SoulPancake / Conversations / Why do people struggle with the idea that we simply cease to exist when we die?

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hell vs simply ceasing to exist ... i choose hell, at least it's something to look forward too ... even though it would almost positively suck (if a number of religion got hell "right") it's more satisfying than the idea that one day i won't exist ... a better question, at least is, would u rather live forever or go to heaven; i don't think i could satisfyingly answer this

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*pronouncement, gah.

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I'd like to redirect a bit. The religion-versus-science/afterlife-versus-no afterlife debate is very broad and very controversial. The topic is similar to debates about abortion; each person rightly feels very adamant about the position they have adopted, and is eager to defend his or her position by denigrating the opposing view. Basically, it gets us nowhere. What is it about human nature that leads us to fear the idea of our bodies, our souls, our SELVES ceasing to exist after death? Sure, the particles that compose our bodies may be endlessly recycled within the universe--but that's not much consolation. Why would we rather exist--even in an incredibly S****y world with a great deal of pain, even if we were promised no scrap of happiness for eternity--than to be plunged into a neutral state? Or would we? A quote of J.S. Mill's that I recently posted elsewhere on this site comes to mind: "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied." WHY? To those who do believe in the afterlife, in whatever form: the idea of ceasing to exist seems like an idea you cannot reconcile in your mind, cannot wrap your brain around, and perhaps you reject the idea because its vastness is intimidating (much like the idea that God has existed forever. That one really blew my mind as a 10 year-old). I don't think your spiritual beliefs separate you from the tendencies of people who have none in this context; if the idea of ceasing to exist is immediately repellent to you, it's not because this would make you unable to be reunited with Jesus in the afterlife. It is immediately repellent for a different reason, for some reason that unites people with faith and people without faith. But what is it?

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bc energy does not cease to exist. it expands and travels melds itself to other particles i don't believe in heaven nor hell nor purgatory nor shambala etc but i do believe it constant existence. we really are all one in the end

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If it was true, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think I'd be fine with it and even think it was kind of cool. But the failure of our bodies does not kill us; our souls live on.

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Humans naturally yearn to have a purpose or a job to complete, and I think people feel lost if they lose this comfort.

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"So why do so many people have such a strong aversion to the idea?" I would guess because this life was not satisfying and they have a need to think something better is yet to come???? What do you think?

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There is absolutely objective proof of death. There is absolutely no proof of living beyond death. Considering these facts, who is more likely to be delusional? I am certainly not deluded, because I I know what happens when people die, and have no expectation that anything more occurs. If the evidence came in, I would certainly look it over. For me to simply believe for the sake of some peace of mind would be to intentionally be intellectually dishonest, which conflicts with the maxim, "To thine own self be true." I will not make that compromise.

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For me, as a believer, the notion that there is nothing better after this is too painful to even think about, not to mention the fact that it goes completely against what we believe in. For those that don't believe, selfishness probably drives the struggle to accept...

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Because things don't just simply cease to exist... energy and matter are neither created nor destroyed, merely changed. Death is a transfer of matter/energy from something to something else.

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Too many movies with sequels, and not enough substance in life. Closure is such a blessing.

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I cannot think of one single thing of beauty that doesn't have a beginning, middle, and end. I have come to terms with my inevitable death. My individuality will go away the moment my brain ceases to function. After that, there will be no "me," there will be "Mark's body" or perhaps "Mark's corpse," but my thoughts will have ceased, my personality will have been shut out like a light. How can I think that? Well firstly, because it is the only thing we know to be true. There may be a lot of things that people hope will occur, but last I checked, wishes are not fishes. Ideally I will be remembered, and perhaps my story will be written down. My children will survive me and carry my legacy in their minds as well as their DNA. I hope some nice words are said, and then I hope my body is buried organically. I have no interest in, or expectation for eternal life. One life well lived is plenty.

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It's not struggling with an idea - it's simply disagreeing with you.

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If you look at life, there's such amazing potential... the antithesis isn't a neutral state, it's the end of that potential. And then, I don't get to choose when it ends and there are no second chances? That's g'damn scary.

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its the thought of letting go of the shell we call the body.. not understand the parts of death is another part of birth..

