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Science Section => Science General Discussion => Biology, Psychology & Medicine => Topic started by: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 01:35:28 AM

Title: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 01:35:28 AM
I recently had watched a Morgan Freeman documentary that touched the subject of after life. What caught my attention was a neuro-plastician that felt how he became the universe. Then Morgan Freeman explained this by saying that the particles in our nervous system might be quantum entangled keeping us conscious on a "universal scale?" after we die.

That just sounded out of the box, a pretty interesting concept.

That's the part of the video that talks about the process. (not the part of the doctor, I wish I could link the entire documentary here but the copyrights, you know..)
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/tracking-souls-to-the-afterlife/p5l8lxh

Let me know, I hope we can more or less start a discussion on that, here, since my family won't touch this subject (religious .-.).
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: PickelledEggs on July 05, 2014, 02:14:20 AM
After life exists. Just not for the dead person lol It's certainly afterlife for everyone else that's alive still
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Nam on July 05, 2014, 02:44:30 AM
I'll be alive, surfing the waves of the Sun -- then eaten by space birds who say I taste like chicken.

Damn space birds. :sad:

-Fried Nam
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on July 05, 2014, 06:44:53 AM
I use quantum entanglement to straighten out my spaghetti after I cook it. (That's a sigh at the liberal use of words people don't really understand, btw.)

As for an afterlife, I used to imagine that we are in a larval stage while we're alive here, and that death was our transition to something higher, and that most of us wouldn't make the transition rather like silk worms don't get past the cocoon stage in many cases.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 08:10:21 AM
Yesterday, NPR was interviewing a couple of musicians, and during the conversation, they covered an experience where one of them got deathly sick and flat lined in the hospital twice.  He said the sensation during his near death experience was a complete blackout, he didn't even experience the black in the blackout.  There wasn't even a sensation of "experience."

No book to write or movie to make here.  Sorry.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 08:58:06 AM
First of all, "possible atheistically" is essentially show me the proof and I'll believe. I was in a coma for 4 days in 1971. Nada, squat, no afterlife shit, nothing. The problem is that all so-called "afterlife" evidences are either a load of BS or some type of brain chemical reaction we (as yet) don't understand.

I have an open mind, so show me some substantial, quantifiable, repeatable science, I'll believe.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 09:15:20 AM
My molecules will become the molecules of something else. That's pretty much as far as it goes as I see it. So I will become part of a  pokeweed or a maple tree or some crabgrass.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 09:20:25 AM
Quote from: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 09:15:20 AM
My molecules will become the molecules of something else. That's pretty much as far as it goes as I see it. So I will become part of a  pokeweed or a maple tree or some crabgrass.
One thing for sure; If you're crabgrass, you will live forever.  I'm currently fighting it in my lawn, and I've come to the conclusion that it's immortal.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 09:28:36 AM
Quote from: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 09:20:25 AM
One thing for sure; If you're crabgrass, you will live forever.  I'm currently fighting it in my lawn, and I've come to the conclusion that it's immortal.

I have killed Crabgrass with my bare hands.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 09:30:21 AM
Quote from: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 09:28:36 AM
I have killed Crabgrass with my bare hands.
I have killed crabgrass with a stern look.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 09:35:03 AM
I am humbled, standing in defeat among Gods of the crabgrass.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Shol'va on July 05, 2014, 11:33:20 AM
Rather than saying "yes", I'd rather ask why a possible different state of existence beyond our flesh and blood would require a supreme being? I don't see the existence of "afterlife" contingent on the existence of a god any more than our existence as a species here and now requires a supreme dictator.
I like to point this out sometimes in debates, if the opportunity arises. One could be an atheist and still believe in ghosts, the afterlife, etc. Basically the exact same beliefs as Christians minus the Satan and God figures.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: the_antithesis on July 05, 2014, 11:39:27 AM
Quote from: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 01:35:28 AM
That just sounded out of the box, a pretty interesting concept.

