Would you prefer there to be nothing after death?

[Undesired Walrus]

I'm not sure I really regard myself an Atheist, I don't really believe in God, but one thing I completly do not believe in is an afterlife.

It just seems completly and utterly illogical that once your brain waves stop, they fly away and go somewhere else. If there was a God, I don't think he would really be concerned with an afterlife.

My question is, to fellow Atheists (If you would classify me as such), would you prefer that there was nothing after death (Not even a roaring nothing, just a nothing), or would you be pleasantly suprised at signing your name in at the pearly gates?

I, myself, am somewhat terrified of death. It is a big issue for me. I cannot comprehend simply not existing, and it scares the **** out of me. I'm sure some of you have had those 'moments'. But, please furnish me with your details.

 

[Filippo Lippi]

You won't be aware of your non-existence, why worry about it?

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Whether or not I want some sort of afterlife depends entirely on whether it is pleasant or not. I don't think an infinitely long afterlife, blissful or otherwise, would be pleasant in the long run. Unless, of course, I had a completely different sort of personality, in which case it wouldn't be me experiencing the afterlife.

~~ Paul

 

[Wolfman]

So far as what I'd prefer, I'd prefer to die and find myself in a paradise where thousands of women remarkably similar to the Swedish Bikini Team treated me as their god...and that I had divine sexual stamina and ability.

Or, barring that, I'd prefer to die and discover that I was now a god, in charge of creating my own universe (which would be populated by millions of women remarkably similar to the Swedish Bikini Team...yadda yadda yadda).

I don't see how what I'd prefer has anything to do with the issue; yeah, I'm sure I'd be delighted if I died and found myself in Heaven (pretty much by definition, you have to be happy when you get to Heaven); and yeah, I'm sure I'd be pretty darned bummed about it if I died and found myself in Hell. But the point's moot. I don't believe either is going to happen. I'll just cease to exist. End of story.

 

[Yiab]

While I agree that it is essentially impossible that an afterlife can exist, I would prefer the Buddhist way of things - keep living until you want to stop.
That said, if I am asked to choose between eternal life (even in heaven) and immediate non-existence, I choose immediate non-existence every time.

 

[kittykatkarma]

The fear of not knowing what will come next, along with the fear of not being in control of ones destiny are very real when considering the possibilities relating to death.

If I could, I would choose to return as a kitty cat ~ owned by a loving person (just like me) who respected my desire to lay in that bit of sunshine warming the soft carpet just for me, who would feed me yummy treats, and who loved me no matter what ~ even if I made a dreadful mess.

Because I can't choose, I hope that everything fades to black and that I am not aware of anything after they pronounce me dead.

 

[Kopji]

I guess for me, the problem is not so much the 'wrongness' or 'rightness' of believing in an afterlife. The various constructions of an afterlife complicate and confuse a basic truth that death is a part of life.

Consider that for a short instant the evolving universe comes together in an amazing way that we perceive as 'life', and then we return as quickly as we came.

Belief in things like an afterlife drive us to ask questions like 'what is our purpose here?' The view that we are a natural expression of the universe does not ask such questions, but involves something like learning to appreciate that we are like a flower that blooms only one day and is then gone.

Maybe if we are to create a purpose as part of being human, it is to encourage and nurture a world where life can not only exist, but thrive.

 

[Complexity]

I will welcome an ending.

 

[PrincessIneffabelle]

I don't believe in any kind of life after death. I actually feel reassured, not frightened, that death is "the end". The whole concept of any kind of afterlife never really made sense to me. Also, the thought of people looking down on me from heaven (or wherever) always gave me the creeps.

 

[Wowbagger]

The following is philosophy talk, not science, but:

Given the statistical unlikelihood that you would even be born, is it any less statistically unlikely that you could be "reborn": that your consciousness would ever re-establish itself, in another life form, far into the future?

Just something to ponder over, (though I wish anyone the best if luck, if they think they can pursue this matter through science )

 

[RandFan]

I didn't exist before I was born and I'm guessing that I was fine with it at the time. I suppose I'll be fine with it when I die.

