What happens when we die?

[T@T]

I can deal with views of another dimension, Heaven or Hell and Reincarnation is plain silly, Undecided means your taking to many drugs, Death is final is most likely correct but can even one of the people who voted other "other" please explain "other"!!

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

859 word version of "I'm not sure, hopefully something?"

Jesus.

[Dion]

I never knew that CaptainCrunch was some great philosopher......

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Thor

If there is an afterlife and I live a good life yet do not get in, then there is something immeasurably wrong with that God. I could of course ask, are you sure you selected the correct religion to get in to heaven?

At least if its Valhalla I'm in good, I think if there is a Christian God of the old and new testament I'd rather not hang out eternally praising him anyhow, I could always move to North Korea to experience that

Of course I don't take it personally, its all fun to think about.

And what if religion is wrong and there is no judgement, heavan or hell. There is no "getting in" for that exact reason. There is no correct religion.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Nobody freaks out about what was happening before they were born. Only what happens after they die.

Personally I think after I die it'll be pretty well exactly the same as the time before I was born. I didn't exist.

Doesn't mean the sentimental side of me doesn't wish I would get to live on in eternity with all my loved ones. I do wish that were true. But rationally... no. After death there is nothing.

Id never thought of this before, the onset of coniousness is as mysterious as the loss of it.

It kind of kills that extra dimension theory.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

We go back to where we came from, the universe. How privileged are we? We came from star dust, we live, we love, we laugh, we cry, we mourn, we wonder, we hate Edmonton. I find it mind boggling, we are the universe and the universe is us. The universe found a way to form life that could actually investigate, discover and wonder about itself. That is amazing. In the end we eventually turn back to star dust as the sun consumes the Earth. Dying is just a fact of life with our current technology, I don't claim the same for future generations though. My atoms in the end will be spread across the Earth, breathed in by billions of people, eventually scorched by the sun. Hopefully spread across the galaxy to be a part of a new star and planets. Part of me may end up in some future Solar System that achieves more than we do. Who knows. I can't think of a greater privilege than being alive.

^This, to me, is more comforting than any religion could ever be.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by T@T

I can deal with views of another dimension, Heaven or Hell and Reincarnation is plain silly, Undecided means your taking to many drugs, Death is final is most likely correct but can even one of the people who voted other "other" please explain "other"!!

I voted "other" because none of the available options corresponds to my own hope, which is representative of Paul's view in the New Testament: Resurrection—which is not reincarnation—in a new world—which is not the same as heaven and hell.

[Enoch Root]

Textcritic: I'll ask you what I was about to ask the 'heaven' crowd:

You say 'resurrection in a new world' so I assume that includes consciousness (because if it doesn't, then you haven't really gone anywhere).

So assuming you're now consciously aware that you are in a new place, what do you do there? Simple question, but people don't seem to consider it.

You wait around for everyone you have ever known to die and join you, so that takes maybe 50 years. Then what?

After another 100 years, then what?

Now consider another 1,000 years. Then another million! Then try to consider the beyond-incomprehensible, several billion years until the big crunch finally puts you out of your misery.

And if your answer is that time is different there, or doesn't mean anything there, I would reply that you can't tell us what it isn't unless you're prepared to tell us what it is.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Textcritic: I'll ask you what I was about to ask the 'heaven' crowd:

You say 'resurrection in a new world' so I assume that includes consciousness (because if it doesn't, then you haven't really gone anywhere).

So assuming you're now consciously aware that you are in a new place, what do you do there? Simple question, but people don't seem to consider it.

Here is the part where the NT idea of resurrection is different: it is not transportation to a "new place," since the "new world" is this world that has undergone a transformation, or renewal. So, as to what we do, we live. we live and work, and love very much like we do now. Maybe after a time we die.

And if your answer is that time is different there, or doesn't mean anything there, I would reply that you can't tell us what it isn't unless you're prepared to tell us what it is.

I don't think I believe in an eternal existence, so maybe the idea is somewhat closer to a notion of reincarnation, in that there is a cycle of transformation from death to renewal.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I voted "other" because none of the available options corresponds to my own hope, which is representative of Paul's view in the New Testament: Resurrection—which is not reincarnation—in a new world—which is not the same as heaven and hell.

