What do you think happens when you die?

[Apparitions]

Like the title says, what do you think happens when you die? I've been thinking about this for a bit and I really don't know what I think. Is it just darkness, are you born again or something? Has a religion got it right? What do you think?

[Giles]

Ok wow. Heavy lol.

I believe that there is 'something' after death. Whether it be heaven or reincarnation.
I don't think that there can be empty nothingness after death, as that would render the life almost useless.

[Sage]

Your body shuts down. Anything else is speculation.

[Lord Anubis]

Your body shuts down. Anything else is speculation.


Same thing I was thinking. No one alive knows and never will know.

I wouldn't care if it eternal nothingness because I wouldn't exist as a consious self aware being anymore.

[Commander Thor]

Your body shuts down and decomposes away to fertilize another living thing.
The chemical processes inside your head that make you, well you, stop. Everything, your thoughts, your memories, everything you learned ceases to exist.

Scary thought? Hell yeah. Why do you think the idea of an after-life, or the idea of an eternal life was thought of?

[deadpie]

Your body rots. It's not something to be scared about if death it isn't anything at all. But that's just my thoughts.

[Apparitions]

I'm scared of death. I don't really want to think that nothing happens after I die but there is no proof of anything else.

[INFERNO]

I don't think that there can be empty nothingness after death, as that would render the life almost useless.

So you turn to there being some supernatural event as a means of consoling yourself and others into knowing there must be something afterward?

I believe that once one dies, whether they're buried, cremated, tossed into a river and so forth, that's the end of them. It may be nice to think they reincarnate, go to some pleasant haven or some other supernatural event, however, the reasons for those isn't because they necessarily happen but rather to make one feel more comfortable about the cold blunt truth about death. Perhaps I'm wrong and there is some supernatural event after death, but if that is the case, the living are not going to know about it. Of course, there are those who claim to have experienced hell or some other event, however, there's no way to determine if that was a lie, a neurochemical event or if it was genuine and neurochemistry and biology had nothing to do with it.

I think the best way to describe it is to refer to Descartes' mind-body problem. When one dies, their body dies and depending on how you view the mind-body problem, their mind (i.e. soul, spirit, etc...) will live on. Alternatively, if one believes the mind is part of the body, then when the body dies, so does the mind. That is really the key to answering this question: one's stance on the mind-body problem. It doesn't matter on the specifics, such as whether it's reincarnation, going to some supernatural place or whatever when it comes to one's view on the mind-body problem.

[CaptainObvious]

I don't think that there can be empty nothingness after death, as that would render the life almost useless.

Why? In my view, it would render life all the more meaningful: it's all we've got.

Yes, nobody likes the thought of disctoninued existence. But any suppositions to the contrary are unsupportable, and, in my opinion, extremely unlikely. Can't prove there is nothing, of course, but it's likely.

[Jenna.]

I'm terrified of death. I hate thinking about it. I've cried about it before because I had a mini panic attack when stressing about it. I hope I live to be really old and by the time I'm about to die I'll be so old that I'll be ready for it anyway. But I'm Christian so I believe that you go to Heaven after death.I mean SOMETHING has to happen. You can't just "cease to exist", I mean come on.

[CaptainObvious]

I'm terrified of death. I hate thinking about it. I've cried about it before because I had a mini panic attack when stressing about it. I hope I live to be really old and by the time I'm about to die I'll be so old that I'll be ready for it anyway. But I'm Christian so I believe that you go to Heaven after death.I mean SOMETHING has to happen. You can't just "cease to exist", I mean come on.

Why can't you cease to exist? Why does "something" have to happen? Because the thought of nothingness scares you? It scares me too; but that doesn't change the likelihood of it being the case.

[Giles]

Can't prove there is nothing, of course, but it's likely.

You also can't prove that there is something.
I don't know what 'will' happen. I just know what I'd like to happen.

[Triceratops]

The answer to your question is down to what you believe, or disbelieve for that matter.

