How do atheist deal with the idea of death?

[Orion]

What's to prepare for? Just because I believe death is the end of my existence, it doesn't mean I think I'm entitled to be an asshole.

Adding to this, if we don't think death is the end of our existence, what sort of continuation of it do we prepare for, how do we know which one/s to prioritise? Reincarnation? Re-absorption into some lifestream-esque ether? Eternal existence as a wandering spirit, unable to interact with the material world? An eternal heaven or hell?

We have no way of telling which on of these is most likely (or even likely when compared to plain old end-of-existence-death), so we have no way of meaningfully preparing for something other than the one we most hope to be true. If we're to adopt the prepare-for-an-afterlife stance, then we have to prepare for all possibilities, and there's no way we can meaningfully do that. It makes more sense to not worry about an afterlife and just make the most of the time we have on this earth right now, because it definitely exists and we have a definite influence on it.

[Cosmic+Amarna]

We actually, preparation for that would be pretty simple. It's pretty simple and the same idea thru out the religions, unless someone is gonna get into the technicalities of "oh my religion's the correct one". But no it's so simple I don't get why so many don't grasp it. And I'm not saying ne of you are dumb. But if there is an existence after this one, what all spiritual teachings tell us is: everything has a reaction to your action. Your choices have either neg or pos consequences, karma, reflection. What you do and how you are in this life is of direct relation to said next one. If you're a good, caring person then that is what is put out and and will be reflected. If you're a selfish, careless person, then that is what would be reflected. Hate to use a product slogan, but shit if you put good in you get good out of it.

Just saying, it's kinda a easy concept to grasp, just think of mirrors. What you show to the mirror, it will reflect. That's pretty much the consensus of what all the teachings teach, that each individual has influence of their afterlife, because it's based off this one. It's a continuation of this one so it has correlation to this one.

[Orion]

Then clarification is necessary: How do we decide the preparations outside of what we'd do to live a normal life anyway. Good people, be they atheists, theists or what have you, will behave in consistent ways - treating people well and similar behaviours. What I meant was how do we determine the extra preparations? Things like abstinence from sex, eating only kosher or halaal foods/meats, practicing meditation, regular prayer, etc. What happens if, when we're trying to do everything to prepare for all religious and spiritual afterlife possibilities, some of those practices come into conflict?

My point is that we have no meaningful way of determining which afterlife is the most likely (and even if it's all that likely on it's own) and thus which practices in life we should adhere to most strongly or avoid.

[Nelo Angelo]

Thanks to those who gave their input on my question so far.
It seems the main way of getting to understand and accept what will happen at death, and after it, is the acceptance of a way of life to follow that determines the outcome. Its as Orion just said there, what is the practice in life we should adhere to most in order to determine which one is most likley. As a few of you have said, what about the other states of death and afterlife, such as reincarnation and being a ghost e.t.c. In order to know, we need to research into those concepts in detail of those religions, and not generalise from one religon to the other. Basically, we have to continue to research carefully before we can come to a conclusion. At the moment science is not giving us a concrete answer to this aspect. So, I think we should look at those areas who have talked about it and see whether they're view can be acceptable or not. But ultimately I believe, the acceptance of the Hereafter will really only be accepetd with the acceptance of a deity whose correct concept is understood. Thats what I think anyways..

[krexia]

But there is what I don't understand. Nothing, no existence, to me that is the scariest thing possible. The idea of not existing at all. To an atheist death is the end, nothing after. Sure if one does not exist they cannot experience fear, but isn't the idea of not existing itself so scary that it would eat away at you?

Yep, I find the idea of dying so terrifying that it makes me feel physically sick. Unfortunately, how I feel about the nature of the world has no bearing on what I believe is true. All I can do is live the life I have as best I can.

[Orion]

At the moment science is not giving us a concrete answer to this aspect.

No, science is actually very concrete on this matter. There is no empirical, falsifiable evidence for an afterlife existing, or for a person's consciousness being anything more than the sum of advanced chemical and electrical processes in the brain. Science very clearly - and for good reason - says that once the brain dies, consciousness dies.

[Nelo Angelo]

No, science is actually very concrete on this matter. There is no empirical, falsifiable evidence for an afterlife existing, or for a person's consciousness being anything more than the sum of advanced chemical and electrical processes in the brain. Science very clearly - and for good reason - says that once the brain dies, consciousness dies.

No disrespect bro, but thats not true. Its not concrete. Some scientists may believe what you say, but there is no empirical evidence that there isn't an afterlife. As I said, its ambiguous at the moment. Theres many scientists and scientific organisations who give accounts of consciousness even though the brain is clinically dead.
Can Science Discover What Happens When We Die?
What Happens When We Die? - TIME

Besides, as I said, we need to research a religions aspect of afterlife carefully to understand what it means on this aspect and then come to a conclusion. For one, in Islam, its not the brain of the person, nor their body that continues to live, that all dies. So yes if thats what science says, Islam agrees. This whole area, including the soul, is not a concretely understood area. We may get there, we may not. So an open mindframe is to be maintained. If you believe that death is non existance, nothing happens, I respect that. But you shouldn't make a claim that this is the concrete proof from science when science itself shows otherwise, and is continuing to research this matter.

