But in a bad world, you will not find anything good to compare the bad. Only bad with the bad.

[Stacey.]

We will be going to another world, where our existence will be replanted to other newborns. But is is your luck in which world you will be going to. There are boring good worlds and terrible bad worlds. But in a bad world, you will not find anything good to compare the bad. Only bad with the bad.

How does anyone know this stuff though? I just don't believe any of it until I die. Then we'll either know, or never know and just be dead.

[Magus]

How does anyone know this stuff though? I just don't believe any of it until I die. Then we'll either know, or never know and just be dead.

Atta boy(?). We will never know it, until we all die.

[Bath]

Nothing because science.

[fire and water]

I believe in re-incarnation, and karma.
It doesn't make sence to me, just a little more than the others.

[kenoloor]

I believe in re-incarnation, and karma.
It doesn't make sence to me, just a little more than the others.

Care to elaborate?

[beautiful target]

Well, I don't know if I'll be "alive" after I'm dead like I'm alive now. But, I believe, in a way, I'll still exist. Not "alive", but I'll still be apart of Earth dead, and if the Earth were to be in pieces, I'd still be in the universe some how, even if my matter was in pieces spread all about the universe.

[Borxar]

Afterlife. I believe in heaven because there is a spritual realm. Reincarnation is more difficult because you would need some sort of governor to determine where and what things go where.

[BFG9001]

Nothing.

[canadaski]

I think that nothing happens. Yes it's a scary thought and reincarnation would be nice, but it makes no sense scientifically. What is a person without their memories and experiences? Maybe in some complex form of the carbon cycle it could hold in an argument, but consciousness and brain activity is everything.

We could then start talking about biological death and legal death, but that would over complicate the matter.

[pineinchneis]

as far as im concerned tyeres nothing after death

[KidImage]

I believe in reincarnation i mean if you think about it life is a cycle , cycles are circles and circles have no start or end therefore neither does life.

[Can'tHelpIt]

I'm not big on the whole believing thing without proof but I don't think we simply disapeer so this is what makes most sense to me
Reincarnation, Dreams are past memories and there are three types
1. Where you completely see everything that has happened with the real people
2. Where your brain comes and changes part of the dream like a place(s) or person(s) with places or people you know
3. Where you your brain takes over and changes all of it to people and places you know
that or what beautiful target said
"Well, I don't know if I'll be "alive" after I'm dead like I'm alive now. But, I believe, in a way, I'll still exist. Not "alive", but I'll still be apart of Earth dead, and if the Earth were to be in pieces, I'd still be in the universe some how, even if my matter was in pieces spread all about the universe."

[DanielD210]

I am a Christian so I believe in Christianity. I believe in God and I believe Jesus Christ died for us so that we may go to heaven when we die; if you admit you a sinner, confess your sins to Him and believe and trust Him to save you and guide you, He will save your soul

[Breakeven]

nothing

[Cicero]

Afterlife

[Sephtyan]

I'd assume that it would be rather off-putting to be reincarnated at a potted plant some 4 miles into the stratosphere on an unfamiliar planet... but then then again, how that whale must feel. Woe is him. W-wait a second, that ship! I recognize that infernal thing! That must mean that that equally infernal man must be aboard. Oh how I wish I could just turn into a missile or something... perhaps an automated defense missile or some such. Oh, just look at that poor whale, it has no idea what it even is, and it has mere seconds to come to terms with itself. My, the ground is getting rather close n—

[Sonic Boom]

Once your brain dies, that's it, you're gone forever.

[Rage of the Menace]

I don't think conscience, sentience, your own thoughts exist outside of your own brain activity. A personality dies with the brain.

So this matter is lost? How can that be, it's changed, but what has it changed to?

[Thanatos]

As far as I am concerned, when I die I will be put in a coffin and buried. The end. Even if I am wrong, If I am happy with my life, and proud of my actions when I die, I fear no afterlife, suffering, karma or reincarnation.

[sammy1996]

After reading posts from this thread its just strengthened my opinion on the matter, that people only believe it because they want to believe in something good it waiting for them. why is it so many people believe they are entitled to such great things in life, we're lucky as humans just to be human and to be top of the food chain. many of us seem to think we are the almighty with divine rights in the universe but really everything isn't all good and at one point in life we will die and end. that's just a fact of life not me being a downer :P

[Silicate Wielder]

I believe in reincarnation, to me reincarnation is like a transfer of your memories to another person to be born, I will wake up sometimes in the middle of the night feeling as if I had just remembered something from a long lost past.

