Death/Dying

Socrates said that he did not fear death, it was either a new beginning or eternal rest.

Who are we to argue with Socrates.
 
Can some one explain to me faith? :confused:

Google just comes up with conviction and confidence, which both have a convoluted explanation. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
FutileBreadMachine said:
Yup, the soul was just early man's attempt to explain how living things moved/thought, hence some religions believe all animals have a soul (animism). Now we know we are just neurons and electrical impulses, and our personalities ("souls") can be altered due to brain damage or drugs.

I think dying is just like going to sleep, loss of consciousness. Nobody lies there all night thinking "I'm asleep now", it just happens and then you wake up like no time has passed.

It amazes how much mental gymnastics people go through to justify their beliefs though. I have debates at work almost daily about 2 of the Abrahamic relgions, and no matter how ridiculous or plain wrong some of the stuff they believe is, they will find a way to rationalize it or play the "you can't question it, it's faith" card (yeah I know you aren't supposed to discuss religion at work, but this one guy brings it up every day and blames atheists for the world's problems).
Click to expand...

Why does this always boil down to religion? It shouldn't need to. It's still possible to believe that there's more to life than what we currently know without being religious or having religious thoughts.
 
The greatest weight.-- What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: "This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence - even this spider and this moonlight between the trees, and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!"
Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus?... Or how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life to crave nothing more fervently than this ultimate eternal confirmation and seal?

from Nietzsche's The Gay Science, s.341
 
Last edited:
Until 5 years ago I didn't have much value on my life, didn't care one way or another.

Then my daughter was born, it gave me a fear, a fear I'd never had before. I have my son as well now, and the thought of leaving them behind gives me a constant fear, yet, at the same time, I have moments when I don't care, moments when I picture the car coming towards me as I drive swerving onto my side of the road and hitting me. I don't want to die, I don't wish to die, but sometimes I just don't care.
 
I have a general fear of the unknown with the idea of not existing anymore, the universe could reach the end of its life-span in what could be perceived as a microsecond after my death..

The only solace i hold is that i have existed once, there is no reason that i shouldn't exist again.. In reality my existence is the only truth that i can confirm.
 
Faith is just another form of denial or a crutch that allows you to blindly accept another man having power and control over you.

Having faith also allows you to pass the buck on some big issues and allows you to accept better when circumstances are worse off.

Faith and religions also allow you access to a social circle or community of like-minded motivated people, good for a medievil community to organise defence and feeding of their population amongst a broadly uneducated populous.
 
Humans are very intelligent and skilled monkeys.
When the chemistry and electrics in our bodies stop working its good bye for eternity.

I imagine the last 30s of life before a natural brain death are like a dream/possibly a nightmare depending on the pain you have.

In that respect it could be scary....
The only other thing is worrying about leaving your loved ones behind and the hurt they will feel.

Good lord I'm 40 tomorrow....
I guess I'll know for real in 40 years for sure...max... Probably less.
 
Kosmiche said:
Do you remember a long wait before being born? You suddenly gained consciousness with no conscience of what had come before. Reckon dying is like that.
Click to expand...
You won't even know that you are dead. Possibly know you are dieing, but dead... Unless you have to run around learning to kick coke cans, nope.
 
Minstadave said:
It must be possible to simulate that chemistry with sufficient computer power.
Click to expand...

Almost certainly but you won't be able to move your individual consciousness to a digital form because it'll be a copy. The copy may think it's you (and so would everyone else) but you'll still die unless they do a Robocop with your brain and spinal cord. :D

This kind of discussion is always great fun. :)
 
Narj said:
Almost certainly but you won't be able to move your individual consciousness to a digital form because it'll be a copy. The copy may think it's you but you'll still die unless they do a Robocop with your brain and spinal cord. :D
Click to expand...
This is like the Star Trek conundrum. Every time you beam someone up you are actually killing them and then replicating a copy. If you make a perfect copy of a person whilst simultaneously destroying them is that not murder?
 
Sliver said:
This is like the Star Trek conundrum. Every time you beam someone up you are actually killing them and then replicating a copy. If you make a perfect copy of a person whilst simultaneously destroying them is that not murder?
Click to expand...

Haha I was going to digress into teleportation but resisted so you read my mind. :)

Teleportation seems impossible in my head - the only remotely viable idea would involve creating wormholes that magically wouldn't kill you as you travelled through them. Just like in Portal. :p

I tend to agree with your murder theory. :D
 
I have a question for those who believe there is some sort of heaven after death:

Why don’t you take up a really dangerous hobby to get there quicker?

I know this sounds mean, but it’s a serious question. I know religions have a suicide clause, (what’s the point of having a powerbase if they’re all topping themselves) but you could always live dangerously.

If someone asked me if I wanted to win the lottery now or in 50 years, I’d opt for now.
 
Skunkworks said:
I have a question for those who believe there is some sort of heaven after death:

Why don’t you take up a really dangerous hobby to get there quicker?

I know this sounds mean, but it’s a serious question. I know religions have a suicide clause, (what’s the point of having a powerbase if they’re all topping themselves) but you could always live dangerously.

If someone asked me if I wanted to win the lottery now or in 50 years, I’d opt for now.
Click to expand...

because deep, deep down they are as confused as the rest of us. My old friend was a jehovah withness, after a good few drinks he admitted to me one night he wasn't 100% certain.
 
Being in the Ambulance Service i've dealt with death and dying in many forms.. ive been people when they've literally taken their last breath when they've been seriously ill, when someone has taken their own life through suicide, this i've done in many, many guises. Ive done CPR on older, young people and children and literally snatched them from death.

Having seen death in many, many forms, expected, unexpected I no longer fear death but simply accept it as lifes natural conclusion, it's not a question of whether it will happen, just when.

The only fear is it happening on my own. I'm a very social animal, the thought of it happening on my own is the only unpleasent aspect I fear.
 
Narj said:
Almost certainly but you won't be able to move your individual consciousness to a digital form because it'll be a copy. The copy may think it's you (and so would everyone else) but you'll still die unless they do a Robocop with your brain and spinal cord. :D

This kind of discussion is always great fun. :)
Click to expand...

I'm fine with being a brain in a terminator body.
 
I don't have a fear of dying. I've accepted I very well may die young as I had far too much fun whilst partying when I was in my late teens early twenties.

I'm probably more worried about how I die really. If it's not drowning, suffocating or burning I'll consider it a success. I do worry that I'll die in a pretty stupid 'Darwin award' worthy death though. Last words of something like "Watch this!". Like the guy who died trying to eat a Big Mac in one bite. That'll be me.

I just hope that if I die by myself. I hope I'm in a semi decent 'presentable' manner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom