# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/121 "2013-02-18T06:47:27Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > and forgive me for not debating your point that a person is a car. I disagree that a person can in any way be compared to metal Wait. You’re willing to consider the prospect of an afterlife for people, with absolutely no reason to do so and, in fact, seemingly because there’s no way to disprove it, but you’re not willing to consider the prospect for an afterlife for a car? Why not? There’s no evidence there’s no afterlife for cars. It seems you should embrace the possibility as closely as you do for people. ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/122 "2013-02-18T06:50:13Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > To put it simply, Occam’s Razor covers this pretty well. You can think whatever you want, but believing in an afterlife is an unnecessarily complicated prospect when the medical evidence we do have conclusively shows that death is the end of a person’s existence. There is no reason to believe otherwise. If you have a reason, any at all, then I’d like to hear it. > > To take this further, even if such a thing as an afterlife exists, we are unable to detect it. If we are unable to detect or calculate its possibility mathematically, then there’s no reason to propose it and for all intents and purposes it doesn’t exist. You’re still free to believe in it, as you’re free to believe in alien abduction, or a flat Earth, but until you can express a reason for such beliefs, many will consider it nonsense or, at best, a delusion. Take a look back over human history of all the things that man was ready stake their life on that they knew to be true that was later discovered to be completely false. For instance, a flat earth as you mentioned above. I’m thankful for all the people that do and did have the imagination to think outside the box… I’m not willing to be so accepting of what we think we know today given the history of limited thinking. I like to ask the question “What if?” It’s not scary at all to me. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/123 "2013-02-18T06:54:59Z")
Death only means something to the living. 😉 But if you really want to know, here’s what I firmly think happens after death: ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/124 "2013-02-18T06:58:14Z")
onomatopoeia, you havent provided any proof of what happens or not after death. youhave stated your beliefs, albeit not the best comparisons imo. but nevertheless we all have opinions or our own beliefs of it…but we wont know til we experience it ourselves. its comes off as arrogant (not educated,) to claim to know what you. have never experienced ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/125 "2013-02-18T07:13:39Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > Take a look back over human history of all the things that man was ready stake their life on that they knew to be true that was later discovered to be completely false. For instance, a flat earth as you mentioned above. > > I’m thankful for all the people that do and did have the imagination to think outside the box… I’m not willing to be so accepting of what we think we know today given the history of limited thinking. I like to ask the question “What if?” It’s not scary at all to me. So, as someone mentioned upthread, it’s simply a matter of faith for you. You believe in the possibility of an afterlife because you believe and nothing more. You need no proof. I also suspect that no amount of evidence to the contrary would dissuade you from what you believe. I hope you will understand that some of us will find it odd that you will not accept data that dismisses the prospect of anything akin to the possibility of an afterlife, but you embrace the possibility that there can be with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/126 "2013-02-18T07:14:50Z")
Der Trish, I think if we had to choose between an afterlife and nothing, we would hsve to give the nod to nothing. All the evidence and logic supports your point of view. Dammit, the point needs emphasized because most religious people are so delusional that someone needs to set them straight. But we are just matter, but even matter itself is mystical to a certain degree. So that implies that reality, and the phenomenon of life itself is mystical. Sure, it is oh so convenient, but it’s still true. Then there’s the fact that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This applies to your point of view as well. It is an extraordinary claim to say that nothing happens after you die when the phenomenon of life, consciousness, space, time, and reality cannot be sufficiently explained. Again, the evidence is on your side, but it’s still not enough. ---
**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 18, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/127 "2013-02-18T07:25:06Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > but nevertheless we all have opinions or our own beliefs of it…but we wont know til we experience it ourselves. If death is only death (as seems to be most likely), we _won’t_ know it _because we’ll be dead_. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/128 "2013-02-18T07:29:12Z")
How is speculating on death any different than speculating on the origin of space, time, and matter itself? We don’t have sufficient tools available to give us a clear and direct answer. Even our logic fails us. What we do have is evidence for, “the Big Bang.” But that’s as far as it goes. We don’t know how the Big Bang got there, or if it was always there, etc… So that right there is a clear example that we just don’t understand space, time, and matter thoroughly. Yet for some reason, when you start to explore that concept further, it’s encouraged. No one tries to discourage another and say “the Big Bang is all there is and ever was.” Because we desire to learn more, which is a good thing. Except when you say that you can accept that you don’t know what happens after death, or that you believe in an afterlife, you are universally and unequivocally wrong. That’s what you call a double standard. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2013, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/129 "2013-02-18T07:30:41Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > Then there’s the fact that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This applies to your point of view as well. It is an extraordinary claim to say that nothing happens after you die when the phenomenon of life, consciousness, space, time, and reality cannot be sufficiently explained. No, it isn’t an extraordinary claim, it’s just claiming that the same thing happens to us when we stop working as happens to everything else. Claiming that something special happens to us; that’s an extraordinary claim. ---
