Afterlife? (reincarnation, hell, atheist, eternal, heaven)

[Finnyhaha]

I didn't post this on the debate thread because I don't want it to turn into a debate, but I was wondering about everyone's views on the afterlife. I want specifics, if you believe in heaven, how do you picture it? How about Summerland? The Quaffing Grounds? (I know there's a technically name for that, but I'm sure you Astartu will know what I'm talking about. I don't want any descriptions of hell, just the good places.

Also, and more importantly, I want to hear from you Atheists. What happens after death? Are we snuffed out like a candle flame? Do you ever get overwhelmed by a feeling of mortality? Does life just feel . . pointless?

I'm asking because I got this overwhelming feel tonight at work (I work at an old folk's home) that I don't want to not exist. I know not existing wouldn't be painful or anything, but I still don't like it.

And what about reincarnation. If you don't remember your past life, in what sense are you really you? To me I am me because of my memories. . .

Just some thoughts and questions.

Finny

[Prima]

This has been discussed ad nauseum.

But to recap....

I think anything's possible. If you wanna be reincarnated, ok, you will be. Feel like the Summerlands? There ya go. Harps, halos, and sack-like dresses? A-ok. Want to be snuffed out? Sure.

I don't think you 'just disappear', no. I don't think all of a sudden, poof, you don't exist. I think the Goddess probably doesn't like to make atheists go poof either, because then who would we all argue with?

My favorite author, when explaining why three of her characters asked the Goddess/God to be reincarnated, said that they 'got tired of sitting on the beach drinking margaritas' I have the feeling that's how I would be. Chill out for a while, wallow in perfection, and then get bored and asked to be reincarnated, or a ghost, or something

[Master Vigil]

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. When we die, our body decomposes and it's nourishment is used to bring life, and our energy is changed into another life/lives.

[timpeters]

I kind of agree with Master Vigil here.

The way I see it, our conciousness, or you might call it "soul", is not something that can be created or destroyed. It is neither matter or energy. It exists in the specific arrangement of matter and energy in our brains. So, while I believe there is no afterlife, it's not so much that our conciousness is "destroyed", just that it's scattered and loses the appropriate order needed to create a concious system of thought.

I think that life has nothing to do with the body, though. Our true "life" is our mind, conciousness, spirit, or soul. Whatever you want to call it...mostly semantics

[njcl]

forget your body its just a shell to feed the worms,the spirit is the important thing,heaven??....i dont think its fields and meadows or tropical islands rubbish,more like eternal peace,love,with god/christ/angels/your loved ones

[Circle_One]

Ahhh, the Summerlands. I picture a great big, wide open field. I picture (for some reason) picnic benches with people laughing and discussing things. I picture a great big Maypole with people dancing around it. I picture people singing fun songs and dancing around. I picture warmth, comfy warmth surrounding everything. I picture birds chirping and butterflies flitting around, animals roaming free...

[Finnyhaha]

The way I see it, our conciousness, or you might call it "soul", is not something that can be created or destroyed. It is neither matter or energy. It exists in the specific arrangement of matter and energy in our brains. So, while I believe there is no afterlife, it's not so much that our conciousness is "destroyed", just that it's scattered and loses the appropriate order needed to create a concious system of thought.

So after death are we *ahem* conscious of our consciousness?

[timpeters]

Heck, I think that my conception of the afterlife, back when I was 11 and believed in that sort of stuff, is rather interesting. I used to think that when you got to heaven, you got to make your own universe and be a god for it. You could basically make your own perfect universe, your own personal heaven. Wierd, eh?

[timpeters]

Originally Posted by Finnyhaha

So after death are we *ahem* conscious of our consciousness?

Nope, it doesn't exist anymore. It's been taken apart. Nothing to be too depressed about, it just happens to everyone once in a while. Heck, my dad recently died.

[Finnyhaha]

Heck, I think that my conception of the afterlife, back when I was 11 and believed in that sort of stuff, is rather interesting. I used to think that when you got to heaven, you got to make your own universe and be a god for it. You could basically make your own perfect universe, your own personal heaven. Wierd, eh?

I used to think that heaven was relieving all your good memories over and over again. But I like your idea too.