For all you people who actually think... (no offense to any of you nonthinkers)

[True_Moose]

Man, this post makes my brain hurt lots.

IMHO each person has an afterlife in whatever way they believe it will happen; whether it be heaven or (in the case of atheists) sheer nothingness (which is hard enough to imagine.) If one lives life in an "evil" way to themselves, then they will rot in their own personal hell. Even if someone is not religious, but charitable and kind, they will find their own personal peace.

My brain is hurting, I'm going to take large amounts of painkillers now. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

BTW, it's now 10:21 in Alberta!

[Sir Goulum]

Originally posted by True_Moose: My brain is hurting, I'm going to take large amounts of painkillers now. [img]tongue.gif[/img] BTW, it's now 10:21 in Alberta!

Actually its 10:24 [img]tongue.gif[/img]

And take Tylenol...it works the best

[K T Ong]

To Sir Goulum:

Have an early rest. Healthier for you. [img]smile.gif[/img]

To the Hierophant:

I actually don't view life and consciousness as 'special' in any way, either (except in the sense that absolutely everything is special ). But just as matter and energy, which are really just aspects of our physical universe, are never destroyed but merely assume different forms, so likewise I reckon life and consciousness can assume different forms while still being fundamentally preserved. Already there are quantum scientists who are seriously prepared to envisage the presence of consciousness and life in all of matter and energy.

Some believe in God as none other than this omnipresent life-force (peace, Yorick ) that ever exercises Its creative energies by bringing forth suns and planets and all kinds of life-forms, with each of us being none other than a speck of this life-force. Death, then, would be like a water-drop slipping back into this great ocean of living energy... Though it may emerge as a new water-drop. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 11-02-2002, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by K T Ong: I actually don't view life and consciousness as 'special' in any way, either (except in the sense that absolutely everything is special ). But just as matter and energy, which are really just aspects of our physical universe, are never destroyed but merely assume different forms, so likewise I reckon life and consciousness can assume different forms while still being fundamentally preserved.

Then it would appear we are on a similar wavelength Basically, I was inferring that this human 'consciousness', the one that is typing out this message on your computer screen, is what ceases to exist upon death. I fully agree that the basic fundamental building blocks of life go from one form to another. For instance, the atoms that were once part of my brain may someday be part of the leaf of a tree. However, I don't believe that my individual consciousness will ever return once it dies, which is something I have no problem accepting. I'll just make the most of it while it's here [img]smile.gif[/img]

[K T Ong]

I suppose it all turns around the issue of individual identity. Who am I, actually? Or what am I? Buddhists believe that the whole notion of an individual self is actually an illusion -- just like a wave on an ocean believing it actually has an individual, distinct identity separate from the ocean, which is false. In truth it is always one continuous piece with the ocean -- just as I am actually one piece with the whole cosmic process right now: there's no me to speak of actually. There's only the Cosmos. 'My' consciousness is actually that of the Cosmos, manifesting itself as 'individual minds' in the same way the ocean manifests itself as waves.

The illusion of a separate, individual consciousness may perish, but consciousness itself... I reckon that's a different matter.

[ 11-02-2002, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by K T Ong: The illusion of a separate, individual consciousness may perish, but consciousness itself... I reckon that's a different matter.

As do I [img]smile.gif[/img] Still, I was indeed referring to the death of the 'illusory' individualiy (or at least something similar).

[AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe]

Originally posted by Black Dragon: Have you ever wondered what happens after death? I have, and it always raises a chill up my spine, no matter how I think about it, I always come up with my answer as eternal darkness... That would be so boring, now come on, I think part of my problem is my lack of religion, if I was a person who considered myself religious, I'd believe in what ever that higher place everyone speaks of is... But I'm not. So, I always think we are dead, with eternal black, nothing to do, just sit there, and enjoy ourselves. Well, with what ever we can do in a pitch black area... If you believe something different, please, let's hear it, I do not want any religous argueing though, I just want opinions on after death beliefs...

you got it down pat. We move closer to eternal darkness every day of our lives. kind of a bleak thing to look forward too, but so is rising murder rates, starting war in foreign countries and the next rosie O'donnell show, where she consumes a full ton of ho hos on air. I assume the same thing you do of death, but it doesnt sound all that bad. Just live your life to its fullest and dont have any regrets, and when that cold lasting darkness comes you'll know that at least your life was worth while.

[Ar-Cunin]

I'll be wormfood - end of story.

[andrewas]

The body and brain are meat, and they decay upon death. The mind is another matter. I personaly dont believe the mind will survive death of the body. But I cant prove it. There may well be an "afterlife" of a sort, something that still exists. As to what that life would be like, I dont have a clue.

[Kormar the Wanderer]

Try to avoid thinking about it. It doesn't matter what happens, whether we move on to some other plane or simply cease to be... It's going to happen to all of us, so enjoy the time you have and then deal with whatever comes...