[Truth]

So this matter is lost? How can that be, it's changed, but what has it changed to? Thoughts are not matter. They have no density, they cannot be weighed, they have no physical form, and they can not die.

A thought is an immortal thing that can be left behind after death to share with the world.

[TBJohnston]

I am a believer in reincarnation. I think it simply makes more sense than an afterlife. Wouldn't eternity get boring as fuck after a while? Also it is basically recycling, and a lot of things in the universe recycle, why couldn't life do the same? Also I just like the idea of reincarnation. heaven is nice, but it would be like playing a game on god mode, it wouldn't be so fun after a while. And when you reincarnate, you literally start all over again. You have no knowledge of previous lives.



---Please do not double post! Use the edit button! :) ~Lexi---

You're looking at it wrong the wrong perspective, it isn't a matter of which religious view on the afterlife makes more sense but are any of them actually true as opposed to a superstitious belief to comfort the fear of the unknown. Everyone can have a view on which one makes the most sense, but only a select view realise it doesn't matter how good each belief sounds or how much sense they make but if there is any truth that lays in them. So far, I have not seen a single piece of substantial evidence to convince me of an afterlife and or reincarnation. To me, these beliefs aren't anything more than man's attempt to escape the inevitable.

"You have no knowledge of previous lives."

I find this hilarious, you're just creating reasons for yourself to believe.

Hey, we can't remember anything from our previous lives.. it's almost like we're original or something!

[Thunduhbuhlt]

Afterlife. I just don't understand how nothing can happen after death. What happens to all of your memories and your life?

Also, I believe that reincarnation is possible too.

[TBJohnston]

Afterlife. I just don't understand how nothing can happen after death. What happens to all of your memories and your life?

Also, I believe that reincarnation is possible too.

That's an awfully backwards statement. You're 14, surely you understand that our memories and simply a product of our brain and they cease to exist when each of our time comes. Think back to the to the time before you were born, you didn't have a functioning brain so there isn't anything to remember. The most logical view of death is that exact same state, any other ideas about what happens to us are fuelled by superstition and fear. You can't possibly give any rational explanation as to why you believe them.

[Smeagol]

I believe in reincarnation. It's like recycling, right? I believe in turning old cans into new cans and plastic stuff into new plastic stuff... I guess it's the same thing with lives. What else would happen? Things just can't disappear. I think that people reincarnate.

[FojeJC]

I believe in one of my theories, its a more thought out version of reincarnation.
My theory is that when you die, your energy (or life force) goes through a sort of cycle to another person's birth, so your energy becomes theirs. All of your memories get lost in the process (I'm guessing this all happens in another universe, or maybe it is dark matter...). Though if the life force holds onto its old memories (which happens alot) they may appear as dreams or even actual conscious memories to a baby that later on get forgotten.

I came up with this while I was daydreaming so don't blame me if it sounds ridiculous. I actually have had some dreams involving an occult person who knew lots of freaky shit that had never heard of, he also had a good sense of humor. I have some other theories but I just prefer this one.

[Smeagol]

Hmmm... quite an interesting theory... It sounds a lot like Mahatma Gandhi's theory that he published in The Story of My Experiments with Truth.

[Phazit]

I guess we cannot give any irrefutable methodology until we die - if there is an afterlife. If not, all we can do is try to live a good life. However, it seems very unlikely that there is a realm or and other process after death, but we cannot prove that there isn't.

[Short Circuit]

Nothing - Once the brain dies, so does the concious being therefore there is nothing.

[Electra Heart]

Nothing... There's no proof for anything else to happen.

[Cicero]

Afterlife

[HDDH]

Nothing. There's more proof for this in the lack of proof for anything else that it's the only really logical explanation. Heaven and Hell is an unjust idea, eternal suffering for sins committed in one life and eternal reward for even worse sins that are dressed up to look like religion is disturbing to me. Reincarnation would have to suggest a soul, and so far it pretty much looks like we're just "molecules in motion." The Buddhist idea that it is Karma which is reincarnated also requires belief without evidence and "that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

[FojeJC]

Hmmm... quite an interesting theory... It sounds a lot like Mahatma Gandhi's theory that he published in The Story of My Experiments with Truth.