My personal response would be that you would either ascend to heaven or descend to hell - depending on whether you've lived by God's teachings, or have repented for all your sins.

I don't agree with the concept of someone's body shutting down, then for nothing to happen afterwards. I believe in a higher power; if this mighty being exists, who has already created this world beforehand, then surely they are responsible for proceeding another life after one's death? To me, human life seems too short and simple for it just completely finish as soon they die, in this current life.

It's not that I prefer to imagine an afterlife just because nothingness seems painfully disappointing - my perceptions of an afterlife come from the basis of my beliefs, which involves the almighty power above. If I simply thought that nothing happened after a human's death, I would stick with that notion. As a matter of fact, the whole heaven and hell hypothesis frightens me even more.

We simply can't prove or disprove anything, since we have no experience or evidence of an afterlife (or, perhaps, a non-existing afterlife). In this case, anything is likely.

[Bougainvillea]

My personal response would be that you would either ascend to heaven or descend to hell - depending on whether you've lived by God's teachings, or have repented for all your sins.

Why I cannot stand religion. What about the people who want nothing to do with god? Do you think they'll go to hell? Because that's pretty unfair.

I honestly don't care. I just don't want a painful death. That's all I'm scared of. The inevitability of it bothers me, too.

[Triceratops]

What about the people who want nothing to do with god? Do you think they'll go to hell? Because that's pretty unfair.

It's very unfair, indeed.
This is what I believe, but the thought of my closest friends and family who have lived a sinful life burning in hell kills me inside.

Life itself is unfair; I don't think any human could comprehend nearly half of life's questions or possible reasonings, especially in terms of why something should or shouldn't occur. I percieve life as a test, we either pass or fail - nothing can ever be deemed as perfect.

My own advice would be to just enjoy and make the most of the time you have left in your current life.

[Bougainvillea]

Well, can't that be for people who are part of that system?
I don't believe I'm going to hell, but the fact that someone else believes it bothers me. Especially when I devoted my time to general rules.

[karl]

My granddad told me - If there is nothing you will never know, if there is life after then halleluya, don't worry.

[Rainstorm]

We stay in our coffins.

There is no scientific proof that there is an afterlife, or a heaven/hell, or anything like that. Find me some evidence of the Devil's fiery home, or God's sanctuary, and I'll believe it.

[Sage]

It's very unfair, indeed.
This is what I believe, but the thought of my closest friends and family who have lived a sinful life burning in hell kills me inside.

Heaven to me is no Heaven without those that matter most. Likewise, any Hell imaginable is not so grim knowing that somewhere, in those flames, are the people who've made a real difference to me. I've lived with a great number of people, and could never forgive myself if I did anything other than burn with them, too.

/thread

[deadpie]

Heaven to me is no Heaven without those that matter most. Likewise, any Hell imaginable is not so grim knowing that somewhere, in those flames, are the people who've made a real difference to me. I've lived with a great number of people, and could never forgive myself if I did anything other than burn with them, too.

/thread
Agreed.

In my opinion, I'd rather go to hell. Heaven sounds so boring. As Notorious B.I.G says,
"God will probably have me on some real strict shit
No sleeping all day, no getting my dick licked
Hanging with the goodie-goodies lounging in paradise
Fuck that shit, I wanna tote guns and shoot dice"


Enjoying my humor.

[JackOfClubs]

Being Catholic, and based on my own thoughts, I believe that there is a Heaven, or at least some sort of afterlife. As Ben said, if there was no afterlife, life would be pretty much pointless.

[Sage]

As Ben said, if there was no afterlife, life would be pretty much pointless.

It is the journey that matters, not the destination.

[JackOfClubs]

It is the journey that matters, not the destination.
Yes, it is good to do good and have fun during life, but I think that there should be some sort of reward (wrong word, I can't think of a better one) at the end.

