What happens after Death...

What is Death?

Published on January 22, 2005 By brendangenius In Pure Technology

What happens when we die? The stupid or common answer is "nothing, your just dead". That answer annoys me all the time. You cannot be nothing. People find this concept very hard to grasp and about 90% of people i talk to about this doesnt understand me.

So 'Life' - your living it right now, how does it feel? - im going to ask you to think 'Deep' with me, dont think of the logics, but think almost sub conciously. 'Life' - you can feel it right now, not physically but mentaslly, you know that you exist, and you know that your real. You can 'Think' and you can 'know'.

When you die can you just stop 'knowing', 'thinking'? No, what does it feel like not to exist? What does it feel like not to be here? Yet you have to be somewhere, and you have to feel something,dead or alive? Some of you may be catching on now, and some are just confused and not understanding what im trying to say.

You can feel 'life' right now, but what does 'death' feel like, you have to feel something, you have to be somewhere. Think about it - go deep, forget about 'Physics' forget about 'Logic'.

Understand? - If no, then your not going deep enough.

Comments (Page 2)

TheFazz

on Jan 25, 2005

Brendan, I do understand what you mean by 'something deeper' not connected to the physical part of the human. However, all our feelings and thoughts are directly connected to our physical state. When the brain deteriorates and more or less dissolves, so too do the feelings and emotions. Any soul or spirit or whatever it is you want to call it dissolves along with the neurons.

We know that our thoughts and emotions are controlled by various parts of the brain by scans. Scientists have found that different feelings cause different parts of the brain to buzz (not literally) with activity. For example, a feeling of sadness may get one part of the brain to react in one way, while joy will make it react in a totally different way.

If our emotions, thoughts, and feelings are controlled by neurons and such, how are they to linger once the structure of the brain breaks down?

NJforever

on Jan 25, 2005

Well, my friend, you make a valid point. But can everything a human does be explained that way? Can the unique personality carried by everyone be explained that way? For the record, don't answer, I know you have a long-winded scientific explanation. Can the principles of 'good and evil' be explained in such a way? Again, don't answer. I like to believe that God has put a soul in each of us that sets apart our minds from the minds of animals. I like to believe that there is, indeed a soul that carries our personality.

With Regards,
Your Catholic friend

TheFazz

on Jan 25, 2005

I am not learned in the study of brains, or neurology as it is called, so for me to comment on the intricacies of the human mind would be foolish. I know only the basics.

AndyBaker

on Jan 26, 2005

We know that our thoughts and emotions are controlled by various parts of the brain by scans

This is where religious wisdom gets ‘deeper’ than materialism, and actually refutes its principles. Religion teaches that we can overcome external conditions from within through meditation and prayer and by changing our thoughts. In this way, our consciousness determines our brain states, rather than the other way round. (When a scientist analyses a person’s brain by showing digital wavelengths on a monitor, and shows that they can change when a person’s emotions change, they are not explaining the processes of consciousness. Rather, they’re simply describing physical patterns of the brain, which are determined by consciousness.)

Of course, we cannot deny that it can work the other way round too. If you physically damage somebody’s brain, then this will effect their thoughts and feelings. But ultimately, spiritual forces can override physical forces - when one puts one’s mind to it.

The best example of this principle I’ve come across can be found in the account of Auschwitz death camp survivor Victor Frankl.

In his book ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’, Frankl says, “Often it is just such an exceptionally difficult external situation which gives man the opportunity to grow spiritually beyond himself. … ... To be sure, a human being is a finite thing, and his freedom is restricted. It is not freedom from conditions, but it is freedom to take stand toward the conditions. … Even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself, and by doing so change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph.”

Frankl refutes Sigmund Freud's theory, (and also materialists' theories) that human beings are 'conditioned' by their external surroundings. Freud had asserted, "Let one attempt to expose a number of the most diverse people uniformly to hunger. With the increase of the imperative urge of hunger, all individual differences will blur, and in their stead will appear the uniform expression of the one unstilled urge."

Frankl replies, "Thank heaven, Sigmund Freud was spared knowing the concentration camps from the inside. His subjects lay on a couch designed in the plush style of Victorian culture, not in the filth of Auschwitz. There, the 'individual differences' did not 'blur' but, on the contrary, people became more different: people unmasked themselves, both the swine and saints. ... We may predict the movements of a machine, of an automation; more than this, we may even try to predict the mechanisms of the human psyche as well. But man is more than psyche."

Our religions teach that we can attain inner peace, regardless of our external conditions. And many religionists have discovered the truth of this principle, rather than just the theory.

When the brain deteriorates and more or less dissolves, so too do the feelings and emotions. Any soul or spirit or whatever it is you want to call it dissolves along with the neurons

TheFazz, fow do you know this? You might have a pleasant surprise when your number is up.

We know that our thoughts and emotions are controlled by various parts of the brain by scans

See reply #10. All in all, consciousness is the 'essence' of one's being which intrinsically experiences life.

brendangenius

on Jan 26, 2005

This is where religious wisdom gets ‘deeper’ than materialism

That is what i have been trying to get at -

foreverserenity

on Feb 01, 2005

"When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body. ... There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; the beauty that belongs to heavenly bodies is different to the beauty that belongs to earthly bodies." (1 Corinthians 15.44; 15.40.).

I believe that in Heaven, we will retain our individuality and will see God, His Angels, and our loved ones.

This most definately is what I believe happens. And to put another spin on this, what about dreams of our loved ones when they die? Is anyone going to say those dreams or not real? The soul does live on.

brendangenius

on May 25, 2005

True. This is all great stuff.

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