# Death **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546 "2013-07-15T11:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caneknife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Caneknife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caneknife)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/1 "2013-07-15T11:18:08Z")
What do u believe happens when u die, I do believe in God and Heaven but do we meet up with our loved ones ever again after we all pass, I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/2 "2013-07-15T12:18:02Z")
I would like to believe that there is some sort of afterlife and that we will all persist in some sort of conscious form for eternity (or at least a lot longer than 100 years, give or take). Unfortunately I just don’t believe that. I think that when we die our consciousness flips off, much like when we are asleep. No dreams, no nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/3 "2013-07-15T12:24:57Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > I would like to believe that there is some sort of afterlife and that we will all persist in some sort of conscious form for eternity (or at least a lot longer than 100 years, give or take). > > Unfortunately I just don’t believe that. I think that when we die our consciousness flips off, much like when we are asleep. No dreams, no nothing. Same here. I would really like there to be something more to us than this brief flicker of existence, but I cannot see any reason to believe that there is, beyond wishful thinking. It’s a depressing thought, to be sure. All the more reason to eat the strawberry. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/4 "2013-07-15T13:49:29Z")
Death is nothingness, nonexistence. Our consciousness turns off, and our bodies begin to decompose. I wish we could live longer, but I don’t wish there were an after life. If there were, we wouldn’t cherish this life as much. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/5 "2013-07-15T14:37:50Z")
I believe that upon death we reach total consciousness and come to a great truth and understanding that “u” is okay in texting but is annoying in everyday prose. We learn to transcend u and to truly rely on writing out the complete word you. ---
**Author:** ![Whitney\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@Whitney\_Harper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whitney_Harper)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/6 "2013-07-15T14:41:58Z")
It could be the way it was before we were born, in other words, we were not around and we did not exist. I used to think death was final, but now I am not so sure, as I have read about astounding stories of communicating with the dead. In addition, I have heard people say that they feel the presence of loved ones. Perhaps another thread should be how did we evolve, and are there other living beings on other planets. All I am sure of is that everyone should enjoy there time here on earth. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/7 "2013-07-15T14:49:23Z")
Okay, my first reply came off more snarky than funny. Honest answer I try to live my life as if it turns off at death but count me as one of the people who wouldn’t be surprised to wake up on the other side. The physical conditions as we know it don’t support the premiss of an afterlife but as I’ve stated here before I think the billion or so people who have stated that they experience some sort of connection or sense of an afterlife through prayer or meditation may be on to something. We are capable of experiencing 4 dimensions in our universe and the theoretical physicists guess that there are 7 to 11. I find it quite plausible that those other dimensions might be where our “soul” is operating now and will continue to operate after our death. How much of our earthy conscience is tied to that soul may never be discovered by living humans. We perceive only 4 of multiple dimensions but exist in a universe with many more. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/8 "2013-07-15T14:58:18Z")
We become a bag of fertilizer. End of story. The only thing that separates us from every other animal on the planet is our brain. We have a highly developed brain that has allowed us over many, many, many generations to record and share information. Apart from that, we’re chimps. Is there a chimp heaven? Is there an ape heaven? Doggy heaven? Mouse heaven? Of course not. Why should there be a human heaven. We’re just animals who can communicate and reason. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/9 "2013-07-15T15:23:06Z")
When we die we go the same place that a program on a smashed computer goes: nowhere. Poof, gone. There’s no reason besides wishful thinking to think anything else. > [@Meatros](#): > > I would like to believe that there is some sort of afterlife and that we will all persist in some sort of conscious form for eternity (or at least a lot longer than 100 years, give or take). I certainly hope not, considering that we’d have no sense organs to perceive the world with and would drift forever in absolute isolation and total sensory deprivation. We’d rapidly go insane. People who talk about how great an afterlife would be always presume all sorts of _other_ things that are required to make that afterlife _pleasant._ Usually without even thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/10 "2013-07-15T15:25:47Z")