[Raptor22]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glnJn7yOADg

[deadpie]

I know some people who worship god just because they're afraid of burning in some hell. People expect their to always be more, something bigger intentionally. That's the part of people i really dislike.
What the hell am i even saying?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glnJn7yOADg

Dane Cooke is a prick. He calls himself a catholic, yet he'll put the word FUCK and talk about sex in everything he says. Oh how ironic he is.
Oh, and becoming a tree is the only logic idea he can think of for what atheists think? And of course, only the christian god will let you go to heaven!

[Sage]

Yes, it is good to do good and have fun during life, but I think that there should be some sort of reward (wrong word, I can't think of a better one) at the end.

If anyone is going to Hell, I would think it's the people who expect something in return for everything.

[Raptor22]

Dane Cooke is a prick. He calls himself a catholic, yet he'll put the word FUCK and talk about sex in everything he says. Oh how ironic he is.
Oh, and becoming a tree is the only logic idea he can think of for what atheists think? And of course, only the christian god will let you go to heaven!

I think that's hilarious, its a joke. And he didnt say he was catholic, he said he was raised catholic, so what. George Carlin was raised catholic too... :P

[deadpie]

I think that's hilarious, its a joke. And he didnt say he was catholic, he said he was raised catholic, so what. George Carlin was raised catholic too... :P

Yeah, but george carlin was actually funny and smart in my opinion.

[Perseus]

Dane Cooke is a prick. He calls himself a catholic, yet he'll put the word FUCK and talk about sex in everything he says. Oh how ironic he is.
Oh, and becoming a tree is the only logic idea he can think of for what atheists think? And of course, only the christian god will let you go to heaven!

When I first saw that on t.v., I was laughing my ass off.
I just found it really funny.

I'm Christian, so I believe in Heaven all that. Except, I don't think Hell is some firey pit of doom, since, well y'know, the Catholic Church made that up to scare people, because that's what they did best back in the Rennaisance.

[Sage]

I'm Christian, so I believe in Heaven all that. Except, I don't think Hell is some firey pit of doom,

There's no point in having a Heaven and a Hell anyway.

[Camazotz]

Your body stops functioning, so I can't imagine you feel like anything is happening. Similar to sleep, only no dreaming and you never wake up. It doesn't sound as scary as people make it to be.

[TigerLily]

Yknow, I have no idea, and I'm not comfortable thinking about it either. This is the issue that lost me my religion.. for I cannot bring myself to love a God who would send some of the most loving and amazing people I know to Hell, and if I am not worshipping out of love, I am merely worshipping out of fear. And that all seems far too fake for me to feel comfortable with. So I have come to the only conclusion I can live by: to dismiss religion, which in some ways is a great pity for me, and turn to agnosticism.

However, I am now left in a position where I am scared of death, because I can't fall back on the notion of an eternity in Heaven. I'm afraid of nothingness, and a part of me is still afraid of Hell. I hope by when my time comes I'll be far more comfortable with the whole prospect, but for now I can't feel happy thinking about it in the slightest.

[karl]

I just can't believe that we could go to a place like Hell for what we did during out short time in this World, specially with all the temptation that surrounds us.

[Giles]

There's no point in having a Heaven and a Hell anyway.

It helps if you explain your points...

[Mental]

Technically, we get a "preview" of death every night when we sleep or if we're knocked unconscious. Think about it, unless you're dreaming, you're just completely unaware of yourself and your surroundings. You or nobody else exists in this state, and I think that's what death is most likely like.

Part of me believes that we're "reborn" again as a completely different conscience, with absolutely no connections to our last conscience. Sorta like reincarnation, but there's absolutely no scientific or logical proof, so I can't bounce around on that.

Everyone is naturally scared of death. Think of it, everything about you becomes non-existant, and all your relationships/experiences in your life.. your family and friends.. memories.. and so on also become non-existant.

[kyle92]

well im catholic and i beleave that when i die i will go up to St. Petter he will ask you a question then that is when it is decided eather you will go in to heven and live for ever with the lord are God or burin in hell for as long as time lastes and beond.