Many if not most come to grips with their mortality at some point in their life. Often it is middle life. I did about 10 years ago. It bothered me a lot. Not anymore.

As to your question, I suppose that it depends on what the something after life would be. I wouldn't want to live in North Korea which is similar to Christianity in that it is required that one worship the dear leader so I certainly wouldn't want what the Christians view of the next life.

Why don't people realize that these ideas of afterlife were invented at the todler state of our species. We can do better for comming up with an afterlife.

Given that our memories are the resulto of physical processes and that we know that they can be erased it is nonsensical to believe we will take them with us so what difference does it make?

As for better afterlifes, I rather like the Nexus in Star Trek Generations. If I could have an afterlife I would like to continue learning and to explore the universe.

Screw kissing Christ's feet. I'd much rather go to hell.

 

[skeptifem]

I really wouldnt want to exsist forever. Especially in a ghost/reincarnation sort of way *shudder*. Heaven would be ok as long as it wasnt all that harps and cloud ****.

As for dying, its scary for me to think of how i will die, the proccess often isnt pleasant, but being dead isnt scary to me. You cant care about much as a corpse, so it doesnt scare me. I just hope whatever happens to me is quick and painless.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

I didn't exist before I was born and I'm guessing that I was fine with it at the time. I suppose I'll be fine with it when I die.

Many if not most come to grips with their mortality at some point in their life. Often it is middle life. I did about 10 years ago. It bothered me a lot. Not anymore.

It seems Woody Allen has never grown out of it.

Tell me, how did you reach yourself out of it? As for the most part, when I bring it to the front of my mind, I find it terrifying, but at the same time, fascinating and exciting. The very notion that I cannot exist, and not even exist in a roaring nothing but a nothing is extraordinary.

I guess I first realised it when my dog fell down a hill and I went down to rescue him. I realised how close the balance between life and death was.

I have quite bad diagnosed depression, so I dont really get excited by life a lot of the time, but when I have a good period, I feel euphoric about the possibilities of life, but also a sudden, unbearable dread of dying before I have lived. Whilst it is nice to feel like that, and find such intense purpose, I'm not sure what I would prefer.

Intense happiness about life but a morbid fear of sudden death?
Or depression about life but not a large corcern about sudden death?

 

[RandFan]

It seems Woody Allen has never grown out of it.

Tell me, how did you reach yourself out of it?

I'm not completely sure. It was while debating and considering the concept of self and free will I suppose. I came to the conclusion that in the end it doesn't matter. My response to those questions were simply emotional.

As for the most part, when I bring it to the front of my mind, I find it terrifying, but at the same time, fascinating and exciting. The very notion that I cannot exist, and not even exist in a roaring nothing but a nothing is extraordinary.

When I was young, my mother posed for me a question, what if there was nothing and nothing to realize that there was nothing? It used to fascinate me and terrify me the way standing at a tall precipice excites but terrifies me. Not so much anymore.

Our minds literally model ourselves into our perceived world. Somewhere in our brain cells is a representation of ourself and coupled to that is survival. Throw into the mix that we evolved to try and affix meaning to everything we come in contact with and you get the emotional response.

I guess I first realised it when my dog fell down a hill and I went down to rescue him. I realised how close the balance between life and death was.

I have quite bad diagnosed depression, so I dont really get excited by life a lot of the time, but when I have a good period, I feel euphoric about the possibilities of life, but also a sudden, unbearable dread of dying before I have lived. Whilst it is nice to feel like that, and find such intense purpose, I'm not sure what I would prefer.

Intense happiness about life but a morbid fear of sudden death?
Or depression about life but not a large corcern about sudden death?

Life is a bumpy ride. Hopefully we can find meaning, purpose and some measure of happiness from the ride and not lose out on any opportunities in the hope that there is another ride when this one is through.

Having suffered with depression I can relate, somewhat, with your experiences.

 

[qayak]

The following is philosophy talk, not science, but:

Given the statistical unlikelihood that you would even be born . . .