Interesting, never read it or even looked into much about gandhi.
I guess great minds think alike.

By the way, I've seen many people saying that once the brain dies so does the concious being (meaning memories or personality).
My grandfather died over 4 times before he died fully on his fifth, the first time he had a stroke and was brain dead for over 15 minutes, after that he was the same man with the same undamaged memories and personality.
The third time he had a head ingury which caused him to be brain dead once again, it took them longer than 40 minutes to bring him back, because of where he got hit he had some difficulties with some normal things like eating but he was okay after 2 months.
My point is that even if your brain dies you seem to stick towards yourself for a while, so maybe there is a possibility you're life force tries to came back but may not, resulting in a sort of afterlife until you get recycled (metaphorically speaking).

[Fractured Silhouette]

I've decided that when you die, you either
a)Get reincarnated
b)Your cells divide and you feel as you divide with them and become part of the earth and if your lucky your cells may be used to create something else that is living.
c)You become a spirit and you have the ability to become one with the universe in motion or stay as a spirit and watch the world evolve.

[plebble]

Nothing

[jjsmitty]

In my opinion humans always will try and explain things and just can't comprehend the fact that "nothing" may truly exist. In my opinion you just die, no heaven, hell, reincarnation, anything. Its just over, lights out, time to check out.

[plebble]

In my opinion humans always will try and explain things and just can't comprehend the fact that "nothing" may truly exist. In my opinion you just die, no heaven, hell, reincarnation, anything. Its just over, lights out, time to check out.

That's how I describe nothing.
Scientists have found out that this so called 'soul' is actually just chemical reactions happening in the very centre of the brain where it is warm.

[Abnormal]

I actually don't know what to believe. Honestly? Reincarnation and the Afterlife sounds really more like fantasy than reality to me, but nothing is scary as hell. So I'd rather cling to one of the two that I stated earlier and just experience sort of a tug-of-war as far as my opinions go.

[Mob Boss]

I believe in an afterlife. What exactly would that afterlife consists of? I have no clue. I would like to believe we go to Heaven when we die. There have been near-death experiences documented and many of those that experienced it had an out-of-body sensation where they can see themselves in the hospital bed (or wherever it happened). And others have spoken about witnessing deceased friends and/or family members and feeling the presence of some celestial being. I read an article about a 4 year old boy whose appendix errupted and he died and was brought back to life soon thereafter. His parents say after recovery he began speaking of his experience including seeing his father and mother and himself while he was being operated on and even mentioned seeing a two year old little girl. His parents were especially suprised after he mentioned seeing the little girl for they had miscarried 2 years before and had never spoken a word about it. Even if it's all a fairytale, if it is nonsense, a lie, absurd I would rather believe in a fairytale my whole life and live happily thinking I'm going somewhere than think this is all there is to me and life.

Before one person puts down or mocks someone else's view there is neither proof one does exist nor that one doesn't. We can't go beyond the curtain to find out and simply come back. I understand my beliefs are just that, beliefs but so are others. Whether you believe in reincarnation, an afterlife, or nothing remember they are all based on a belief.

[Error 404]

Nothing, I'd say.

About post above, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-477343/Out-body-experiences-explained-away-scientists.html

[Kanindrum]

I personally believe in Heaven and Hell. Mainly because I believe in God and everytime i look around, I see beauty and everything being perfectly designed to fit the world. We just tend to screw things up a lot of times and thus why the world is the way it is. I just believe something has to happen after we die, otherwise there's no point for us even being here. Just a personal thought.

[Incompris]

The only problem I have with reincarnation is if its true then why is the population of the world increasing.

[Mob Boss]

I personally believe in Heaven and Hell. Mainly because I believe in God and everytime i look around, I see beauty and everything being perfectly designed to fit the world. We just tend to screw things up a lot of times and thus why the world is the way it is. I just believe something has to happen after we die, otherwise there's no point for us even being here. Just a personal thought.


This is exactly what I believe and what I was tryint to say in a mundane, roundabout way.

[madea rocks]

I believe in an afterlife

[Sugaree]

The only problem I have with reincarnation is if its true then why is the population of the world increasing.

...Jesus Christ, this has got to be the dumbest post ROTW has ever had the pleasure to see.