# What's after death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349 "2013-02-15T00:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Alonzo\_John\_Blitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@Alonzo\_John\_Blitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alonzo_John_Blitz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/61 "2013-02-15T18:49:20Z")
AFTER THE BODY Now that this meat is still and I have outworn my welcome in it, now that smaller creatures call it home and cold cellar, now that I have no bones to wear how shall I dress for the party? ``` Should I sport six well-oiled legs and emerge from a crèche on Jupiter? Or might I arise on a planet of smoke, first a smolder, then a wisp? Adolescence is uneasy everywhere. There are only columns in this hall; not at all what we'd call walls. The guests are arrayed in a variety of forms, every shape has its own dance of angles and curves and bites at the wildness out there. More light than darkness defines them all, but they are all defined, somehow. After this body, how will I look? Perhaps I'll be on foot again, though I'd rather be on wing. Maybe I'll wear the stars themselves and come as everything. ``` ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/62 "2013-02-15T18:53:32Z")
NM ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/63 "2013-02-15T18:57:11Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > It could also be pointed out that peoples all around the world who never had contact with one another somehow independently came up with similar concepts around organization and community structure, relationships, hate, war, etc. Perhaps these perceptions are just part of being human? But those concepts could be seeded by primitive social structures like pack/tribe mentalities and their subsequent evolution. Where does the concept of spiritual contact come from? Maybe a doper who studies anthropology has some statements about this. And like I stated before. I pose these thoughts more out of curiosity than any strong beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/64 "2013-02-15T18:58:32Z")
Where does the candle flame go when it is blown out? I think when we die, that’s it. Nothing more. Zip, zero, nada, just like a candle being put out. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/65 "2013-02-15T19:07:04Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > … All these people from different walks of culture and capabilities have been jabbering about making some kind of connection for thousands of years. I can’t prove that they are true nor can I prove that they are fooling themselves. I can only wonder why they seem to have the same basic story. Why do cats lick themselves after they eat? Why do geese fly south in October? Why do horses form groups? No, the connection jabber is not explicitly hardwired, but one could reasonably infer that the tendency for it is encouraged in the basic human make-up. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/66 "2013-02-15T19:12:33Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Why do cats lick themselves after they eat? Why do geese fly south in October? Why do horses form groups? The answer is blowing in the wind. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/67 "2013-02-15T20:14:08Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > The answer is blowing in the wind. I’ve blown in the wind like a million times… never got an answer. ☹ ---
**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:** [February 16, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/68 "2013-02-16T02:54:57Z")
“After death” is the same as “before the Big Bang.” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/69 "2013-02-16T03:21:50Z")
ISTR it was something like _The undiscovered country From whose born no traveler returns Puzzles the will and makes us rather bear Those ills we have than fly to others That we know not of_ ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/70 "2013-02-16T04:32:07Z")
You’ll be alright for about a week Then your coffin will begin to leak. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/71 "2013-02-16T04:58:22Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Why do cats lick themselves after they eat? Why do geese fly south in October? Why do horses form groups? Courage! ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/72 "2013-02-16T06:13:57Z")
Some folks that have posted to this thread seem so sure there is nothing more after our body dies but you DON"T know for sure, no one does. We’ll just have to all wait and see. The ONLY sure thing is that we’ll ALL find out one day! 😃 All we have is our own personal opinion. I hope there is something more and better to look forward to … I don’t want this to be the end. I just don’t think it is no matter what the negative nellies have to say… I’m willing to be open minded and believe that our consciousness will survive the death of our bodies. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/73 "2013-02-16T06:54:09Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > All we have is our own personal opinion. And a scientific consensus. And a 100% lack of evidence supporting the idea of an afterlife. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/74 "2013-02-16T06:58:50Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > We’ll just have to all wait and see. With what?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/75 "2013-02-16T17:18:14Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > With what?? 😕 We gotta die!!!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/76 "2013-02-16T17:36:15Z")
“Death is the ultimate good night’s sleep” ---
**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:** [February 16, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/77 "2013-02-16T18:20:45Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > And being more developed we appear to be the only life form that contemplates our own mortality. We are also the only life form that contemplates who is faster-Superman or The Flash. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/78 "2013-02-16T18:29:59Z")
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/79 "2013-02-16T21:03:27Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > We gotta die!!!😃 Ok, that response makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/80 "2013-02-16T21:40:23Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > What was before your birth? Growth. I believe death will be like before _conception_, only eternal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349.md?page=5)