Death..

[Craig 6700]

When you're dead, you're dead. You're locked into a wooden box and either lowered into the ground for the worms to feed on, or you're slammed into a cooker on gas mark 25 for a good couple of hours.

 

IMO there is no 'other world', you have no more meaniful thoughts after the day you die - you simply cease to exist.

 

The 'afterlife' to me is something which was fabricated by those who refuse to believe in mortality or who are scared of dying.

 

I have no fear of death. I've had people ask me if I'm worried that I drive under the Heathrow flight path twice a day and I can categorically say that I'm not. If they target a plane and it drops on my car then so be it. My only concern is the fact that my kids would have no father.

[Guest Patrokles]

Although I don't personally believe in an afterlife, I do respect the opinions of those who do. It's not something that anyone living will ever be able to prove or disprove, so I think it's a little ignorant to scoff at people for their beliefs when your own thoughts are pretty much beliefs too.

[Renton 22001]

Although I don't personally believe in an afterlife, I do respect the opinions of those who do. It's not something that anyone living will ever be able to prove or disprove, so I think it's a little ignorant to scoff at people for their beliefs when your own thoughts are pretty much beliefs too.

 

Who's scoffing at anyone's beliefs? You're right of course that no-one really knows and it's impossible to prove either way, but personally I find the christian concept of heaven, hell, purgatory and limbo pretty bizarre and I can see no evidence whatsoever to back it up. Imo only though, that goes without saying.

 

As a matter of fact I'm not completely dismissive that there might exist another Renton, or even infintite Rentons, in parallel universes so in a sense we may all be immortal in a way, but I have nothing solid to back this idea up, and anyway, I don't think it matters in the end.

[Guest Toplass-101]

I'm not scared of death, I recon it will be canny, Ive not been a bad lass, so I i'll go to heaven, and see most of the people ive known during my life who snuff it before me... party time!

 

Do you really believe that?

 

yeah I do, do you think its strange ?

 

In a way yeah, I find it really strange, the whole concept that we are going to a life after death where we can socialise with old friends and family. Don't get me wrong, I know it is a common belief, but when I actually think about it it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

Out of intererest, you say you've not been bad, but that depends on your definition of bad, and it's not your call. According to some religions, it'll be fire and brimstone for eternity for you. You say you don't fear death, but if you believe in Heaven, you must surely believe in the possibility of Hell.

 

Personally, I don't find the concept of death that frightening, as I reckon the worst case (and most likely) scenario is it's oblivion, which you are not going to be aware of. As I'm an atheist I obviously reject all the Pearly gates stuff, but they do say the thing an atheist fears most is not the fact there is no life after death, but more the possibility there is. I agree with this, as I find the idea of living for eternity in either the traditional heaven or hell absolutely terrifying.

 

I think its strange to believe that you die and then there is nothing after. Yes I believe there is a hell, and I will never know until I die if ive been a nice enough person whilst ive been alive to avoid going there, but Im hoping Ill be ok, but like you say though it's not my call.

 

I really do think people I know who have died are in heaven, not only that, so are the people who died before I was born, in my family if we refer to my Mam's parents they are known as "Heaven Grandma and Heaven Grandad" they died before I was born, but I believe ill meet them when I die.

 

I think it might be easier for people who do believe that there is a nice place we go to after we die, to cope with loosing a loved one, I'd hate to think nothing happens, and I like to think people go onto a nicer place.

 

We will never know, but maybe I'll see ya in heaven Renton, and say... told ya so

Edited October 8, 2006 by Toplass-101

[JJ 0]

I believe in the afterlife. I'm not saying I'm a born again Christian or anything like that. More I'm paying more serious attention to religion than I used to. I think there's a heaven and I think there's a hell. Where I'll be going? I'll just have to wait and see.

[Lister 0]

im not sure on death to be honest, but i think its something like this:

 

You dont just die, in the eyes of the living if you get a bullet in the head your dead instantly, but your brain has to die, for you that moment will seem like an eternity as your brain will gradually work slower and slower until it eventually dies, now you could be aware of this and spends the best part of eternity waiting to die, OR your reactions are equal to that of your brain power and it seems instantanious.

 

As for an afterlife, im not sure either, things just dont seem to be as simple as you die and thats it, i think too many things exsist in the world for us to be the same as any other living thing. We have a conscience, a mind that we control, whos to say that after death that mind isnt released from the physical body? who knows for certain that the mind is physical? that would explain ghosts and them being invisible? So many thoughts fly about your head, all i know is that sometimes in life i get the feeling that a dead loved one is near, is watching over me, i can almost feel them, something tells me that they are there and im not one to say they arnt, just because you cant see something, doesnt mean it isnt there.