[Cosmic+Amarna]

"When we understand us, our consciousness, we also understand the universe and the separation disappears."-Amit Goswami, physicist

Dr. Amit Goswami, Ph.D. : Theoretical Quantum Physicist Center for Quantum Activism

[goldpanner]

When I was a kid and starting to think agnostic thoughts, I went through this phase where was absolutely terrified over death. It still really scares me, deep down. But I stopped freaking out so much when I realised, can you remember the exact point at which you fell asleep last night? You can't, you just slip out of being for a little while (and apart from dreams, which you don't always even remember or even have if you don't enter R.E.M,) you have no memories of anything up until the point you slip back in again. When you can't be aware of anything you can't be afraid or anxious or in pain, and if you never slip back in again, you'll never know. If it's just like that, that's not so scary. It happens for a small time every day, it will happen forever one day, it's just how it is. May as well live the best life and have a good impact on other people's lives and be happy while you're 'on', and not waste that time dwelling on the inevitable turning 'off'.

[keyblade2222]

No disrespect bro, but thats not true. Its not concrete. Some scientists may believe what you say, but there is no empirical evidence that there isn't an afterlife. As I said, its ambiguous at the moment. Theres many scientists and scientific organisations who give accounts of consciousness even though the brain is clinically dead.
Can Science Discover What Happens When We Die?
What Happens When We Die? - TIME

>says science doesnt have an answer
>links to two articles that imply science can answer it
y'all need to educate yourself on science

[Pinwheel]

Some scientists may believe what you say, but there is no empirical evidence that there isn't an afterlife.

I absolutely detest when people say there isn't proof that something ISN'T there. Aren't you supposed to prove it is before you prove it isn't?

[kazukifafner]

Dammit people, there's no need to try to prove or disprove, using science, something that inherently doesn't cooperate with the scientific method.

It should be pretty clear by now that those sorts of arguments are futile.

[keyblade2222]

I absolutely detest when people say there isn't proof that something ISN'T there. Aren't you supposed to prove it is before you prove it isn't?

An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof.
— Marcello Truzzi

[Nelo Angelo]

>says science doesnt have an answer
>links to two articles that imply science can answer it
y'all need to educate yourself on science

Bruv, did you not read what I wrote in this thread? I didn't say it doesn't have an answer. I'm saying science may answer it, and I personally want it to. I gave those links to show that scientists are researching and have gathered data to show there may be an aspect of life after death.

I absolutely detest when people say there isn't proof that something ISN'T there. Aren't you supposed to prove it is before you prove it isn't?

*facepalm* guys read this whole thread first, your coming into the middle of a conversation. We are saying here, it hasn't proved nor disproved that there is or isn't an afterlife. Theres research for either side. But what Nyangoro said there is a good point, however, lets hope we can get a clear cut answer from the world of science.

[Orion]

No disrespect bro, but thats not true. Its not concrete. Some scientists may believe what you say, but there is no empirical evidence that there isn't an afterlife. As I said, its ambiguous at the moment.

Well, there's no evidence against it, but there's also nothing supporting it either, which points more towards there not being an afterlife.

Can Science Discover What Happens When We Die?[/QUOTE]The biggest problem with this article is it fails to mention there is no set point at which a brain actually fully dies.[/QUOTE] Neurologically, the brain can take a few hours to fully cease working, as the individual neurons and cells shut down, but still work off of the blood and oxygen present in the brain before the heart and lungs stopped pumping either of them. We know that people can experience visual anomalies and hallucinations alongside regular perception when their brain is deprived of oxygen or blood, so I fail to see how this is all that different.

What Happens When We Die? - TIME

Because there is a lack of blood flow, the cells go into a kind of a frenzy to keep themselves alive.

This can explain the hyperactivity of neurons and the extremely lucid hallucinations that can occur around the time of death. Also don't forget that the perceived flow of time within a dream (that is, during time of very high brain activity) appears much slower than in the conscious world. People can experience extremely vivid and apparently long-lasting visions and experiences, even when they're on the brink of death. Consistency of these visions shouldn't be hugely surprisising: the brains of the vast majority of individuals have the same structure, and its going into a state of hyperactivity because it's not getting any intake of fresh oxygen. The same structure and circumstances are going to produce very similar outcomes. Ultimately, the consistency of experiences does not support one perspective or the other, but it is consistent with scientific/materialist views.

For one, in Islam, its not the brain of the person, nor their body that continues to live, that all dies.

This is a sort of idea I've been dealing with as part of a philosophy-class discussion. We associate people strongly with their body, but more strongly with their brain. Most of all, however, we associate a person's identity most strongly with their psychological traits, something many people would call a soul.

This whole area, including the soul, is not a concretely understood area. We may get there, we may not. So an open mindframe is to be maintained.

And in my case (though you may not see it as such) it s being maintained, based on what well-grounded evidence there can be found.

"When we understand us, our consciousness, we also understand the universe and the separation disappears."-Amit Goswami, physicist

Dr. Amit Goswami, Ph.D. : Theoretical Quantum Physicist Center for Quantum Activism

Goswami's entire premise is based on the idea that somehow the quantum is not a materialist realm, which is totally false. It's still material, just at a scale so small and exhibiting such weird phenomena not consistent with the material world at larger scales that people beginning from a non- or supra-materialist perspective will grasp onto it and say it's somehow not material, when that's false.