I was having difficulty sleeping last night because the thought of death was harboring in my mind. I'm an atheist and it's really a frightening thing to think about death. I mean- how do we just become non-existent? Are there any theories that atheists have? One theory I made up when I was about 12 or 13 was the 'everything is everything' theory. I can't really explain it because I don't understand it myself but I think that when we die, nothing happens. People will still have their sense of existence while we won't. But the transition to becoming non-existent really frightens me. Am I making any sense? Probably not. What do you think the transition to death may feel like? Will it feel like anything?
2006-12-04 15:39:34 · 19 answers · asked by ourtruth119 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You go to sleep, and don't wale up. There is nothing to fear about being dead. However, the process of getting there has a signficant probability of being painful or otherwise unpleasant, and I do have some fear of that.
2006-12-04 15:45:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist also, even though we need evidence that there's an afterlife, we're always open to the existence of an afterlife...if only there was proof. There are some scientific theories or hypotheses that speak to this phenomena.
I have an interesting theory on this. As of right now, most believe there is no way to destroy energy, matter yes, but energy only changes form...We all know that virtually all life and all substances known have some form of energy (positive and negatively charged usually)....anyway, I believe that the soul may be a projection of what is left after the body leaves us. It in essence is the willful form underneath our skin.
Once our body dies, electrical impulses still flow through the body for a limited amount of time after which I can only assume the charges leave the body (kind've like our own gravitational field) as there is nothing functioning (such as the synapses in the brain) that causes charge/energy. At this time our soul and all knowlege we've acquired is free to do as it pleases. Most go where they've always believed they were to go (heaven/ valhalla/ another world/ no where/ etc) as all that is left is pure impulse and knowledge.
Though all knowledge may not be true, it is relevant and thus builds our own reality. So I kind've feel like everyone would be right in this instance. It is what we allow it to be.
How can this be tested? I don't know, but to automatically accept the supernatural explanation without proof is hard to swallow.
2006-12-05 16:48:21 · answer #2 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've read some of the answers to your question and have seen some interesting responses. I particularly empathized with the person who took the death mushroom. Myself, I've had 3 near death experiences, and out of all these cannot really say for sure if it was a spiritual thing, or a biological response to dying. This I do know, when I woke up , the feeling of loss and being generally pissed off was nearly overwhelming.............I didn't get to finish the trip! I honestly believe for myself that there is something, but what\where\who that may be is something I have no real knowledge of. What I did learn was to live my life well and fully, what comes after will take care of itself at the proper time. Luck!
2006-12-04 23:59:33 · answer #3 · answered by ron k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we die it will be just like it was for us before we were born - nothing. Was the eternity you spent not existing before you were born terrible? I don't know about you, but not existing didn't really bother me back then. I don't think the moment of death will actually feel like anything. Once you are dead, you no longer experience. Just before that moment probably varies greatly by situation and person.
You should check out the philosophy of epicurus. He said a lot of great things about this topic. Also eastern philosophy, especially buddhism, offers soothing accounts of death in a way that is compatible with atheism.
Instead of being so worried about death (its gonna happen no matter what) you should focus on living a fulfilling life. If you live a good life, I think it makes dying easier. Personally these above are my favorite approaches to addressing a fear of death.
2006-12-04 23:59:44 · answer #4 · answered by student_of_life 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Death is a transition to other dimensions ,the spirit continues but leaves the body and its memories behind.
the transition is the scarriest part very intense vibrations through body and mind
a fall into a white light and a body less entrance into what is hard to describe
i took Amanita Muscara the mushroom of death to find out .
it goes through the transition,but the other side is vague
Dying is a heavy trip.
2006-12-04 23:51:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm an atheist, and I really have no expectation of what will happen. I guess I tend to think of us as a form of energy. When we die the energy that we possessed disperses...I really don't have any specific 'theory' but that's just how I've always felt.
2006-12-05 19:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by Gabby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's with all the Christian responses here? It's a question for Atheists, guys.
I'm an Agnostic, myself, which I guess counts. Logically, I don't think anything will happen to me after death except for cremation and scattering, heh.
That's not to say that I don't want there to be an afterlife. Heck, I would LOVE to go to Heaven, provided it's not altogether too preachy. Maybe Nirvana and enlightenment would be nicer.
2006-12-05 00:33:44 · answer #7 · answered by Lindsey Suzanne 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
wow it must take some balls to be an atheist with all these theorys.
maybe I just like the thought of my creator sending his only son down to earth to die for us so that we will have eternal life. I know id rather have eternal life when i leave my physical than to go to some dimension or just not exist lol
2006-12-05 00:05:41 · answer #8 · answered by Mediator 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is a natural thing to fear changing modes but you have to understand death is something that just happens if you want something to believe in become a christian if you want the truth when you die you are dead yes energy can not die but your consciousness can think of it this way once you are dead nothing will matter because you'll be gone live for the now don't dwell in the afterlife that's what believers do
2006-12-05 17:20:51 · answer #9 · answered by dan w 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah it is scary... Only those who dont know Jesus son of God have this fear.. And I am sure it will keep haunting you. Have you read the Bible? Can you see the wonders of the world that only God created? Dont you realize that everytime you breathe, it is God's air that you are breathing? Have you seen and heard a new born baby crying, and realized God brought another soul in the world? Have you realize that everytime we think and do something it is with guidance? Have you experienced near death? Have you lost someone you love?
What I think is that you are really dead. Death is not because you are not breathing. You are dead because you have not yet found the Life. You are really in a scary position. Start to know Jesus son of God and accet him as your saviour or be dead forever...
2006-12-05 00:04:03 · answer #10 · answered by Chez 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