'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die. To sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream Aye, there’s the rub For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil Must give us pause… … something about _Contumely, Bodkins and Fardels_… But that the dread of something after death. The undiscovered Country, from whose bourn no traveller returns Puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/11 "2013-07-15T15:26:35Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I try to live my life as if it turns off at death but count me as one of the people who wouldn’t be surprised to wake up on the other side. > > The physical conditions as we know it don’t support the premiss of an afterlife but as I’ve stated here before I think the billion or so people who have stated that they experience some sort of connection or sense of an afterlife through prayer or meditation may be on to something. > > We are capable of experiencing 4 dimensions in our universe and the theoretical physicists guess that there are 7 to 11. I find it quite plausible that those other dimensions might be where our “soul” is operating now and will continue to operate after our death. How much of our earthy conscience is tied to that soul may never be discovered by living humans. > > We perceive only 4 of multiple dimensions but exist in a universe with many more. Why would scientists bother to find out where the soul goes? Shouldn’t finding out if the soul even exists come first? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/12 "2013-07-15T15:27:47Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. > To die. > To sleep. > To sleep, perchance to dream > Aye, there’s the rub > For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, > When we have shuffled off this mortal coil > Must give us pause… > > … something about _Contumely, Bodkins and Fardels_… > > But that the dread of something after death. > The undiscovered Country, from whose bourn no traveller returns > Puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have > Than fly to others that we know not of. That was incredible! Have you considered taking up writing? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/13 "2013-07-15T15:36:35Z")
There is no evidence of any survival after death and religions are contradictory anyway. Of course we’d all like to see our departed loved ones again, but the only people who claim to ‘offer’ this are scam artists. It’s sad to think about, but if (for example) an elderly person dies from Alzheimers, how would they appear in Heaven? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/14 "2013-07-15T16:26:24Z")
When I die. I’m gone. I mean “me” the conscious part of the piece of meat and bone that holds my brain. My remains will eventually be recycled and end up somewhere else but I’ll be gone and just a memory in the minds of the people that know me. It will be exactly like before I was born. Nothing. Nothing to fear in that. The process of dying is scary IMO and the thought that all experience will end isn’t very nice either but once it happens then it’s all just gone. We are no different than every other living thing. We rot and get recycled. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/15 "2013-07-15T16:39:04Z")
Ashes to ashes; dust to dust. We return to atoms, some of which will eventually become part of another living organism. That’s it. The rest of it is wishful thinking and the human need to believe that there is some higher purpose to our existence. Also, it pays for a very nice lifestyle for people who have no other skills. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/16 "2013-07-15T18:25:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why would scientists bother to find out where the soul goes? Shouldn’t finding out if the soul even exists come first? That’s my point. People are either categorically denying or proclaiming afterlife exists. Within the 4 dimensions of perception (length, width, depth, time) we don’t see any compelling evidence of awareness beyond death. But if you accept the scientific belief that there are additional dimensions to our universe you might also consider that within those other dimensions there is the possibility of awareness and that we may have some primitive perception of it. Hell we may even be tethered to processes that operate there (soul). ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/17 "2013-07-15T18:25:29Z")
Nothing happens ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/18 "2013-07-15T18:49:22Z")
People have been wondering about this for quite some time now. Still no concrete answers. I tend to agree that I was probably quite happy BEFORE I was born, so why shouldn’t I be quite happy after I die? Perhaps the state of non-existence is, in itself, something quite wonderful. I doubt highly there are pearly gates or some bearded white dude reaching out to welcome me with keys to a cool condo by the sea near all of my relatives (hmm, all those relatives next door would be a bit of a downer in many cases, many of which I didn’t want to see even when they were alive)…but perhaps there is some kind of magnetic field that sucks the bit of electrical spark in us to create some other form of “life”…I wouldn’t mind being one byte of a huge super computer of sorts zipping through the universe. Of all the religious nonsense, the only one I might have some interest in is the concept of re-incarnation. Coming back as a bug, four-leaf-clover, amoeba, rhino, bird - that could be interesting to experience every form of “life” on earth. Who knows if that tree also weeps when a leaf falls and turns to mulch? While it was a little bud and then a nice healthy leaf, it probably had a grand life too. And fruitflies…not exactly a long life, but hey…one hell of a day, right? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/19 "2013-07-15T19:26:47Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I certainly hope not, considering that we’d have no sense organs to perceive the world with and would drift forever in absolute isolation and total sensory deprivation. We’d rapidly go insane. > > **People who talk about how great an afterlife would be always presume all sorts of _other_ things that are required to make that afterlife _pleasant._ Usually without even thinking about it.** Doesn’t that go without saying though? I mean, if there is life after death (which I don’t think there is) then **obviously** what we know about physical reality is wrong. Which means that the scenario that you described (no sense organs, sensory deprivation, etc) **could not happen either** since it would require a physical brain and the chemical reactions of that brain to produce the feeling of drifting forever in absolute isolation and total sensory deprivation. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546/20 "2013-07-15T20:58:06Z")
We’re just talking amongst ourselves now. Whose turn is it to buy the next round? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death/663546.md?page=2)