[Guest Patrokles]

Also worth pointing out is that I've SEEN Most Haunted, and I know that ghosts are real because Derek knows where it's at. Also in Joisey a few years back I watched pet psychic on public access and it was very informative.

[walkinthedog 0]

I believe there's a place on an huge ark, sailing across a flat earth balanced on the back's of elephants while the flying spaghetti monster tends to all our whims. I can't wait.

Edited October 9, 2006 by walkinthedog

[Gemmill 46031]

I've had people ask me if I'm worried that I drive under the Heathrow flight path twice a day and I can categorically say that I'm not.

 

You're NAILS! Do people seriously ask you that question as if you're running the gauntlet twice a day? You've probably got more chance of winning the lottery than you have of a plane landing on your head.

[Renton 22001]

who knows for certain that the mind is physical?

 

Actually I would say that the fact physical brain damage or damage from disease (e.g. stroke or Alzheimers) can have a huge impact on the working of the mind (including personality change) is pretty solid evidence the mind is based on the function of the brain, which is very much a physical entity. What you say may be true, but there is no scientific evidence to back it up (in fact as I say, the contrary is true), so choosing to believe it is based solely on faith and not rationality.

[Holden McGroin 6783]

I'm not worried by death. Just the process. Thats why I think the best way to go would be a plane crash. Instant death and you get a good ride down. Drowning is at the other end of the scale.

[wykikitoon 20735]

After watching my mother die I aint scared of it nee more. When I was about 14-15 for about 4 months I could hardley sleep on a night thinking about it.

 

So Nah, dont bother me. Its the way I go which prolly does, drowing etc.

[Renton 22001]

I'm not worried by death. Just the process. Thats why I think the best way to go would be a plane crash. Instant death and you get a good ride down. Drowning is at the other end of the scale.

 

People who have nearly died from drowning have described it as a peaceful, almost pleasent experience. On the other hand, people who have survived plane crashes describe it has horrific. Don't believe everything Rob says!

[JawD 99]

Am I scared of death? no not really no. Am I scared of dying, hell yeah. More the process of it. I want the in my sleep cowards way out. My fears though are also for what and who I would leave behind and the suffering it would cause them.

 

Watched an interesting prog on tv a while back. Saying that memories were not only stored in your brain, but across your nervous system. In doing so, they somehow proved that after someone had an organ donor, they started to recollect some memories from its previous owner. Now that was freaky.

 

I keep a fairly open mind about most things. The other thing about your "mind" is that while it can be effected by alot of things, your sub-conscious isnt always as effected.

[Gemmill 46031]

Is that stuff about chemical memory true? Supposedly if you put a leech in a maze with some blood hidden in it, eventually the leech will work out where the blood is and will have memory of it. If you then liquidise that leech and feed it to other leeches, they will automatically know the way to the blood in the maze through chemical memory. Amazing, if true.

 

Anyway, drowning - I can't see how it can be anything but horrific. You must reach a point where you eventually HAVE to try and breathe in and end up taking water in to your lungs. Unless you black out by that stage. Even so though, your body is screaming for more oxygen, so I don't see how it could be peaceful at all.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

I've heard drowning is canny peacful as well. I remember talking to someone about it saying it would be a pretty horific way to go and them claiming it's pretty painless. Personally, I don't want to find out.

[Holden McGroin 6783]

Cant see drowning being peaceful and dont intend to test it out!

[Toonraider 0]

I've heard drowning is canny peacful as well. I remember talking to someone about it saying it would be a pretty horific way to go and them claiming it's pretty painless. Personally, I don't want to find out.

 

Recently a local lady got to the beach early one morning and calmly walked in and drowned herself, left 3 kids and a husband

[Renton 22001]

I've heard drowning is canny peacful as well. I remember talking to someone about it saying it would be a pretty horific way to go and them claiming it's pretty painless. Personally, I don't want to find out.

 

Recently a local lady got to the beach early one morning and calmly walked in and drowned herself, left 3 kids and a husband

 

Toonraider, I hope you don't mind me saying, but you a bit depressed at the moment. Every other post is about some tragedy. Are you feeling OK?

[Meenzer 15719]

Recently a local lady got to the beach early one morning and calmly walked in and drowned herself, left 3 kids and a husband

 

Toonraider, I hope you don't mind me saying, but you a bit depressed at the moment. Every other post is about some tragedy. Are you feeling OK?