[Giles]

Technically, we get a "preview" of death every night when we sleep or if we're knocked unconscious. Think about it, unless you're dreaming, you're just completely unaware of yourself and your surroundings. You or nobody else exists in this state, and I think that's what death is most likely like.

Actually dreams are the unconscious body releasing chemicals causing random thoughts. In death every chemical currently in the body is just released, so there might be some thoughts for a few seconds, but not like a dream.

[woody92]

I dont think anything happens when you die. I think you just either root in the ground... or burn in a fire!

[Mental]

Actually dreams are the unconscious body releasing chemicals causing random thoughts. In death every chemical currently in the body is just released, so there might be some thoughts for a few seconds, but not like a dream.
I wasn't talking about dreaming? I mean when you don't dream (or don't remember dreaming, should I say), you are completely unaware of everything and you "feel" nonexistant. Even more so, because you're dead and your body and all its organs has completely shut off.

[Severus Snape]

What happened before we were alive? Once you die you simply cease to exist, just like before you existed.

[Ryhanna]

My grandma died but they managed to bring her back. She claims to have witnessed heaven.

[Giles]

My grandma died but they managed to bring her back. She claims to have witnessed heaven.

Are you sure she isn't senile?

[Apparitions]

Are you sure she isn't senile?
Harsh but probably true :D

[CaptainObvious]

My grandma died but they managed to bring her back. She claims to have witnessed heaven.

I smoked a lot of salvia one night and I guarantee you that reality turned into a cylinder off of which I was falling.

...I'm still here, though.

[Rutherford The Brave]

I don't know what its like when you die, I havent died yet.

[Mental]

My grandma died but they managed to bring her back. She claims to have witnessed heaven.
No offence, but she didn't die, because when you die you don't come back to life, hence death. You probably mean a coma or something, right?

And I think you're talking about a NDE (near death experience). There's a few plausible science explanations for them, including the facts they might be hallucinations/dreams.

[Whisper]

Like the title says, what do you think happens when you die? I've been thinking about this for a bit and I really don't know what I think. Is it just darkness, are you born again or something? Has a religion got it right? What do you think?
Dude thats the oldest question in the book. As a species we are the only ones (that we know of) who understand from very early on that we are mortal.

Personally I like to rely on fact not innuendo. As far as i'm concerned when we die, we cease to function. The matter and energy used to form our body is converted into another form and life as a whole moves on.

Yin and Yang. That's all it is. Speaking from a scientific point of view, life is a balance. Light/dark, matter/anti-matter, positive/negative ions, life/death.
We're LITERALLY made of stardust.

I've come very close to death a few times in ER's and honestly, I am not afraid of dying.

I didn't fear birth, I won't fear death

[The Joker]

No offence, but she didn't die, because when you die you don't come back to life, hence death. You probably mean a coma or something, right?

And I think you're talking about a NDE (near death experience). There's a few plausible science explanations for them, including the facts they might be hallucinations/dreams.

No, you can actually die, but be brought back to life. It's rare though.

[Mental]

No, you can actually die, but be brought back to life. It's rare though.
Depends what your definition of death is, then. Death is when you completely and permanently cease to function and your whole body shuts down..

There is another state which you're implying, but I can't remember the name of it.

[Giles]

No offence, but she didn't die, because when you die you don't come back to life, hence death. You probably mean a coma or something, right?

And I think you're talking about a NDE (near death experience). There's a few plausible science explanations for them, including the facts they might be hallucinations/dreams.

Depends what your definition of death is, then. Death is when you completely and permanently cease to function and your whole body shuts down..

There is another state which you're implying, but I can't remember the name of it.

The scientific and most commonly believed term/definition for death is:
Death is the termination of the biological functions that define a living organism.

Therefore if you stop breathing and your heart stops beating then (according to the above quote) - You're dead. I'm guessing that his Grandma's heart stopped beating, therefore she stopped breathing - So... she died.

[Ryhanna]

Are you sure she isn't senile?

Yes she is quite sane, thank you.

