Atheists, what do you believe happens to a person at death? Is there a consensus? Any sources for you info?

Answer 1

I don't quite understand the question.

Can't we see what happens? They go stiff, then they go limp, they rot, maggots appear, etc...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death#Fate_of_dead_organisms

Answer 2

The overwhelming consensus on the way the world works is as follows:

1) Man's personality, existence, awareness and self-awareness depend solely on his functioning physical brain.

Evidence for this is ample, not least of which is that the brain seems to be the only organ whose injury can actually change the CORE PERSONALITY of a human being, as well as impede basic cognitive functioning.

2) Once a person dies, the brain is no longer functioning.

After you die, it's finito. You cannot think, sense, feel, be aware of because you have nothing to do these things WITH!

Answer 3

We humans/animals are a very fortunate collection of billions upon billions cells that all live a very happy existence of co-dependence and inter-reliance.
When the nutrients, environment or waste removal is disrupted sufficiently- it sets in motion a train of complex events which lead to cellular death.

We the conscious humanare merely a collection of elctrical and chemical impulses in a very specialised area of the brain that we percieve as conscious though and as a self-aware entity. The bulk of our brain activity is unconscious, instantaneous and instictive.

Humans actualy have 3 brains- a fish (innermost & most primitve), a mammalian (ape) and a hominid (outermost and least primitive).

As cellular death ensues- the brain-cell areas which constitude the ego (cortexes), and the inter-acting (subconsciuos) super-ego and id (belived to reside primarily in the amygdala and hypocamphus) die- our sense of self subsequently is extinguished permanently.

Bacterial actions then take over where cells deocmpose, external and internal micro-biota begin to react and consume cells, later larger animals such as insect consume the decomposing body.

"From dust we came and dust we return- ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

So you see- the thinking atheist canm agree that indeed, parts of the bible are actually, scarily, accurate.

The true atheist- as opposed to a rejectionist- would argue that the self and the 'soul' exist only so long as the cells which support the perceptions of these are living.

As soon as the cells die- we souls/selves die too. Athesist do not belive in an after-life or life after death aside from being food for other entities.
I would argue this position- I indicate above- would be most commoonly held amongst most biologists, scientists and surgeons/specialised doctors.

I worked in hospitals (aas a supplier of equipment for mahy years) and have never, ever met a religious oncologist- Jewish, Muslim or Christian- all long lost any pretension to belief witnessing children die of untreatable, agonsing cancer.

What sort of loving God could do such a thing to His Own creation so innocent?

Answer 4

The rational and therby logical answer is that upon death one caeses to exist no consiousness, no transitioning soul and no heaven nor hell or any other faith based endings. The evidence to support this has been proven through science whereas when there is zero brain activity there is zero life. Since this is a theory (aka fact the science world) it is upon others to disprove or even modify this theory based upon new tangible, qualitative and quantitative evidence through the use of the Scientific Method.

Answer 5

Me personally? the die, their story ends, they get buried or cremated.

I doubt it. The only qualificiation for being an atheist is lacking a belief in a god. that doesn't preclude believing in an afterlife.

There is no reliable evidence to suggest there is an afterlife (by reliable I mean that NDE anecdotes are not )

Answer 6

It is quite simple to see what happens to a person at death. The body decays rots into dust and returns to nature. Nothing more is apparent. All religious fantasy is just that nonsense.

Answer 7

Ecclesiastes 3:19 (NIV) Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is vanity.

Answer 8

Permanent oblivion

Answer 9

I'm an agnostic, but ... certainly the concept is simple: You decompose and your body is used by other organisms as food.

Your "being" (intelligence, humor, etc.) simply cease to exist.

Answer 10

We die. We decompose.

Source: It's the natural order of things.

Answer 11

I believe that at death, you permanently cease to exist in any meaningful sense.