 

Howay, the salad thing wasn't that bad...

[JawD 99]

Is that stuff about chemical memory true? Supposedly if you put a leech in a maze with some blood hidden in it, eventually the leech will work out where the blood is and will have memory of it. If you then liquidise that leech and feed it to other leeches, they will automatically know the way to the blood in the maze through chemical memory. Amazing, if true.

 

Well, the prog I watched suggested it was. Only thing I could find on the net that made any sense and at least reads english is this one: Clicky

 

In particular this bit:

 

Another amazing story, reported by Pearsall, is that of an eight-year-old girl who received the heart of a ten-year-old girl who had been murdered. After the transplant, the recipient had horrifying nightmares of a man murdering her donor. The dreams were so traumatic that psychiatric help was sought. The girl's images were so specific that the psychiatrist and the mother notified the police. According to the psychiatrist, ". . .using the description from the little girl, they found the murderer. He was easily convicted with the evidence the patient provided. The time, weapon, place, clothes he wore, what the little girl he killed had said to him . . . everything the little heart transplant recipient had reported was completely accurate."

 

and this bit

 

Candace Pert, author of Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, says, "Memories are stored not only in the brain, but in a psychosomatic network extending into the body . . . all the way out along pathways to internal organs and the very surface of our skin." After having discovered neuropeptides in all body tissues, Pert suggests that through cellular receptors, thoughts or memories may remain unconscious or can become conscious-raising the possibility of physiological connections between memories, organs and the mind.

 

[Rob W 0]

as someone nearer Death than most I guess I reckon there's not a lot of point worying about it

 

Like everyone else I'd prefer it to be quick and clean and painless

 

Dying of cold is the easiest way I understand - you just drift away - but I aint turning the paraffin stove off just yet

[Renton 22001]

as someone nearer Death than most I guess I reckon there's not a lot of point worying about it

 

Like everyone else I'd prefer it to be quick and clean and painless

 

Dying of cold is the easiest way I understand - you just drift away - but I aint turning the paraffin stove off just yet

 

Are you hoping for a plane crash Rob?

[Renton 22001]

Is that stuff about chemical memory true? Supposedly if you put a leech in a maze with some blood hidden in it, eventually the leech will work out where the blood is and will have memory of it. If you then liquidise that leech and feed it to other leeches, they will automatically know the way to the blood in the maze through chemical memory. Amazing, if true.

 

Well, the prog I watched suggested it was. Only thing I could find on the net that made any sense and at least reads english is this one: Clicky

 

In particular this bit:

 

Another amazing story, reported by Pearsall, is that of an eight-year-old girl who received the heart of a ten-year-old girl who had been murdered. After the transplant, the recipient had horrifying nightmares of a man murdering her donor. The dreams were so traumatic that psychiatric help was sought. The girl's images were so specific that the psychiatrist and the mother notified the police. According to the psychiatrist, ". . .using the description from the little girl, they found the murderer. He was easily convicted with the evidence the patient provided. The time, weapon, place, clothes he wore, what the little girl he killed had said to him . . . everything the little heart transplant recipient had reported was completely accurate."

 

and this bit

 

Candace Pert, author of Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, says, "Memories are stored not only in the brain, but in a psychosomatic network extending into the body . . . all the way out along pathways to internal organs and the very surface of our skin." After having discovered neuropeptides in all body tissues, Pert suggests that through cellular receptors, thoughts or memories may remain unconscious or can become conscious-raising the possibility of physiological connections between memories, organs and the mind.

 

 

I've never heard of such a phenomenum and personally would be very skeptical about it. Personal testimonies and case reports are regarded as the lowest level of evidence in Medicine, and there is no plausible mechanism for these memories to be stored outside the brain that I know of. I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure most neurologists would dismiss this as mumbo jumbo, are there any peer reviewed papers from respectable journals on this?

[Craig 6700]

Although I don't personally believe in an afterlife, I do respect the opinions of those who do. It's not something that anyone living will ever be able to prove or disprove, so I think it's a little ignorant to scoff at people for their beliefs when your own thoughts are pretty much beliefs too.

 

I'm not scoffing it, I'm saying that in my opinion, that is what it is.....

 

People can believe what they like so long as they don't want me to subscribe to it. In the same respect i don't fully believe that it's right to tell kids that there's someone who jumps down chimneys to deliver presents every 25th December. And yes, I am hypocritical and mine are told all about Santa Claus.

 

Doesn't make it right though.