**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 18, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/130 "2013-02-18T07:32:00Z")
I imagine that we might be debriefed to find out what we have learned, and probably fill out a satisfaction survey. There might also be lawn bowling. ---
**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 18, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/131 "2013-02-18T07:34:45Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > There might also be lawn bowling. And lawn darts in hell? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/132 "2013-02-18T07:35:49Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > onomatopoeia, > > you havent provided any proof of what happens or not after death. youhave stated your beliefs, albeit not the best comparisons imo. but nevertheless we all have opinions or our own beliefs of it…but we wont know til we experience it ourselves. its comes off as arrogant (not educated,) to claim to know what you. have never experienced You can rest safely assured that no one will ever provide proof of what happens after death, which is great for you as you get to have it both ways. If someone were to ever come back from the dead and regale you with all the wonders of afterlife, you’d have your evidence, but because no one has come back and told the tale of an afterlife, you get to say “well you can’t prove it _doesn’t_ exist, so I believe it is a possibility.” As I previously stated, you can believe whatever you want, but the prospect of an afterlife and one of no afterlife are not simply two sides of the same coin. There are mounds of medical and chemical data attesting to what happens when the human body and brain cease to function. There is no data at all indicating the possibility of an afterlife. The weight of all existing evidence leans in one direction, therefore the scientific conclusion is that afterlives don’t exist. I don’t need to have personally gone to Wonderland to know that the Mad Hatter doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/133 "2013-02-18T07:42:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, it isn’t an extraordinary claim, it’s just claiming that the same thing happens to us when we stop working as happens to everything else. Claiming that something special happens to us; that’s an extraordinary claim. Your right, claiming something special happens after death would be an extraordinary claim. I can accept that. However, your view of nothing is measured the same way. If nothing happens after death, why don’t we have nothing in general? I think the mere fact that we exist, and that the universe exists, throws a wrench in your idea of nothing after consciousness. Otherwise, I should think that there should be nothing, which would be sufficient evidence. But in which case, I couldn’t verify it, because I wouldn’t exist. But I actually do exist. So it just doesn’t make sense. Isn’t consciousness in a way special? There’s not enough evidence to adequately understand it, and yet here we are. You cannot even prove that any other person besides yourself has consciousness. Or, that life isn’t just a dream. Or, any number of alternative viewpoints. ---
**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 18, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/134 "2013-02-18T09:30:43Z")
I like Terry Pratchett’s approach, where there are a couple of minutes of adjustment and reassessment, then you make a choice. Generally your afterlife is as good as you think you deserve, as in your heart you know. This is not what is going to happen when you die, but it sure would be good if it was. ---
**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 18, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/135 "2013-02-18T13:45:55Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > Isn’t consciousness in a way special? Yes. _Very, very_. The degree of which, is what separates us from other animals. To live one’s life based on the indoctrination received, of stories and beliefs based of hundreds or thousands of years ago, and to ignore or devalue centuries of learning and science, is a sad waste of the lucky _lottery of lotteries_ of our conception. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/136 "2013-02-18T14:28:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I like Terry Pratchett’s approach There are many different, interesting fictional answers to “what’s after death” that might make a good Cafe Society thread. For those who are **arguing** here about an actual afterlife or lack thereof: C’mon folks, this is MPSIMS, not Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/137 "2013-02-18T14:42:33Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > For those who are **arguing** here about an actual afterlife or lack thereof: C’mon folks, this is MPSIMS, not Great Debates. You know what? You’re right. I didn’t check the forum before posting. ---
**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 18, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/138 "2013-02-18T16:34:03Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > And lawn darts in hell? Grass needs to be aerated, same as kids. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/139 "2013-02-18T16:41:30Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > I disagree that a person can in any way be compared to metal Clearly you’ve never been to an Iron Maiden show. > [@MacCat](#): > > And lawn darts in hell? First the sinners are twisted into the shape of a lawn, then the devils throw darts into them. As to the OPs question, I don’t know and intend to never find out. I plan to live forever. Probably as a vampire, but I’m still exploring other options. ---
**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 18, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349/140 "2013-02-18T17:14:29Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Grass needs to be aerated, same as kids. Kids in hell, sure. Original sin, the Ten Commandments - well, maybe not the adultery part unless we’re talking West Virginia. But grass? Hmm, maybe Crabgrass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-after-death/650349.md?page=8)