Really? That sounds pretty fucking stupid to me.

Let us know if that neuro-plastician manages to maintain his consciousness after he finally dies and stays dead. They we'll see if his brain patter exists somewhere and shit.

Until then, it's just childish stupidity again.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Shol'va on July 05, 2014, 11:41:42 AM
Quote from: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 08:58:06 AM
I was in a coma for 4 days in 1971. Nada, squat, no afterlife shit, nothing.
Well stromboli, that's obvious. You weren't dead. Your soul was trapped in your body still, so duh, you didn't get to see anything. Sorry! Repent before it's too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 11:54:04 AM
Quote from: Shol'va on July 05, 2014, 11:33:20 AM
Rather than saying "yes", I'd rather ask why a possible different state of existence beyond our flesh and blood would require a supreme being? I don't see the existence of "afterlife" contingent on the existence of a god any more than our existence as a species here and now requires a supreme dictator.
If one is going to go to the trouble of inventing the concept of an afterlife, someone else is going to ask, "Why?"  Then some enterprising guru answers the question by inventing the concept of a god that made the afterlife.  This leads to more questions and more concepts that must exist to support the original concept that started the chain of events.  Now add some chanting, candles, and precious artifacts of this and that, and Bingo!  You've got yourself a religion.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Shol'va on July 05, 2014, 12:05:24 PM
You're absolutely right. If the question is "is it possible", sure, why not? A lot of things are possible. I'm going to accept the possibility, and unfortunately too many deists/theists confuse accepting a possibility with actually believing the proposition.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 12:29:00 PM
Quote from: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 09:30:21 AM
I have killed crabgrass with a stern look.

Damn girl, you bad. :eek:
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 01:05:26 PM
Quote from: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 12:29:00 PM
Damn girl, you bad. :eek:
You do not want to mess with me. I am more badass than Roundup.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: aitm on July 05, 2014, 01:19:58 PM
I am forced to conclude that nothing can happen to us that cannot happen equally to a frog or ant or blade of grass. It is mere arrogance to suggest otherwise.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: PickelledEggs on July 05, 2014, 01:22:59 PM
Maybe we are already dead?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCdUfAE5Rz8

Nah just kidding. No afterlife. I forget who had it as a signature, but, "you have to be some sort of moron to think that you'll survive death"
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 02:30:03 PM
Well the only thing that I can't explain is why we get conscious the way we are, rather than simple act like a pattern identifying computer (brain) and act probably the same way, but iwthout consciousness... Why am I here, getting the information of the brain, that's what bothers me. I believe that 100% of our lives (or merely) happen in our nervous system, but then if we ARE the nervous system, why conscious, since that would mean that any material system that has a specific shape (such as our nervous system) in this universe could get consciousness the way we do, technically this could happen at huge scales as well. I don't know, I'm just still confused as fuck.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: aitm on July 05, 2014, 03:20:54 PM
Maybe some perspective of "universal scale" is needed then. You do realize that our solar system is but a grain of sand to our galaxy and our galaxy is a mere grain of sand to the universe... so our "universal scale" is pretty much squat. If our planet was an atom bomb and blew up the universe would see a bubble kinda like we do amidst the boiling surf at the ocean. If you thinking we have anything "universal" its that we are aware of it and some think we can have some influence over it...and we do, as much as a dust mite can effect the rotation of the moon.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Shol'va on July 05, 2014, 03:36:29 PM
Quote from: aitm on July 05, 2014, 01:19:58 PM
I am forced to conclude that nothing can happen to us that cannot happen equally to a frog or ant or blade of grass. It is mere arrogance to suggest otherwise.
How do you know there isn't a heaven for the grass I cut this weekend? Or the grass that so many people smoke ...
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: PickelledEggs on July 05, 2014, 03:49:13 PM
Technically, atheism has nothing to do with afterlife because afterlife is not theistically specific and also exists for people that are nondenominational believers and possibly even some nonbelievers.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 04:13:46 PM
Quote from: aitm on July 05, 2014, 01:19:58 PM
I am forced to conclude that nothing can happen to us that cannot happen equally to a frog or ant or blade of grass. It is mere arrogance to suggest otherwise.