And captainobvious - your username reallly describes your personality. I never said I believed it. I was merely saying this is what SHE believes.
And just because you think somethings wrong, doesn't make it wrong so shut your mouth.

[Mental]

The scientific and most commonly believed term/definition for death is:

"Death is the termination of the biological functions that define a living organism."


Therefore if you stop breathing and your heart stops beating then (according to the above quote) - You're dead. I'm guessing that his Grandma's heart stopped beating, therefore she stopped breathing - So... she died.
:rolleyes: Oh, so the brain doesn't matter then, does it? Maybe I'm forgetting I did science for a few years, but I'm pretty sure your brain is an organ, and it is THE most vital organ in the body.

And if you're 100% braindead AND your other organs such as heart, etc. ceases. There's no way you're coming back. If that was the case that you could bring such people back, then lots of people would still be alive today.

You can't die and come back to life. That's impossible. His grandma didn't die. He didn't even explain how she "died". He just said she died and came back to life and saw heaven. Now, I'm assuming she went into a coma or her heart, etc. temporarily stopped, but there's medical explanations and jargon (terms) for such stuff, and had an NDE.

And captainobvious - your username reallly describes your personality. I never said I believed it. I was merely saying this is what SHE believes.
And just because you think somethings wrong, doesn't make it wrong so shut your mouth.
Woahchill.

[Giles]

:rolleyes: Oh, so the brain doesn't matter then, does it? Maybe I'm forgetting I did science for a few years, but I'm pretty sure your brain is an organ, and it is THE most vital organ in the body.

And if you're 100% braindead AND your other organs such as heart, etc. ceases. There's no way you're coming back. If that was the case that you could bring such people back, then lots of people would still be alive today.

You can't die and come back to life. That's impossible. His grandma didn't die. He didn't even explain how she "died". He just said she died and came back to life and saw heaven. Now, I'm assuming she went into a coma or her heart, etc. temporarily stopped, but there's medical explanations and jargon (terms) for such stuff, and had an NDE.

Just because you're older and have had more education, doesn't mean that you're more intelligent.
I'm almost certain that as long as your brain isn't starved of oxygen for more than a few minutes it can be saved - possibly with brain damage. So, being 'brain dead' for a short period of time doesn't mean that you can't be revived.

[Kahn]

Well.. We die.

[Mental]

Just because you're older and have had more education, doesn't mean that you're more intelligent.
I'm almost certain that as long as your brain isn't starved of oxygen for more than a few minutes it can be saved - possibly with brain damage. So, being 'brain dead' for a short period of time doesn't mean that you can't be revived.
I didn't use any of those things as a way to doubt your intelligence; in fact I didn't say anything about them, to be honest.

But anyways, enough on that. You're not dead until you're permanently, and 100% out. So your entire body has stopped functioning. In those (rare) cases where somebody has "came back to life". They weren't dead, as something was still obviously functioning. When you're dead, this doesn't happen.

[Ryhanna]

Woahchill.[/QUOTE]

No, I won't chill. I don't take that sort of stuff from anyone - In person or on the net.

[CaptainObvious]

And captainobvious - your username reallly describes your personality. I never said I believed it. I was merely saying this is what SHE believes.
And just because you think somethings wrong, doesn't make it wrong so shut your mouth.

Of course it describes my personality. That's sort of why it's my username.

Anyways, I will post just as much as I want, thanks. People see crazy shit for all kinds of reasons, your grandma's claims don't have any particular validity. If that offends you... well, I don't know what to suggest. But I won't be shutting up about it.

[Ryhanna]

Of course it describes my personality. That's sort of why it's my username.

Anyways, I will post just as much as I want, thanks. People see crazy shit for all kinds of reasons, your grandma's claims don't have any particular validity. If that offends you... well, I don't know what to suggest. But I won't be shutting up about it.

for all you know, she's right.
It doesn't offend me that she's probably wrong - it offends me that you have to be suck a jerk about it.sometiomes people should keep opinions to themselves

[Rebecca L Vaughn]

Who knows.

