Do you believe you remain sentient after death?

Question

Aside from religious belief, what are your personal feelings about spirit and soul? Will you live on? Are we alone in this vast universe? To tell you the truth, I've tried to avoid this question all my life (28 y/o). I am preparing for a deployment to Iraq in January.

Answer 1

Great question young lady; it is a question involving mankind rather than individual man. Wars have been fought over it, volumes of books have been written about it, and yet there is no universally accepted answer. I hate to admit it but you've got me. When you witness the death of a loved one in hospice it is a time of grieving and loss....how then does one look at the killing fields of Cambodia or the drought and disease ridden areas of Africa? The young boys who died in the assault on D-Day, both German and Allied believed God was on their side.

You've got me kiddo, thanks for the brief interlude. I'm going to have stay out of this area for now.

Answer 2

I don't think humanity possess souls nor spirits. What we do have are highly sophisticated brains, capable of becoming more than their individuals parts and giving rise to consciousness.
Everything we are is stored in our brain. Studies have shown that our brain affects everything about us; hormones, memories, how we think and how emotional and empathetic we will be. I find it difficult to believe that we could still maintain sentience when all the materials that made up our mind have rotted away. I don't know if we are alone in the universe or not; other beings in other galaxies could have similar traits for all we know.
Good luck on your deployment. Being sent to Iraq is a perfect trigger for contemplating life and death, I'm sure.

Answer 3

After biological death, you cease to function. I'm not being heartless, just honest. If you were to research brain trama you would see that the brain is required for many functions and these functions can be damaged or destroyed. If you were to work in a nursing home as I did, you would see the impact of Alzheimers as well as dementia.. do not be a pawn, reconsider Iraq.

Answer 4

I believe that your spirit goes back to God Who gave it...
Please, take my blessings with you to Iraq!
I will be thinking about you, and praying for our troops there.
*shakes her head sadly*
Sometimes I do wish Jesus would hurry and bring an end to all this suffering...but I know He has to wait until all those who are going to accept Him have arrived. Like a Good Father, He can't lock the door till all the kids are home.
Could He be waiting
for
YOU?????

Answer 5

Yes. I think sentience after death is a given within the teachings of Christianity. If the judgment is to be effectively distributed or rewarded to those who once lived, then it would only make sense that those receiving would be aware of what they received.

I have no idea where you are spiritually. But this study of the word 'Sheol' ( which is Hebrew for 'Hell' amongst other things) was quite helpful in revealing the nature of what is to be expected in the afterlife for those who 'won't quite make it'.

Please read as much as you like:
Sheol
(Strong's 7585)

The 65 occurances of this word are distributed throughout every period of biblical Hebrew.

First, the word means a state of death: "For in death there is no rememberance of thee: in the grave, who shall give thee thanks?" (Psalm 6:5; cf. 18:5). It is the final resting place of all men: "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave (Job 21:13). Hanna confessed that it was the omnipotent God who brings men to sheol (death) or kills them (1Samuel 2:6). "Sheol" is parallel to Hebrew words for "pit" or "hell" (Job 26:6). "corruption" or "decay" (Psalm 16:10), and "destruction" (Proverbs 15:11).

Second, "Sheol" is used of a place of conscious existence after death. In the first biblical appearance of the word Jacob said that he would "go down into the grave unto my son mourning" (Genesis 37:35). All men go to "Sheol" --- a place and state of consciousness after death (Psalm 16:10). The wicked recieve punishment there (Numbers 16:30); Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 9:17). They are put to shame and silenced in "Sheol" (Psalm 31:17). Jesus alluded to Isaiah's use of sheol (14:13-15) in pronouncing judgement on Capernaum (Matthew 11:23), translating:Sheol" as "Hades" or "Hell," meaning the place of conscious existence and judgement. It is an undesirable place for the wicked (Job 24:19) and a refuge for the righteous (Job 14:13). Thus "Sheol" is also a place of reward for the righteous (Hosea 13:14; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus' teaching in Luke 16:19-31 seems to reflect accurately the Old Testament concept of Sheol, it is a place of conscious existence after death, one side of which is occupied by the suffering. unrighteous dead separated by a great chasm from the other side peopled by the righteous dead enjoying their reward.

Answer 6

Sadly I don't think there's anything after death. There could be life in planets far away but that has nothing to do with the afterlife or a soul. Be safe.

Answer 7

You don't even remain sentient at all times while alive, so why would death cause permanent sentience? It's just wishful thinking.