What do you think death is like?

[M30USA]

Hey Robert Z, you have my respect. You definitely think about things before poo-pooing them.

[pureinheart]

Thank you! And big hugs right back at you.

 

I know of two people who have thanked me for my contributions here. I guess there is a sense of needing to tell my story in hopes that others might consider their options before taking the big dive. I have also learned just how important human contact and intimacy can be. Even by the path I took, it makes all the difference in the world. That is what I want to convey most of all.

 

WOW, OMG! This made my day, seriously. I mean just to get to hear this...and you taking the step of intimacy- just amazing. That is really hard to do, I mean some think they have intimacy, others run from it, but you have it- there is hope in this world!

 

When we're young we dive right into it, but over the years because of hurt and such, many tend to shy away from it, fear it...this is awesome! You go dude!

[Fugu]

I guess my thoughts are similar to others'. I think the individual person does, and for that person, there's simply no sensation. However, I don't know if we can look at life and death purely in an individual sense. Our lives are part of a very long continuum of life, and our lives are intertwined with others. There's the individual life, and there's the individual life that's part of the collective of all life and consciousness.

[Robert Z]

Perhaps one of the most profound things anyone has ever said to me is self evident - an undeniable truth - and it alludes to a grand idea:

 

We are the universe becoming aware of itself.

 

We are I believe 5th generation star dust. So we are the dust from stars that came from the dust of previous stars, which came from previous stars... and look at what we've achieved. All of human history, war, art, music, love, passions and desire... all comes from dust.

 

Without meaning to endorse his views... Fred Alan Wolf explores some interesting ideas. He probably goes far beyond my comfort zone, but I have read a couple of his books and saw him lecture once, and he is interesting.

Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Robert Z

[Esoteric Elf]

No self awareness, no feelings, nothing.

Hmmmm, doesn't sound much different than life.

[dreamingoftigers]

Perhaps one of the most profound things anyone has ever said to me is self evident - an undeniable truth - and it alludes to a grand idea:

 

We are the universe becoming aware of itself.

We are I believe 5th generation star dust. So we are the dust from stars that came from the dust of previous stars, which came from previous stars... and look at what we've achieved. All of human history, war, art, music, love, passions and desire... all comes from dust.

 

Without meaning to endorse his views... Fred Alan Wolf explores some interesting ideas. He probably goes far beyond my comfort zone, but I have read a couple of his books and saw him lecture once, and he is interesting.

Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D.

 

I thought that the bolded was from Babylon 5.

When Delenn explains Minbari beliefs.

Seriously.

 

But yes, we are made from previously exploded stars. Every element past Helium and Hydrogen is. So there are lots of things made of "stardust." It's the way that the elements fuse together in the core of the star, different phases. I.e. "iron phase."

 

The actual odds of any one of us existing to begin with is absolutely staggering.

 

And here we sit bitching when the cable goes out.

If there is for certain a God, he must just sit there in :facepalm: mode half the time.

[M30USA]

Perhaps one of the most profound things anyone has ever said to me is self evident - an undeniable truth - and it alludes to a grand idea:

 

We are the universe becoming aware of itself.

 

We are I believe 5th generation star dust. So we are the dust from stars that came from the dust of previous stars, which came from previous stars... and look at what we've achieved. All of human history, war, art, music, love, passions and desire... all comes from dust.

 

Without meaning to endorse his views... Fred Alan Wolf explores some interesting ideas. He probably goes far beyond my comfort zone, but I have read a couple of his books and saw him lecture once, and he is interesting.

Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D.

 

This partly resembles Scripture. We are made from the dust of the earth, which, more or less, came from other places in the universe. We also are made in the image of God--and evidently we look like angels, too.

 

The only concern of mine is that these truths have the potential to be warped so that, hypothetically, the forces of Satan could come along and say that HE/THEY created us. If I were a betting man, I would say that this concept right here will be involved in what Scripture calls the "strong delusion". I believe the concept of what "the image of God" means will become warped and probably even reversed so that we believe we were made in Satan's image. (Though they won't come right out and say it that directly.)

Edited May 30, 2013 by M30USA

[Robert Z]

I thought that the bolded was from Babylon 5.

When Delenn explains Minbari beliefs.

Seriously.

 

I don't doubt they used it but I think it predates B5 a bit.

[Robert Z]

One interesting point regarding the so called NDEs. There are a few interesting cases where the patient had no measureable brain function but still formed memories of events that took place during a surgery. The most famous case was a woman who can could describe much of what happened and instruments that were used during the surgery even though she was technically dead with no brain function.