[ShatteredWings]

No offence, but she didn't die, because when you die you don't come back to life, hence death. You probably mean a coma or something, right

No, there are instances where someone legally dies, as in their body and brain functions cease, but can be revived through medical intervention. This has to happen VERY soon.
True, it's probably 'extrodinarly near death', rather than truely dead, but does it matter?


When I die, and I'm fully dead, i'm just dead. Nothing left, body's just a shell, mind's gone away

[Ryhanna]

;749473']No, there are instances where someone legally dies, as in their body and brain functions cease, but can be revived through medical intervention. This has to happen VERY soon.
True, it's probably 'extrodinarly near death', rather than truely dead, but does it matter?


When I die, and I'm fully dead, i'm just dead. Nothing left, body's just a shell, mind's gone away

Exactly.
I only posted that she died to show another point. It's not like anyone will actually ever know. I didn't post it for smartasses to try to point out that she's crazy/wrong etc

[CaptainObvious]

for all you know, she's right.
It doesn't offend me that she's probably wrong - it offends me that you have to be suck a jerk about it.sometiomes people should keep opinions to themselves

Don't post things in the debate forum if you don't want them critiqued.

Exactly.
I only posted that she died to show another point. It's not like anyone will actually ever know. I didn't post it for smartasses to try to point out that she's crazy/wrong etc

Well, she probably is wrong. Don't know if I'd call it crazy for a religious person to claim they saw heaven when we know so little about the chemical processes in the brain during the end of life, but I certainly wouldn't call it right.

[Ryhanna]

Don't post things in the debate forum if you don't want them critiqued.



Well, she probably is wrong. Don't know if I'd call it crazy for a religious person to claim they saw heaven when we know so little about the chemical processes in the brain during the end of life, but I certainly wouldn't call it right.

I was just trying to say that this is what she saw, and it IS a possibility. We will not know what happens for sure until we die. Are we over it now?

[ShatteredWings]

Reminder of the post you're arguing about

She claims to have witnessed heaven.

Claims. Not "has, for sure", "claims"

[Nelson]

I belive that we just die, see nothing, hear nothing and get eaten by worms, thats my view

[ltimm]

What I don't get is WHY does there have to be something after death? What makes us so special? Our genome is over 90% identical to that of other primates( also mice)! we just toke a step further into the evolutionary process and natural selection. when we die, We just lose conscienceness and cease to exist and that's that! We decompose and become natural fertilizer for the earth! the great life cycle that keeps this planet healthy. Believing anythying else is just stupid.

[obiwan94]

Dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead dead...oh, did I mention you are DEAD! Caput, end of line, six feet under, pushing up daisies, worm food...I think that about sums it up. No heaven, no hell, no new life (unless you consider fertilizer for grass as alive)

[babyface]

I believe there is something after we cease to function, simply because if 'nothing' exists, it is existing, because it can be branded as something. If that makes sense? Basically, 'non existance' doesn't exist, it's a paradox.

:)

[LunacyFringe]

I believe in judgement day, heaven and hell. I also believe that when you die, you are questioned by angels about how you led your life and that how you spend your time in your grave is decided upon by your faithfulness to God.

[Mattasaur94]

I hope there's something after death...
Im not scared of dieing... or having a painful death. I mean, sure, it might hurt... But I really want to know what its like being dead... But then... what if you don't like it?

I was born/raised a Christian, a couple of months ago I left the church I was in because I saw it as a cult... (make sure you know the actual definition before you make assumptions). I mean, it was drilled into my head alot when I was young, "If your good and blah blah blah, you'll go to heaven"
I honestly... Don't know what I beleive... i'd like to get into Necromancy (once more, learn the term before assuming), just so I could find out what being dead was like...
*nods*

[Sage]

I believe in judgement day, heaven and hell. I also believe that when you die, you are questioned by angels about how you led your life and that how you spend your time in your grave is decided upon by your faithfulness to God.

Why?

[deadpie]

I could care less if I go to an afterlife or not.
A higher power is just a concept.
The end.