Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by bob spencer on January 10, 2012 at 2:49pm

Hi A M good to join you on twitter:). Personally i would do away with Cartesian dualism "good and bad""right and wrong" "black and white" etc.There are "better" philosophers  like Merleau-Ponty. there is a "meing-and-youing" which is what counts

regards

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Amplified Atheist on January 10, 2012 at 5:12pm

Thanks for your reply, could you explain a bit more? 

I'm guessing what you meant was, its all very personal as to how one observes a persons'sachievements or mess-ups during thier life and choose how to remember them after they're gone. 

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Permalink Reply by matt.clerke on January 10, 2012 at 5:23pm

As many here are aware, the process of the brain shutting down leaves people with profound visions and feelings. The closest thing to an afterlife that I can think of is to experience that at a very slow pace, so only a few seconds pass but it feels like an eternity... Although I don't actually think this is the case, just an interesting thought.

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Permalink Reply by Amplified Atheist on January 10, 2012 at 5:33pm

That is an interesting thought :) and quite comfortingIn its own way, I like that.

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Permalink Reply by Kyle Wilkins on January 11, 2012 at 12:19am

Yes. The brain functions for roughly 2 minutes after the person's heart has stopped (legally dead). I've tried explaining this to friends (we know someone that has legally died and been revived, and had a 'vision') that you have two minutes to envision whatever you want, much like dreaming. AA I like your quote/summary "Remember fondly, those you've loved who have passed away. As long as you remember them, they will live on. You are their afterlife." I will be using this when asked about my Atheist view on after life.

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Permalink Reply by Don Leonard on January 16, 2012 at 1:25pm

I also like this quote and will be using it also when confronted. All the family stories we've been told, it is our job to pass them on to our kids, our grandkids and hopefully our great grandkids so they can continue our afterlife when we're gone.

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Permalink Reply by dragotron on January 22, 2012 at 9:27pm

I really like the quote... I normally prefer to refrain from using terms like "they will live on" or "after life" as if they exist.. but I think this one is self aware enough that I can agree with it :)

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Permalink Reply by Calpurnpiso on January 15, 2012 at 5:10pm

Yes, I just posted a video yesterday on the fact of life after death, as defined by a mentally healthy aka atheist person.... and also why I say an atheist should be labeled "He/she who has a Healthy Brain".
Calpurnpiso.

Feel free to use my videos to slap ChristPsychosis infected imbeciles with the truth that due to their dysfunctional brains, are not able to see.
Enjoy:
http://youtu.be/HRZ1zTR8ri8

 

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Permalink Reply by sway austin on January 16, 2012 at 4:59am

Accepting the likelihood that there is no afterlife, for me, makes it far easier to appreciate what little time I have as a living/self aware being.

That said, and just for the sake of conversation, I can dig what Matt Clerke was saying. It's on par with having an intense dream that felt like hours, only to wake up and glance at the clock only to see you've been asleep 30 minutes. I think this scenario happens to everyone from time to time.

Also, again just for the sake of conversation, maybe it's possible we all go on to some collective consciousness. I.e., become one with nature in some unexplainable way that goes beyond the connections we currently feel with the cosmos. Some might refer to this oneness with the cosmos as "god", which is far easier for me to buy into than actual god that watches over everything and makes decisions/etc.

I can't see it being even remotely possible that we die only to still feel aware of ourselves as "individuals". The whole concept of souls reuniting in some afterlife sounds beautiful and sometimes comforting, I just don't think it's very likely. Some find it scary to think death might truly and simply mean "lights out", but it's nothing to be scared of as if this is the case, you won't even be aware of the fact that you are dead.

Death is that last great journey we all must take and no one, despite how intelligent or informed they may sound, knows for sure what happens when we finally kick the bucket. All we can do for now is assume.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Eckert on January 16, 2012 at 9:39am

the concept of a non-supernatural afterlife

Whoa. Excuse me, having some major cognitive dissonance here.

Afterlife would mean "after life", as in dead, deceased, gone on, an ex-parrot. This would include ones brain. So, no, there is no afterlife, at least from the POV of the dearly departed. The idea of an afterlife in other people's memories, while poetic and all warm'N'fuzzy, would probably be better termed a legacy as it is something left behind after you are gone.

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Permalink Reply by Seasidechap on January 16, 2012 at 9:50am

Not having an afterlife (of any form) is, for me, one of the most important aspects of being an atheist. It means that this life is it, you get one shot, so better make the best of it.

Have never accepted the concept of any form of spiritual, preservation of identity after life, type of afterlife. As far as a historical afterlife goes, other than a very very small group of people who make it into the history books, I'd say you don't really have one of these either. I've always thought that ones historical existence falls into a period that is bracketed by your grandparents and your grandchildren - 5 generations. Most people can remember their grandparents, and hopefully live long enough to encounter their grandchildren. Your your active narrative covers that range, in general.

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Permalink Reply by Dale Headley on January 16, 2012 at 3:22pm

   I don't remember my great grandfather at all; I never met him. I did meet my grandfather when I was an infant, but I don't remember him either.  I do have a rather lengthy genealogical chart of my family tree going back 400 years or so; but I don't give a second thought to any of those people.  When I die, I will be gone forever. My descendants will not remember me.  Nor do I give a damn whether they do or not. I'll be dead!   I can hardly care, if I don't exist.

  If it isn't already obvious, I don't believe in any kind of persistence after death of anything that might be called a "soul."  Nor do I believe in ghosts (or gods).  As far as I am concerned, anything that happened either before or after my "eternity" on earth is irrelevant, immaterial, and uninteresting.

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