Anonymous wrote: I read somewhere that the most vivid dreams that seem to go on all night are really played out in under a minute.
If you are lucky enough to be conscious for your own death I believe that what you will likely experience is the last nice thing your brain does for you; you get washed in dopamine and oxytocin as you peacefully shut down the hard drive.

I'm not looking forward to dieing but I hope it's not while under general anesthesia, if the concious part of your brain is rendered in operative with anesthesia I'll probably miss those great feelings that near death people describe.

I can't really think of a way that this was selected for evolutionarily speaking, but if you die and don't thrash around and make a mess maybe that's better for everyone else involved.

Funny I have wondered that too. If near death if time stretches out and you feel like it is forever... basically live another lifetime in your mind as you die.

I think just as there was no consciousness that was "me" before I was born, after I die there will no longer be a consciousness that is me. My body will decompose / be cremated and that is that.

The very idea of a heaven where we all congregate after death just seems like such a man-made construct to me. Especially when you start thinking of some of the logistics. So, do you hang out with your parents/friends/children? And your parents hang out with their parents/friends/children, and your children hang out with their friends/children/grandchildren, and ad finitum until it gets to be quite crowded in terms of who's hanging out with whom.

And how far back do souls go, anyway? When you look back into the origins and evolution of the genus Homo, when did the first of the species get a soul that got to go to heaven? Did Neanderthals have souls? If not, does that seem very fair to them? So they just died and never got to have an afterlife? Or did humans just start getting into heaven after Jesus? That doesn't seem very fair, either, to all who came before him.

And what do souls do in heaven all day, anyway?

Did all the 12 fertilized embryos I had that didn't take have souls and are they going to be fully developed beings up in heaven? Does that mean there are twice as many souls in heaven as have ever been on earth since at least half of all conceptions never make it to birth? Seems even more crowded and insane.

Sorry, I know OP asked for short answers, but when you start thinking about these sorts of questions you realize the silliness of traditional ideas of a heaven where you, complete with all your memories and feelings, hang out with your loved ones and god for eternity. I mean, what if you really didn't love your spouse and don't want to hang out with him?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. I also believe there was nothing before we were born, which helped me solidify and be more comfortable with the idea of nothing after death vs hedging in an agnostic way.

Agnosticism isnt about hedging. It means that you think there is no way to know with certainty. I hate that people think agnostic means undecided. No, it means none of this stuff is really knowable.

Correct. And maybe with enough correcting, people will eventually get the message.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. I also believe there was nothing before we were born, which helped me solidify and be more comfortable with the idea of nothing after death vs hedging in an agnostic way.

Agnosticism isnt about hedging. It means that you think there is no way to know with certainty. I hate that people think agnostic means undecided. No, it means none of this stuff is really knowable.

Nothing. I also believe there was nothing before we were born, which helped me solidify and be more comfortable with the idea of nothing after death vs hedging in an agnostic way.

Im born Hindu, bur my basic beliefs are simple. My mother recently died of illness. I felt that death for her was a tremendous and peaceful release. I fwlt an almost supernatural aense of calm after she passed, like some entity reached down into my heart and pulled out the pain. I like to think of my mother's spirit or energy as coming into me snd giving me the strength and reassurance to move forward. Previously i would have said i am an atheist, but I believe
Something beautiful and beyond our comprehension happened to my mom. I am not sure about "God," but I think there are impenetrable wonders that lie beyond life on Earth, and my hope for the good ones we've lost is that there is relief and peace for their souls. Thinking now of the manchester victims. RIP

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for short responses. Tia

We meet our maker. We are asked to account for our life (pretty similar to how folks in near death experiences discuss "life reviews").

We are called to free ourselves from any remaining sins. We can accept or reject.

Most that accept will still not be ready to immediately enter their final destination, so there will need to be a process of purification. (Purgatory).

Those that cling to their sins will always do so due to the greatest sin, pride. They will refuse to accept any need to reform themselves or submit themselves to something greater than themselves. They will be granted their wish and will be alone. They will fade to a shell of their former selves.

Ultimately, I very much hope that most will choose to free themselves from sin and join in perfect union with our creator.

So, you're Catholic, right?

Yep, guilty as charged.

I should add that at the moment of death I think that all people, no matter past sins or religion or lack thereof of, will be given the same choice.
The purpose of living a moral and faithful life on Earth is really to prepare you to make that choice. As an example, if you die an alcoholic it would be that much more difficult to free yourself from that particular sin. So your life and choices matter a lot, but there is hope for all.

I don't remember that from catechism. Did you come up with it on your own?

That last point is derived from the work of some Catholic theologians but it's not textbook Catechism. It's admittedly reasoned speculation derived from Catholic teaching but it's not authoritative teaching. (But it's not heretical -- it just expands on existing teaching).

The controversial point in what I am saying is what happens? to those who have committed mortal sins and not gone to confession. Catholic teaching allows for forgiveness outside of confession (perfect contrition) under limited circumstance.

The somewhat speculative part is that those who are not in a state of grace and do not qualify for perfect contrition will, at the hour of their death, get another last chance for forgiveness directly from their creator. There are those that disagree and think that earth IS where you make all your choices and there is no "get out of jail free card" at the end.

I believe in hell (more as a place of permanent alone-ness, not a fire pit with demons) but I don't think a loving God would consign people to it without their full knowledge and consent. So it seems reasonable to me that ALL the dying will have a final choice AFTER the truth is revealed to them.

To be even more technical, this would need to occur at the moment of death. Once you are completely dead, there are no do-gooders. But what I am saying actually lines up reasonably well worth the experiences of many dying but not totally dead who have experienced NDEs.

This is quite complex and technical and sounds more personal than catholic. Also I Don't think nde's are part of Catholicism.

