What Do Different Beliefs Say About Life After Death?

[Fliption]

Because happiness is self justifying. It feels good. By the same token, why avoid pain? If you have a really bad headache, do you take an aspirin? If so, why? There is no external justification either way; experience is its own justification, be it for persual or avoidance.

I interpreted him to be saying things a bit differently. He's saying that life conditions us to do things for a reason, to achieve some end. So why be happy only to become non-existent? Why even exists at all?

The question seems a bit absurd until you remember that life is not all happiness. For some people it isn't even close.

 

[hypnagogue]

I interpreted him to be saying things a bit differently. He's saying that life conditions us to do things for a reason, to achieve some end. So why be happy only to become non-existent? Why even exists at all?

The question seems a bit absurd until you remember that life is not all happiness. For some people it isn't even close.

I don't see how your phrasing changes how I should answer. Could you clarify?

 

[alpha_wolf]

When we die, our body returns to the Earth Mother. It decomposes, and gradually retruns to the food chain, becoming part of the many plants, animals, and other organisms that consititute nature.

As for the question of whether we continue to somehow exist somewhere, I am not entirely sure, but I think we don't. Once we die, we cease to exist. There is no afterlife.

What is the value of life if there is no afterlife? The answer seems simple to me: the value of our life is in the legacy we leave behind.

 

[cangus]

What is the value of life if there is no afterlife? The answer seems simple to me: the value of our life is in the legacy we leave behind.

the legacy we leave behind is an illusion of the mind... what if u were the only living being on a planet... what legacy would u leave in the minds of whom?

 

[cangus]

i've come to a conclusion that the more we think of the afterlife, the more it doesn't make sense... we all can make up a meaning of life but if u really think about it and analyze it in depth, it ultimately won't make sense. someone said that the meaning of life was to be happy... but why? the meaning of life is to leave behind a legacy... why? what's the point? the meaning of life is a test from a divine source... again, what's the point?

 

[hypnagogue]

I don't think we can say that being happy is THE meaning of life. On the other hand, being happy certainly provides sufficient motivation to live life, and motivation to live life is presumably the respect in which 'meaning of life' questions have significance.

Imagine the happiest you've ever been. Did you need to justify it extrinsically, or did it have some kind of intrinsic self-justification? Happiness does not derive meaning or significance from other things; it is its own meaningfulness and significance. It gives us sufficient reason to live without having to appeal to anything outside of itself.

 

[olde drunk]

i've come to a conclusion that the more we think of the afterlife, the more it doesn't make sense... we all can make up a meaning of life but if u really think about it and analyze it in depth, it ultimately won't make sense. someone said that the meaning of life was to be happy... but why? the meaning of life is to leave behind a legacy... why? what's the point? the meaning of life is a test from a divine source... again, what's the point?

the only logical explanation is that each person has their personal meaning of life and their personal goal(s). this includes whether or not there is an afterlife.

i believe that it is folly to accept any other persons' or groups' meaning.

when you find your answer it will resound within you. you may need to meditate or pray to hear your inner self.


love and peace,
olde drunk

 

[Dissident Dan]

someone said that the meaning of life was to be happy... but why?

I did not state that the meaning of life is to be happy. In fact, I stated that I don't believe in any purpose or meaning to life. I said that happiness provides value to life. Happiness is intrinsically valuable. You know this when you feel happy.

 

[Lorentz]

Everyones goal in life is to be happy. Why?, becuase we were made that way.

 

[Lorentz]

Being happy feels good and if it didn't there wouldn't be a reason for us to stay alive.

 

[Biskitbarrel]

I'm not sure I believe in an afterlife either, but maybe ceasing to Exist is not as terrible as it sounds. Afterall, think about it: everyone is going to die eventually. Even the most hardend materialst athiest will succumb to death at some point. There is no getting out of it. Sure, death would be the end of joy and laughter and whatnot, but it is ALSO the end of pain and suffering. So why should we fear it? Not everyone can live a quality life.

 

[gurl4god77]

It's depressing to hear that people believe that life is all that there is. According to my religion, which I believe in very strongly, when you die you can go one of two places: Heaven or hell. ( I'm an evangelical christian by the way) You cannot get to heaven by works, and if you sin you go to hell. ETERNALLY! So how do you get to heaven? By accepting christ as your lord and savior. (I love forums!) By believing, no scratch that, KNOWING that christ died for your sins, you confess that he died on a cross for you (he was crucified!) and was raised from the dead (he has fulfilled I think 42 prophecies so far) and confess that you are a sinner (because EVERYONE has sinned) you will be saved. For god so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

 

[Loren Booda]

After death is much like after half-life, only twice so.

