[Harvey]

As an atheist, I believe that when you die, nothing happens. Well, maybe that isn't true, but I believe that we wouldn't know what happens due to being unconscious anyway. By this I mean that we wouldn't realise we're in heaven or hell, we wouldn't experience anything at all after death. Below I shall explain why I believe this is scientifically correct.

When people are in tragic accidents and find themselves unconscious, in some cases, their brain stops working and their heart consequently stops pumping blood. In this case, the patient is deemed as "clinically dead". For someone to become biologically dead (whereby you would go to heaven), all that has to happen is for you to be clinically dead long enough (few minutes) that a doctor recognises your brain as non-functional.

Miraculously, some people survive clinical death and live to tell the tail. They don't see any light, they don't have any out-of-body experiences, nothing. It's just like undergoing an operation - one moment the anesthetist is telling you to count to 10, and the next moment you're awake in the waiting room.

So, if someone can 'die' and not find themselves in heaven, and be resurrected to explain it's just like regular unconsciousness, I think it's only logical to assume that when you're biologically dead, no major chemical changes take place and you're equally as unconscious. Is it foolish to think that three minutes into clinical death, a switch flicks on in your head and takes your soul to heaven/hell? Your brain has stopped working, it's impossible. It's impossible to go from unconscious to conscious without a working brain.

[Bliss]

Great post.

I'm with you on this one. I would like to believe there is something else after death like heaven, but I think far too logically for that. All that is "you" is the brain. Your feelings, memories everything. When the brain dies, you die.

[Harvey]

Great post.

I'm with you on this one. I would like to believe there is something else after death like heaven, but I think far too logically for that. All that is "you" is the brain. Your feelings, memories everything. When the brain dies, you die.

Brilliant summary. The only explanation would be magic. Plain and simple.

[Evangelist]

Great post. I always see "What happens after death?" posts and I though this was going to be one of those. I agree with this thread and that comes rarely from me. My view on the afterlife or death is simply this :When you are a fetus all you see is black. When you die is the same. No promises of heaven or hell because your brain is not working. People don't seem to understand that.

[Bliss]

Great post. I always see "What happens after death?" posts and I though this was going to be one of those. I agree with this thread and that comes rarely from me. My view on the afterlife or death is simply this :When you are a fetus all you see is black. When you die is the same. No promises of heaven or hell because your brain is not working. People don't seem to understand that.

It's mainly because of their upbringing into a family who are of that religion, so all they know is what they have been taught. I respect people that are religious though, and I imagine it is a nice thought to think that you are going to some lovely heaven afterlife when you die. I would like to believe that too.

[Evangelist]

Great post. I always see "What happens after death?" posts and I though this was going to be one of those. I agree with this thread and that comes rarely from me. My view on the afterlife or death is simply this :When you are a fetus all you see is black. When you die is the same. No promises of heaven or hell because your brain is not working. People don't seem to understand that.

It's mainly because of their upbringing into a family who are of that religion, so all they know is what they have been taught. I respect people that are religious though, and I imagine it is a nice thought to think that you are going to some lovely heaven afterlife when you die. I would like to believe that too.

I understand the influence of family when it comes to religious doctrines. Sometimes is great to break away from a group mind and think on your own.

[Harvey]

People see dying and nothing happening as a very sad and gloomy prospect, however, if you put some thought to it, you don't actually experience it. There is no longing for life again. There is no "oh it's a shame life ended". There is purely nothing. Nothing to be pessimistic about either.

[Bliss]

People see dying and nothing happening as a very sad and gloomy prospect, however, if you put some thought to it, you don't actually experience it. There is no longing for life again. There is no "oh it's a shame life ended". There is purely nothing. Nothing to be pessimistic about either.

For me it's more the fact of missing out on the things thousands of years down the line, and maybe not getting to do everything you want to. Another depressing thought is that one thousand years down the line apart from on the records, no one will really know you existed. Unless you've done something epic.

[Harvey]

People see dying and nothing happening as a very sad and gloomy prospect, however, if you put some thought to it, you don't actually experience it. There is no longing for life again. There is no "oh it's a shame life ended". There is purely nothing. Nothing to be pessimistic about either.

For me it's more the fact of missing out on the things thousands of years down the line, and maybe not getting to do everything you want to. Another depressing thought is that one thousand years down the line apart from on the records, no one will really know you existed. Unless you've done something epic.

That's the thought of dying. When you're dead it doesn't matter. What you're saying is the thought of dying is depressing. It's a depressing thought to leave this world without having done what you wanted/being forgotten, but when your time actually comes, you won't ever remember having that thought. You won't exist.

[Eclipse]

People see dying and nothing happening as a very sad and gloomy prospect, however, if you put some thought to it, you don't actually experience it. There is no longing for life again. There is no "oh it's a shame life ended". There is purely nothing. Nothing to be pessimistic about either.

For me it's more the fact of missing out on the things thousands of years down the line, and maybe not getting to do everything you want to. Another depressing thought is that one thousand years down the line apart from on the records, no one will really know you existed. Unless you've done something epic.

That's the thought of dying. When you're dead it doesn't matter. What you're saying is the thought of dying is depressing. It's a depressing thought to leave this world without having done what you wanted/being forgotten, but when your time actually comes, you won't ever remember having that thought. You won't exist.

I find that pessimistic. But being a religious person, I don't know what to think. I read this thread and I find myself agreeing but can't fully you know? I see your logic and I respect people no matter what they believe in.