So if I reincarnate the crabgrass will too?
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 04:17:05 PM
Before the Big Bang, there was nothing but crabgrass.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: PickelledEggs on July 05, 2014, 04:20:26 PM
Quote from: SGOS on July 05, 2014, 04:17:05 PM
Before the Big Bang, there was nothing but crabgrass.
Yeah, but then Mermaid kicked all of it out

Sent from your mom

Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 04:45:53 PM
Quote from: stromboli on July 05, 2014, 04:13:46 PM
So if I reincarnate the crabgrass will too?
Don't MAKE me come in there.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: aitm on July 05, 2014, 06:18:09 PM
Quote from: Mermaid on July 05, 2014, 04:45:53 PM
Don't MAKE me come in there.
:weed:
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: the_antithesis on July 05, 2014, 06:55:20 PM
Quote from: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 02:30:03 PM
Well the only thing that I can't explain is why we get conscious the way we are, rather than simple act like a pattern identifying computer (brain) and act probably the same way, but iwthout consciousness...

That's because you're stupid.

So don't worry about that.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on July 05, 2014, 08:06:24 PM
Timothy Leary's brother, Really Leary said when you die your soul goes to a garage in Buffalo.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Nam on July 05, 2014, 08:34:14 PM
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on July 05, 2014, 08:06:24 PM
Timothy Leary's brother, Really Leary said when you die your soul goes to a garage in Buffalo.

Mine goes to a garbage can at an old folks home/brothel.

-Nam
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: flippingboats on July 05, 2014, 10:33:59 PM
I believe that we are the universe, since we are made out of matter from the universe and energy from it as well (energy forms matter). So I would argue that consciousness we have is in fact the same kind of thing that is throughout the universe, I believe it happened t appear at the same time as the bigbang, or maybe it was even before that on the multiverse scale? We seem like we are the universe becoming observing itself, the same way we can observe our brains.

Here's a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UfNLmLBoNA
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: aitm on July 05, 2014, 10:37:15 PM
ah......the grandness of arrogance exemplified. We are the universe, because.....well......we WANT to be...cause otherwise..we're just...nothings and that kinda sucks.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Nam on July 05, 2014, 11:10:53 PM
Quote from: aitm on July 05, 2014, 10:37:15 PM
ah......the grandness of arrogance exemplified. We are the universe, because.....well......we WANT to be...cause otherwise..we're just...nothings and that kinda sucks.

I ain't gonna be nuthin':when I die, i'm gonna be sumthin'...a corpse!

Booyah!

-Nam
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: stromboli on July 06, 2014, 12:06:08 AM
Here is my afterlife wish list:

1. Riverworld
2. Valhalla
3. Reincarnating as a Brad Pitt lookalike with parents that shit money every time they fart

4. D double dead with nothing not nothing happening just me being ashes dissolving in the Snake River.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Hakurei Reimu on July 06, 2014, 03:53:18 PM
It may be the afterlife is reserved for atheists.

Angel: "More angel food cake?"

Atheist: "Sod off!"

(I got this joke from an episode of QI.)
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: doorknob on August 06, 2014, 04:14:15 PM
I don't believe in an after life. I think our life essence or energy simply transfers to something else. Not like reincarnation more like recycling.
Title: Re: Is After-Life possible Atheistically?
Post by: Solitary on August 06, 2014, 04:31:14 PM
The things that make us are immortal, but we are not, because because we deteriorate and die. Our energy will survive, but that is not who we are, we a greater than the sum of our parts, but nevertheless we are required to have the physical parts to exist. Who we are is physical, but who we think we are is an allusion from being composed of trillion of living things functioning---cells. Solitary