 

[dschouten]

It's depressing to hear that people believe that life is all that there is. According to my religion, which I believe in very strongly, when you die you can go one of two places: Heaven or hell. ( I'm an evangelical christian by the way) You cannot get to heaven by works, and if you sin you go to hell. ETERNALLY! So how do you get to heaven? By accepting christ as your lord and savior. (I love forums!) By believing, no scratch that, KNOWING that christ died for your sins, you confess that he died on a cross for you (he was crucified!) and was raised from the dead (he has fulfilled I think 42 prophecies so far) and confess that you are a sinner (because EVERYONE has sinned) you will be saved. For god so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

Then, if I understand correctly (and I probably don't), the purpose of life is to live after life. The way I have always understood it, and the way I have been taught, is that the life hereafter was a reward, a goal, "a prize worth pursuing" but not the meaning itself. The meaning was the glorification of our Creator (God the Father) who was, who is and who is to come withoug beginning and without end.

 

[merak]

our body is really made up of sub atomic particles. I have a loose theory that some these particles could carry identity information or leave some type of imprint on such particle much like dna does.I call them smart particles.perhaps over eons of time we may find our selfs put back togeather again in some form. we would not remember this life though as time has no meaning in the sub atomic world. kinda like humpty dumpty with a vary bad memory.

 

[dschouten]

I have a loose theory that some these particles could carry identity information or leave some type of imprint on such particle much like dna does. I have a loose theory that some these particles could carry identity information or leave some type of imprint on such particle much like dna does.I call them smart particles.

You obviously know nothing about sub atomic particles. They are identical, in every nuance of the word.

we would not remember this life though as time has no meaning in the sub atomic world. kinda like humpty dumpty with a vary bad memory.

What? Time has no meaning in the sub-atomic world? What crap have you been reading?

 

[Nicomachus]

our body is really made up of sub atomic particles. I have a loose theory that some these particles could carry identity information or leave some type of imprint on such particle much like dna does.I call them smart particles.perhaps over eons of time we may find our selfs put back togeather again in some form. we would not remember this life though as time has no meaning in the sub atomic world. kinda like humpty dumpty with a vary bad memory.

Fallacy of composition. Also, do you have any proof or is this just a preface to a Sci-Fi novel?
*Nico

 

[merak]

You obviously know nothing about sub atomic particles. They are identical, in every nuance of the word.



What? Time has no meaning in the sub-atomic world? What crap have you been reading?

I'm sorry guess I'm misinformed. I did not know all particles are indentical in every nauance of the word. so I have a few questions. how is a particle the same as an anti particle. virtual particles exist for such a short time that they can never be observed,how can one know that, they are indentical to all other particles. how is a pentaquark indentical to a force carrier particle. why can't the standard model predict a particles mass. why can't the standard model explain dark matter.

I hold that the past present and future are the same, that time is an illusion. how do you know that time has an effect on "all" particles, other that nuclear decay.

 

[merak]

Fallacy of composition. Also, do you have any proof or is this just a preface to a Sci-Fi novel?
*Nico

no I do not have any proof of that... theory. perhaps I sould have said; it may be" possible "that some unknown particle "may" retain (some) information about the "form" of matter it once was in. a sci-fi novel? that's an idea. wonder if it would sell $$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Loren Booda]

Doesn't make cents.

 

[sciart]

so our consciousness and feeling are virtual or unreal. It from low Entropy.

 

[merak]

so our consciousness and feeling are virtual or unreal. It from low Entropy.

sciart welcome. The theory that the universe is a hologram?? However the topic (was) what happens after death..heaven\ hell\ life after\ nothing ect ect. what do you think happens.is there anything after death.

 

[bola]

I think that after death we cease to be conscious. Our brain and body decomposes, and by definition, the essence of us goes away.

however, someone asked, why live when we in the end will just dissapear?
Well the problem is for one, you didnt choose to be here, nature put you here and now you're stuck with what you have. Maybe nature intended for you to think about your own existence, maybe not. Regardless, no one made a plan for you.

This is why i find help in that after i die, the world will still be here, and everyone i loved will remember me.
Maybe if i make more of a difference my name can live on for many centuries, and i can help the arts, technology, science whatever move forward and create something new.

This however doesn't happen to most people.

But shortly put, there is no objective point, the only point is what you and others around you create. When the people who live on after you die, remember your happy and even sad moments, they will be grateful for experiencing them.
So together people must create a place for themselves and for others, and that's about as much of a point there could be.