_

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Here is the part where the NT idea of resurrection is different: it is not transportation to a "new place," since the "new world" is this world that has undergone a transformation, or renewal. So, as to what we do, we live. we live and work, and love very much like we do now. Maybe after a time we die.


I don't think I believe in an eternal existence, so maybe the idea is somewhat closer to a notion of reincarnation, in that there is a cycle of transformation from death to renewal.

I would argue that if it isn't eternal, then it is simply living again (i.e. reincarnation)

To me, that is just begging the question - we don't die, we're reborn. Then we die. So what's the point? (not meaning to be disrespectful of your beliefs, just asking so I can understand what you're presenting)

So I'll pass my original question back to everyone else: if you go to heaven, for how long? What do you do? As Brysgolov might say: eternity is, like, a really, realllly long time.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I would argue that if it isn't eternal, then it is simply living again (i.e. reincarnation)

To me, that is just begging the question - we don't die, we're reborn. Then we die. So what's the point? (not meaning to be disrespectful of your beliefs, just asking so I can understand what you're presenting)

So I'll pass my original question back to everyone else: if you go to heaven, for how long? What do you do? As Brysgolov might say: eternity is, like, a really, realllly long time.

When the knock on your door comes here's what I say when Heaven is brought up.

Where's Heaven I ask? Bible thumper points up.
Where's Hell I ask? Bible thumper points down.

I then ask. Where are they in 12 hours?

Priceless confused look soon follows.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Nobody freaks out about what was happening before they were born. Only what happens after they die.

Personally I think after I die it'll be pretty well exactly the same as the time before I was born. I didn't exist.

Doesn't mean the sentimental side of me doesn't wish I would get to live on in eternity with all my loved ones. I do wish that were true. But rationally... no. After death there is nothing.

what if you were somewhere before you were born?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GGG

Id never thought of this before, the onset of coniousness is as mysterious as the loss of it.

It kind of kills that extra dimension theory.

How so?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

what if you were somewhere before you were born?

To grossly paraphrase Descartes, if you don't remember it, you weren't.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

To grossly paraphrase Descartes, if you don't remember it, you weren't.

Memory wiped.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

To grossly paraphrase Descartes, if you don't remember it, you weren't.

Do i understand this correctly? If i dont remember somehing it didn't happen?

[Vulcan]

I'm getting up there so it's becoming more of a certainty in my mind as the time draws closer and my health deteriorates. I've already lost many of my friends, loved ones and relatives of my generation but spending much time contemplating death is the wrong path to follow in this life. Enjoy the present and the rest should take care of itself.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Here is the part where the NT idea of resurrection is different: it is not transportation to a "new place," since the "new world" is this world that has undergone a transformation, or renewal. So, as to what we do, we live. we live and work, and love very much like we do now. Maybe after a time we die.

I don't think I believe in an eternal existence, so maybe the idea is somewhat closer to a notion of reincarnation, in that there is a cycle of transformation from death to renewal.

Pretend for a second nothing on the afterlife was written about in old books. All of humanity was starting fresh on the topic using today's tools, knowledge and methodologies. Nothing whatsoever points to reincarnation, heaven, hell, etc. These are silly fairytales. No reputable person would be able to support these claims. They're truly just made up nothings.

It's crazy seeing some of the things our peers on this site believe. I'm disheartened. You die, decompose and that's it. Just like a tree, a dandelion, a mosquito, a dog. You're no better than any of them. That's a fact. Reincarnation, judgement, heaven...it's childish malarkey. Come on guys.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Pretend for a second nothing on the afterlife was written about in old books. All of humanity was starting fresh on the topic using today's tools, knowledge and methodologies. Nothing whatsoever points to reincarnation, heaven, hell, etc. These are silly fairytales. No reputable person would be able to support these claims. They're truly just made up nothings.

It's crazy seeing some of the things our peers on this site believe. I'm disheartened. You die, decompose and that's it. Just like a tree, a dandelion, a mosquito, a dog. You're no better than any of them. That's a fact. Reincarnation, judgement, heaven...it's childish malarkey. Come on guys.

I find it sad that you would call the views of some here childish malarkey. We don't have proof either way and yet you would have us believe yours is the only credible view. The fact is we don't know and mocking people does nothing to gte others here to support your views.