I think death (the actual act of dying) is similar to birth. It is a transition from one state of being into another. Whiile our physical earthly bodies are no longer alive, we (our souls/conciousness/spirit/etc.) continue to exist. I don't think that Heaven exists the way that most people imagine it to be (mostly because we are limited by our humaness and cannot imagine something that is truly perfect). I think that Heaven is a state of perfection that is beyond physical.

Anonymous wrote:Hindu here:

When we die, our body goes back into nature and our soul is freed from the body. If one has attained Moksha through repeated lifetimes of right behavior, then the soul becomes united with the Almighty and is not reborn. Others, who are not spiritually ready, will be reborn. This cycle continues until one attains Moksha, and that is what we all strive for.

Ave you ever seen 'Defending Your Life?"

Hindu here:

When we die, our body goes back into nature and our soul is freed from the body. If one has attained Moksha through repeated lifetimes of right behavior, then the soul becomes united with the Almighty and is not reborn. Others, who are not spiritually ready, will be reborn. This cycle continues until one attains Moksha, and that is what we all strive for.

I love thinking about stuff like this.

I think when we die, we're dead. We cease to exist. Our bodies decompose and become part of the earth again and eventually become part of other living things. I don't think we have souls or spirits that exist after we no longer inhabit physical bodies.

But it is nice to imagine that there's a realm where I will still exist and get to be reunited with loved ones, etc. I just don't think I like the idea of existing for eternity. That kind of freaks me out, to be honest.

Sorry, I meant "do-overs" not "do-gooders." Hopefully lots of do-gooders after death. ?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for short responses. Tia

We meet our maker. We are asked to account for our life (pretty similar to how folks in near death experiences discuss "life reviews").

We are called to free ourselves from any remaining sins. We can accept or reject.

Most that accept will still not be ready to immediately enter their final destination, so there will need to be a process of purification. (Purgatory).

Those that cling to their sins will always do so due to the greatest sin, pride. They will refuse to accept any need to reform themselves or submit themselves to something greater than themselves. They will be granted their wish and will be alone. They will fade to a shell of their former selves.

Ultimately, I very much hope that most will choose to free themselves from sin and join in perfect union with our creator.

So, you're Catholic, right?

Yep, guilty as charged.

I should add that at the moment of death I think that all people, no matter past sins or religion or lack thereof of, will be given the same choice.
The purpose of living a moral and faithful life on Earth is really to prepare you to make that choice. As an example, if you die an alcoholic it would be that much more difficult to free yourself from that particular sin. So your life and choices matter a lot, but there is hope for all.

I don't remember that from catechism. Did you come up with it on your own?

That last point is derived from the work of some Catholic theologians but it's not textbook Catechism. It's admittedly reasoned speculation derived from Catholic teaching but it's not authoritative teaching. (But it's not heretical -- it just expands on existing teaching).

The controversial point in what I am saying is what happens? to those who have committed mortal sins and not gone to confession. Catholic teaching allows for forgiveness outside of confession (perfect contrition) under limited circumstance.

The somewhat speculative part is that those who are not in a state of grace and do not qualify for perfect contrition will, at the hour of their death, get another last chance for forgiveness directly from their creator. There are those that disagree and think that earth IS where you make all your choices and there is no "get out of jail free card" at the end.

I believe in hell (more as a place of permanent alone-ness, not a fire pit with demons) but I don't think a loving God would consign people to it without their full knowledge and consent. So it seems reasonable to me that ALL the dying will have a final choice AFTER the truth is revealed to them.

To be even more technical, this would need to occur at the moment of death. Once you are completely dead, there are no do-gooders. But what I am saying actually lines up reasonably well worth the experiences of many dying but not totally dead who have experienced NDEs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for short responses. Tia

We meet our maker. We are asked to account for our life (pretty similar to how folks in near death experiences discuss "life reviews").

We are called to free ourselves from any remaining sins. We can accept or reject.

Most that accept will still not be ready to immediately enter their final destination, so there will need to be a process of purification. (Purgatory).

Those that cling to their sins will always do so due to the greatest sin, pride. They will refuse to accept any need to reform themselves or submit themselves to something greater than themselves. They will be granted their wish and will be alone. They will fade to a shell of their former selves.

Ultimately, I very much hope that most will choose to free themselves from sin and join in perfect union with our creator.

So, you're Catholic, right?

Yep, guilty as charged.

I should add that at the moment of death I think that all people, no matter past sins or religion or lack thereof of, will be given the same choice.
The purpose of living a moral and faithful life on Earth is really to prepare you to make that choice. As an example, if you die an alcoholic it would be that much more difficult to free yourself from that particular sin. So your life and choices matter a lot, but there is hope for all.

I don't remember that from catechism. Did you come up with it on your own?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for short responses. Tia

We meet our maker. We are asked to account for our life (pretty similar to how folks in near death experiences discuss "life reviews").

We are called to free ourselves from any remaining sins. We can accept or reject.

Most that accept will still not be ready to immediately enter their final destination, so there will need to be a process of purification. (Purgatory).

Those that cling to their sins will always do so due to the greatest sin, pride. They will refuse to accept any need to reform themselves or submit themselves to something greater than themselves. They will be granted their wish and will be alone. They will fade to a shell of their former selves.

Ultimately, I very much hope that most will choose to free themselves from sin and join in perfect union with our creator.

So, you're Catholic, right?

Yep, guilty as charged.

I should add that at the moment of death I think that all people, no matter past sins or religion or lack thereof of, will be given the same choice.
The purpose of living a moral and faithful life on Earth is really to prepare you to make that choice. As an example, if you die an alcoholic it would be that much more difficult to free yourself from that particular sin. So your life and choices matter a lot, but there is hope for all.