 

Even if she imagined the entire thing or was able to hear doctors and nurses talking, that doesn't explain how she formed memories with no EEG trace.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Robert Z

[Taramere]

I always think dying must be a bit like going under general anaesthetic. Feeling consciousness very rapidly draining away from you, and being unable to do anything about it. The cause of death might be horrible to bear, but I should think that if death itself is like going under anaesthesia then it's a fairly peaceful and not unpleasant experience.

[Robert Z]

Actually, that case has been discussed at large, and she DID have brain function at the time of the experience. It happened as they were "bringing her back" as it were. I'm not trying to "discredit" her experience, because for all I know, it could well have been a real vision of the after-life. But, it's not quite the story people make it out to be.

 

I read the write up by the physician who investigated this and that is how he portrayed it; that in fact she was describing the instruments being used during the main part of the surgery, and even some of the discussion I think... at which time she had no blood flow to the brain and no EEG. And are you sure we are even talking about the same cases. I saw a huge discussion of this and what you said was never mentioned or claimed by anyone in the debate.

 

Do you have a link? I was trying to find the original paper but the can't remember the doctors name.,, Purdue.. or Par something... I know I have a link somewhere but it may take some time to find it.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Robert Z

[Robert Z]

Ah, it was Parnia! I'll find the paper later but here is a link about the doctor.

 

What happens when we die? Wouldn't we all like to know. We can't bring people back from the dead to tell us — but in some cases, we almost can. Resuscitation medicine is now sometimes capable of reviving people after their heart has stopped beating and their brain has flat-lined; Dr. Sam Parnia, a critical care doctor and director of resuscitation research at the Stony Brook University School of Medicine, studies what these people experience in that period after their heart stops and before they're resuscitated. This includes visions such as bright lights and out-of-body experiences.

'Erasing Death' Explores The Science Of Resuscitation : NPR

[Robert Z]

This is where I found the conflicting things. In these kinds of things, I prefer to lean towards the side of scepticism, rather than believing it all verbatim. Of course, there's still a lot we are learning, and it's all interesting to think about.

 

Well, to be fair, he merely makes the claim

 

Her story has several problems, however. The events in the world that Reynolds reports having perceived during her NDE occurred either before she was “clinically dead” or after blood circulation had been restored to her brain. In other words, despite the extraordinary details of the procedure, we have every reason to believe that Reynolds’s brain was functioning when she had her experiences.

 

That hardly constitutes a credible argument. He also appears to be anti-religious, so his bias is suspect. And he was motivated to start correcting religious beliefs after and because of 911.

 

Keep in mind that skepticism should be applied to all claims including those that are dismissive. Many people confuse skepticism with prejudgment or cynicism. In other words, debunkers can be just as full of horse manure as those making wild claims. Given a paper vs a blog, I'll take the paper any day of the week. But I do still need to find a link.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Robert Z

[KathyM]

I think there are many people who have had near death experiences or have been revived after being clinically dead, and have reported experiencing being aware of their presence outside of their earthy body. Many report seeing loved ones who have passed on previously, and getting comfort from that. Many report being drawn to a great light and experiencing the presence of God, feeling great love emanating from that light. Some who have experienced longer periods of death where they were not revived until after several minutes report seeing great beauty after encountering the light of God, that was much beyond any beauty experienced on earth. I believe the soul is eternal, and its ultimate destiny will depend on how our lives are lived while on earth.

[Lostinlife4now]

I have thought about death alot in my life and what it would be like.

 

Since I am Catholic I DO BELIEVE that when I close my eyes there is INCREDIBLE PEACE! A bright light moving me toward my son...I hear..."Mom. Mom...over here, here I am, come on take my hand let me show you where I have been and where you will be for the rest of eternity. I have been waiting so many years to feel you and smell you again."

 

So I pray and pray, and pray that this is EXACTLY how it will be once I am up there!!!!!!

 

One can only have faith and believe..I wouldn't have it any other way, as I am sitting here wiping the tears streaming down my face! God....be there waiting for me..........

[Charlie Harper]

NDE and their consecuences vary because of:

 

Karmic power.

Purpose of returning.

Unfinished karmic promises

Learning.

 

There are no "same" reasons for 2 people to have the same NDE and its purposes.

[Indigochild]

never really thought about it. serene maybe, i would think no matter how you die you still go through the same thing as everyone else. the whole your life flashes infront of your eyes, and you get to see the best memories you have before you are no more.