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When we're thinking of ourselves, I think it's fear. When we're thinking of someone we lost, I think it's because we still need them. All very human and fair enough. I believe something happens, probably something far beyond our own comprehension and nothing similar to the literal heaven. And I believe all 'believers' of any belief system struggle with this question, even leaders.

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Perhaps I phrased the question in a confusing way. My question is: why is the idea of ceasing to exist so terrifying to humans when it is, in fact, simply a neutral state? What it is about the abstract idea of not existing that seems inherently repugnant to us? I'm directing this question at EVERYONE, at Catholics, Baptists, atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, nihilists, people who like philosophy, people who don't like philosophy, feminists, Wiccans, EVERYONE. The question is not rhetorical, it's not supposed to be clever or sarcastic or biting, and I am not an atheist trying to challenge anyone's system of religious beliefs. It is a purely philosophical question. I hope this clears it up a bit.

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Why do people who believe we simply cease to exist when we die have such a strong aversion to the idea that we might not?

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SoulPancake

maura_metcalf

Why do people struggle with the idea that we simply cease to exist when we die?

Jabbasi

zamfir

*pronouncement, gah.

maura_metcalf

seedeypete

bc energy does not cease to exist. it expands and travels melds itself to other particles i don't believe in heaven nor hell nor purgatory nor shambala etc but i do believe it constant existence. we really are all one in the end

chaotica

If it was true, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think I'd be fine with it and even think it was kind of cool. But the failure of our bodies does not kill us; our souls live on.

agromooniemollie

Humans naturally yearn to have a purpose or a job to complete, and I think people feel lost if they lose this comfort.

Hummingbird

"So why do so many people have such a strong aversion to the idea?" I would guess because this life was not satisfying and they have a need to think something better is yet to come???? What do you think?

zamfir

Perez

For me, as a believer, the notion that there is nothing better after this is too painful to even think about, not to mention the fact that it goes completely against what we believe in. For those that don't believe, selfishness probably drives the struggle to accept...

applegrass

Because things don't just simply cease to exist... energy and matter are neither created nor destroyed, merely changed. Death is a transfer of matter/energy from something to something else.

Kajlito

Too many movies with sequels, and not enough substance in life. Closure is such a blessing.

zamfir

Goldmoon

It's not struggling with an idea - it's simply disagreeing with you.

joyfed

If you look at life, there's such amazing potential... the antithesis isn't a neutral state, it's the end of that potential. And then, I don't get to choose when it ends and there are no second chances? That's g'damn scary.

eclipsia

its the thought of letting go of the shell we call the body.. not understand the parts of death is another part of birth..

TracyinMalibu

maura_metcalf

SharonM

Why do people who believe we simply cease to exist when we die have such a strong aversion to the idea that we might not?

Rasputnik

Because other people don't believe it like you apparently do. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs.

Why do people struggle with the idea that we simply cease to exist when we die?

*pronouncement, gah.

bc energy does not cease to exist. it expands and travels melds itself to other particles i don't believe in heaven nor hell nor purgatory nor shambala etc but i do believe it constant existence. we really are all one in the end

If it was true, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think I'd be fine with it and even think it was kind of cool. But the failure of our bodies does not kill us; our souls live on.

Humans naturally yearn to have a purpose or a job to complete, and I think people feel lost if they lose this comfort.

"So why do so many people have such a strong aversion to the idea?" I would guess because this life was not satisfying and they have a need to think something better is yet to come???? What do you think?

For me, as a believer, the notion that there is nothing better after this is too painful to even think about, not to mention the fact that it goes completely against what we believe in. For those that don't believe, selfishness probably drives the struggle to accept...

Because things don't just simply cease to exist... energy and matter are neither created nor destroyed, merely changed. Death is a transfer of matter/energy from something to something else.

Too many movies with sequels, and not enough substance in life. Closure is such a blessing.

It's not struggling with an idea - it's simply disagreeing with you.

If you look at life, there's such amazing potential... the antithesis isn't a neutral state, it's the end of that potential. And then, I don't get to choose when it ends and there are no second chances? That's g'damn scary.

its the thought of letting go of the shell we call the body.. not understand the parts of death is another part of birth..

Why do people who believe we simply cease to exist when we die have such a strong aversion to the idea that we might not?

Because other people don't believe it like you apparently do. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs.

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