# POLL: What do you think happens after death? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034 "2002-12-16T06:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![0rbytal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/65b543/32.png) [@0rbytal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/0rbytal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/21 "2002-12-16T15:49:19Z")
So the tally so far is: •Nothing / decomposition—10 •Reunite with ancestors—–1 •Reincarnation——————–2 •Heaven / Hell—————––-2 •Enlightenment————–––2 •Meet Cecil————————-1 and to **LouisB** : this is a POLL, used to gather information. If I wanted to judge people, or debate, it would have been put in The Great Debates. So stop _ass_uming and respect that it is a poll of peoples opinions. BTW, I didn’t mean Purgatory as a place, specifically; just that there would be cleansing. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/22 "2002-12-16T16:21:50Z")
And I’ll add my own Brand New ™ category: No way to know ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/23 "2002-12-16T16:41:07Z")
Put me down as another vote for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/24 "2002-12-16T17:02:16Z")
As **LouisB** (apart from the bit about the OP, I thought that was a bit harsh) ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/25 "2002-12-16T17:33:52Z")
Enough speculation. I know what happens. I have proof. **To Order Your Copy of _What Really Happens After We Die_ send a check or money order to Oral Roberts, PO Box…** ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/26 "2002-12-16T17:37:29Z")
After I’m dead and buried I’m going to rise from the grave and organize all the other dead 'Dopers to form “The Straight Dead” message board. Actually, I’m with the “Nothing” group. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/27 "2002-12-16T17:48:07Z")
I figure conciousness ends permanently after brain death. I suppose if the universe is big enough, and lasts long enough, and what makes me “me” is a repeatable phenomenon, then the possibility exists that any or all of us may live again in some future place or time. In fact, if the universe lasts for an infinite length of time, this would be precisely what would happen, an infinite number of times. I don’t exactly stake anything on this, it’s just something to think about. ---
**Author:** ![Melandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Melandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melandry)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/28 "2002-12-16T17:55:56Z")
Another vote for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/29 "2002-12-16T17:58:10Z")
Well, my wife will get my life insurance, thats for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/30 "2002-12-16T18:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scribble \* > \*\*Everybody else keeps living. > > I can’t believe I’m the first to say that. \*\* Maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/31 "2002-12-16T18:13:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 0rbytal \* > \*\*What do _you_ believe will happen to you after your death? > \*\* I currently do not believe in an afterlife. Subject to change without notice. But highly unlikely to change. And somehow I keep thinking of the Beetlejuice [the movie] waiting room. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/32 "2002-12-16T18:16:59Z")
I think it’s unknowable. My mum, who is in no way religious, is certain there is some sort of afterlife. She had a near death experience when she was in her late teens and remains convinced that there’s something after you die. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/33 "2002-12-16T19:14:39Z")
[sub]I want to change my answer.[/sub] I’ve spent the last 27 years trying to figure out what happens after birth. I’ll have to get back to you on the death thing. ---
**Author:** ![swingchick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@swingchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swingchick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/34 "2002-12-16T19:21:41Z")
Another vote for Heaven or Hell. Don’t really believe in purgatory though. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/35 "2002-12-16T19:43:11Z")
To use one of my favorite, if trite, expressions, I’ll just be pushing up daisies. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/36 "2002-12-16T19:58:13Z")
Lights out. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/37 "2002-12-16T20:14:14Z")
Well, usually if the person was even remotely close, like a exroommates cousin’s brother, you can con a “free” day off of work. Boring ceremony, held uncannily in the rain, despite the nice weather everywhere else nearby. Some kind of buffet with lots of nice cold-cuts and patoto salad, served by smelly old ladys and the ever-present “Church punch”. Goofing off the rest of the day! * * * Atheists live forever. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/38 "2002-12-16T20:17:23Z")
I suspect it’s just gonna be fade to black . . . ---
**Author:** ![Hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/39 "2002-12-16T20:33:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*I’m in the ‘rot away’ camp. > > However, I can tell you what I’d like to happen: > > I’m a fan of reincarnation. I’d really like it if that did happen. Forget living in paradise next to God, I just want to get back on the ride again, and keep going, over and over and over. > > Wouldn’t be too keen on coming back as a worm. I’ll limit my reincarnating to humans in first world countries. \*\* I don’t buy the “eternal heaven / eternal hell” scenario. If where you go depends on your goodness or evilness, it makes no sence – very few people are anything other then somewhere inbetween. If it depends on having or not having the right beliefs, it makes even less sence – what you believe is generally determined by what you were raised to believe. People spend eternity in hell for not believing in something they had little or no knowledge of? I don’t think so. If there’s anything beyond this life (about which I’m doubtful), I agree with gex gex – reincarnation is more appealing, and makes more sence. OTOH, there’s the idea Robt Heinlein described: we’re collectively god, but we’ve decided to split into different beings and live many lives, and (during each life) forget the real story. This is, basically, just to help pass the time. ---
**Author:** ![Genzym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Genzym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genzym)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034/40 "2002-12-16T20:45:48Z")
Sweet, sweet, nothingness. I would like the idea of having a short moment, before succumbing to the non-state, to reflect upon my life and feel myself get ‘erased’ from life. But, more likely IMO, I’ll think one moment and won’t the next. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-think-happens-after-death/143034.md?page=3)