Hey, LucyInDisguise – it seems we have a lot in common. I was raised Mormon in Idaho and Utah and now I’m an atheist. 'Course, my family weren’t too big on the question everything idea. :dubious:
The idea of oblivion after death is oddly comforting to me.
I’d love to believe in reincarnation. Next life – pampered housecat to a couple of sweet old lesbians. Next after that – singer, songwriter, fiddler with charisma and stamina and a very efficient metabolism.
As long as I’m dreaming, I wouldn’t mind being a Mercedes Lackey-style firecat. Bond with a kind human, have all sorts of magical powers, and go off having adventures for a while.
I don’t know if there would be days as such. I imagine that we become infinite, able to experience all the joys of life and be with all of our loved ones simultaneously. One of your infinite selves could have an infinitely long discussion with Einstein about physics. One of my infinite selves could play centerfield for the Yankees. You’d be free to travel through time and space and watch anything in history that you wanted from whatever perspective you wanted. I think the whole thing is beyond our finite ability to understand.
Well, I’m an atheist, so I’m pretty much in the “dark nothingness” ballpark (Except that the perception of “dark” is more than I’d be capable of under the circumstances, so it’s more like “blank—like what you see out of your elbows—nothingness.”
I imagine it’s rather peaceful, really. Not that great, but at least there’s no more having to put up with the universe’s bull. ('Kinda would have liked to meet some dogs I knew, again, though. Damnit.)
Failing that—being in Hell might not be too bad…if I were an employee. Y’know, mercilessly tormenting and humiliating the filth of humanity for all time. Forcing a horrifically mutated Anthony Comstock to re-enact the plot of Cho Aniki comes to mind.
A typical day after death… no different than a typical day before death.
Because I’ll still be a part of everything and everything will still be a part of me.
The change of death feels like an extreme one since consciousness ceases, but really it’s not so extreme because change is a fundamental part of existence. My existence is change and always will be change, even long after my ‘‘death.’’
Probably. I say probably because anything’s possible.
–Buddhist. Agnostic.
Lucy, I hope I answered your question correctly. I responded without reading the thread as the OP suggested I should. I don’t suppose it really matters whether I go on existing or not if I’m not conscious of it… but I think there is a deeper sort of Consciousness, and I don’t really want to put it into specific terms because I really don’t know.
I believe in the fundamentally impermanent nature of reality, in the fundamentally interdependent nature of all phenomena, and in Love. I believe in Love the most. And there is nothing remotely rational about that, it’s just in my guts. I can’t imagine an afterlife without both Love and intimate knowledge of everything. There is something deeper to my own existence than just the thoughts I have and the opinion I have of myself and what happens to me. Heaven is being able to live beyond all those painful delusions of self, heaven is being able to Love and Know with the fullness of my true being… to just Be without self-judgment or the judgment of others, to just Know without struggling or fighting the knowledge… complete and total acceptance of What Is, that is heaven to me.
Let’s see. My perfect day would consist of sitting on my porch swing (but it is more comfortable than in real life) with an unlimited supply of good books beside me, and some fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and milk. All my pets past and present are with me. The horses are sticking their heads over the fence to see what’s going on. The dogs are lying in the yard or running around or sitting next to me to be petted. The cats are in the windowsill enjoying the outdoors. It occurs to me that there are no people about. I wonder what that says about me? My family is nearby, but not intruding.
Catholic
StG
Actually, there is no “wrong” way to answer the question … 
Whatever works for you.
To all who have responded - There’s some really good stuff in here. Quite a few that I’ve never heard/considered before.
Good job, folks. Keep 'em coming!
Sorry I haven’t been able to log back in - Had a couple of very long days. Not to worry though - just 4 more and I get to grab a quick breath for a day.
I’ll keep monitoring and check back when I can.
Pillow time. Night all …
Lucy