Statistical unlikelihood of me being born = 0%

Statistical likelihood of me being born = 100%

 

[Michael C]

I'll take total oblivion, and it doesn't scare me. What does scare me is the possibility of long and painful illness before I finally disappear.

 

[Miss Anthrope]

I found that some of the scariest and most difficult things I've grappled with in life have come from clinging on to what I'd prefer to be true.

When I was a very young woman with stars in my eyes, I prefered the notion that romance novels told the truth about men and relationships. When I didn't get my way, I struggled and tried to deny reality. It led to misery for me, and any man who had the misfortune of trying to deal with my childish notions.

The afterlife is like that for me. When I was young with stars in my eyes, I couldn't stand the thought that I would cease to exist. Sometimes my ego doesn't like that idea very much, and I have a moment of terror. But then I realize there is not any choice in the matter. I can live fully and consider each day I'm on the right side of the grass a gift, or I can struggle while I hold onto a false notion of what I'd prefer.

I'm much more content to accept certain realities than long for them to be different. The things I can change for the better I strive to improve. Those I cannot, I accept.

 

[qayak]

As for dying, its scary for me to think of how i will die, the proccess often isnt pleasant, but being dead isnt scary to me. You cant care about much as a corpse, so it doesnt scare me. I just hope whatever happens to me is quick and painless.

I think this is an issue with younger people. When you are young, the process (things likely to kill you) is most likely quite painful. Car accident, gunshot, stabbing, etc.

As you age, the things that will kill you become more of a relief. When you are laying in your bed at the age of 100, wearing a diaper and having all your bodily functions taken care of by machines and being medicated to control pain, almost any form of death will be a relief.

 

[RandFan]

Statistical unlikelihood of me being born = 0%

Statistical likelihood of me being born = 100%

Humans have the capacity to suppose what the statistical likelihood of an event was before it happens even after it happens. This is called abstract thinking.

Here, let me give you an example. The statistical likelihood of winning next weeks California Lottery (Match 5 Plus)? 1:41,416,353

So, let's assume for a moment that you win the lottery next week. Would that fact change your prior likelihood of winning? No.

That's the point you are missing qayak. Humans can look back to calculate the prior likelihood of any event that has happened. In fact, forensic scientists and detectives (not to mention scientists in general) do it all of the time. It is a very valuable tool.

{poorly thought out example snipped} I appologize.

 

[Wowbagger]

As for better afterlifes, I rather like the Nexus in Star Trek Generations. If I could have an afterlife I would like to continue learning and to explore the universe.

I am sure most of us would love to live in The Nexus, if there was such a thing.
Of course, you might want to ask yourself: Would you be willing to enter the Nexus if it meant you had to destroy the lives of millions of people, on various planets, in order to do so?

Statistical unlikelihood of me being born = 0%

Statistical likelihood of me being born = 100%

Of course, the likelihood of you having been born is 100%, since we know you exist*.

What I meant was: The likelihood you would even have been born, in the first place, (as measured before you actually were). The answer depends on if the Universe is really deterministic or not.
Hypothetically, if we assume the Universe is 100% deterministic, then yes, there is a 100% you will be born.
Of course, science seems to indicate this is not really the case. Based on what we can observe, it appears as though there is inherent uncertainty within everything in the Universe. So, that would mean there is less than a 100% chance you would have ever been born.
The worst case scenario is if there are an infinite number of undeterministic variables that go into the existence of your life. That would mean the chances of you being born are as close to zero as you could get, without actually being zero. (If you understand my meaning.)

Now, I must disclose that I really do not believe in reincarnation, at least not anything close to any concepts usually associated with that word. I am not that stupid.
What I am talking about is this: If "your" consciousness really does re-establish itself, you would be a completely and utterly different life form, with no memory what-so-ever, of your consciousness's past forms. You would simply be another self-conscious, sentient, independently acting, thing that would refer to one's self as "I" (or whatever the equivalent of "I" is in your new language, if you even have a language, at all).

Disclaimer: The above is really a philosophical argument, not a scientific one, despite my insertion of the word "science", in part one of the paragraphs above.

(* assuming you are not a machine simulating human conversation. )