 

[dschouten]

I'm sorry guess I'm misinformed. I did not know all particles are indentical in every nauance of the word. so I have a few questions. how is a particle the same as an anti particle. virtual particles exist for such a short time that they can never be observed,how can one know that, they are indentical to all other particles. how is a pentaquark indentical to a force carrier particle. why can't the standard model predict a particles mass. why can't the standard model explain dark matter.

I hold that the past present and future are the same, that time is an illusion. how do you know that time has an effect on "all" particles, other that nuclear decay.

Yes, there are different types of particles. In the standard model we have six quark flavors, the leptons, and the force carriers W,Z and gamma etc.

The fundamental concept is that there is no difference between one particle of a given type and any other particle of the same type. You cannot distinguish them. Therefore, one 'smart' particle cannot leave an 'imprint' that differs from any other 'smart' particle (which would, in effect, make the 'smart' particles quite 'dumb' and 'useless').

Before you start dreaming up great notions about metaphysics why don't you take the time to actually research the issues. Contrary to what the history books might indicate, researchers don't develop complex theories by simply throwing dice, reading tarrot cards and consuming large quantities of alcohol.

 

[olde drunk]

I think that after death we cease to be conscious. Our brain and body decomposes, and by definition, the essence of us goes away.

however, someone asked, why live when we in the end will just dissapear?
Well the problem is for one, you didnt choose to be here, nature put you here and now you're stuck with what you have. Maybe nature intended for you to think about your own existence, maybe not. Regardless, no one made a plan for you.

This is why i find help in that after i die, the world will still be here, and everyone i loved will remember me.
Maybe if i make more of a difference my name can live on for many centuries, and i can help the arts, technology, science whatever move forward and create something new.

This however doesn't happen to most people.

But shortly put, there is no objective point, the only point is what you and others around you create. When the people who live on after you die, remember your happy and even sad moments, they will be grateful for experiencing them.
So together people must create a place for themselves and for others, and that's about as much of a point there could be.

Bola:

I found that by taking the idea that i chose the circumstances of my birth and it's enviornment, many more things about my life made sense.

look at how you would not be the you, you are today without those experiences. yeah, social scientists will say that it is the affect of nurture. look a little deeper at the 'significant' moments and how you were made to choose tween several options.

if you can accept responsibility for your life you can believe in our eternal conscious existence. i find this to be a much more tolerable, sane view on the subject.

love&peace,
olde drunk

 

[sciart]

sciart welcome. The theory that the universe is a hologram?? However the topic (was) what happens after death..heaven\ hell\ life after\ nothing ect ect. what do you think happens.is there anything after death.

Lost My memory and thought. Only a body. then It convert (or disassemble) other anything(stone,animal'body computer or cake). :( :)

Of course, All matter be controlled by Physcis Theorys and Laws,Forever.

 

[merak]

Yes, there are different types of particles. In the standard model we have six quark flavors, the leptons, and the force carriers W,Z and gamma etc.

The fundamental concept is that there is no difference between one particle of a given type and any other particle of the same type. You cannot distinguish them. Therefore, one 'smart' particle cannot leave an 'imprint' that differs from any other 'smart' particle (which would, in effect, make the 'smart' particles quite 'dumb' and 'useless').

Before you start dreaming up great notions about metaphysics why don't you take the time to actually research the issues. Contrary to what the history books might indicate, researchers don't develop complex theories by simply throwing dice, reading tarrot cards and consuming large quantities of alcohol.

of course I can not prove smart particles exist,but how can we know what's fundamental until we understand what's going on inside a black hole. I'm not doing any research.I don't have an atom smasher. I dream that I may find myself as a conscious being again at some point in the eons of time. I try to see some (even remote) chance that I may be conscious again. as of now I see none.That doesn't mean that one can not "think", of way's this might be. I can accept the fact that we live we die and that may be it.
I think one of einstein theories came to him, In a "dream"

 

[Loren Booda]

A black hole has the maximum of lost information for a given mass. If you can find a way to physically explain how all of its various infalling quantum numbers come to manifest externally as only spin, mass and charge - then might later be resurrected in their original spacetime - you may be as recognized a physicist as Stephen Hawking.

 

[bola]

olde drunk I'm sorry but I'm not quite following you.. What do you mean eternal conscious existence, reincarnation for an infinite amount of time?

And what do you mean if you chose the circumstances around your birth and environment?

 

[RAD4921]

What me worry?

"I am not afraid of death I just don't want to be there when it happems"---Woody Allen