What happens if Skeletor gets you? 
Oh, I misunderstood what you wanted to say. I did understand what you said. Of course you can’t explain it to me. I would require inconvenient things like evidence and a connection between your “philosophy” and everyday experience. I regard any belief system that tells us to “look inward” as bullshit. The real world is out there – all that is inside is guts, and maybe your breakfast. BTW, I read some of the Denet book - looks interesting, but he is still hung up on the “what is conciousness” problem, and that has been satisfied a long time ago. Check out Pinker from MIT and Searle at Berkely. To G: Just the ones that post. To all: be suspiscious of ANYONE that tells you your consciousness or reality is an illusion. These ignorant people are dangerous, and those beliefs are ALWAYS popularized by someone preceding a power grab, either in interpersonal relationships or politically. The world is real. Your experiences are real. Your mind is real - a physical object as real as the PC or MAC you are reading this on. As to the original question posted: When you die, all the available evidence indicates that you rot and bugs eat you. Sorry. If this bothers you, try to think of it as a dirt nap.
Nephorm, From the moment we take that first breath our journey toward death begins. No one can deny this fact. I suggest reading Journey of Souls written by Michael Newton. This remarkable book uncovers the mystery of life in the spirit world after death on earth. Hope this helps.
You really are an arrogant self righteous asshole. nick is correct, talking to people like you is a waste.
Then why bother? I am arrogant, I guess. And I think I am right, not self righteous. Would you like to take the flip side of my argument and debate it? Would you really support the idea that our minds are not real? That there is no “you” as Nick puts it? How about that the “road to enlightenment” (whatever that is supposed to mean) is doing your best to think of nothing but a mantra? I find it useful to put these sorts of ideas to everyday tests. Let’s say you and I both have to fix a computer. I read the manual, and run tests on the PC to figure out the problem and repair it. You sit somewhere quiet and contemplate whatever your guru tells you to. Who will fix the PC? Why should problems concerning the other entities be treated one way and problems of philosophy another? Usually those that have a problem with this subscribe to dualism in one form or another, in other words they think the physical body and the mind are separate items and have to be dealt with in different ways. (despite evidence to the contrary in every six-pack).If I seem to be an asshole, oh well. I really believe all the stuff I say re: philosophy and reality . I can back up all my statements with real physical evidence, or in cases where physical evidence is not available,(as in discussions of the nature of our mental contents) with carefully reasoned arguments based on everyday experience. It is beyond me how else I could proceed, and I confess to being mistified by people that believe whatever they are told or read. By the way, Bubba, calling someone an asshole is a lot more fun when you also address their point and rebut it.
Aww sewerhooker, to you last post to me I am quite amused. It seems that people who have to curse others or put them down for what they believe tend to have insecurities of their own and try to take things out on others. As for the idea of not believing in God, well that idea does not exist in my world because God is real! By the way I can pray for you if you like?
nkeago: I’m not worried about Skeletor, I’m a touch chic I think I can take him!
“As for the idea of not believing in God, well that idea does not exist in my world because God is real.” You cant imagine how ironic it is to hear you say that after saying in your previous post to keep an open mind. You’re a hypocrite and dont even know it.
Cursing shows insecurities? Nice logic.
Right on! Keep it up!
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matt,7:13,14
Pinker is an idiot. Well, ok, he’s actually a pretty smart guy, but he’s in way over his head with regards to artificial intelligence. In the first 100 pages of one of his books, I lost count of how many errors he made. I mean jeez, he’s a prof at MIT, and he contended at one point how “difficult” getting a computer to recognize a shape would be… and he used examples that were not only flawed as they relate to human perception, but also proved at MIT as being solvable. I really think he ought to stick to philosophy, and leave computers to those of us that have cracked a book on the subject.
Why do non-believers reply to believers with “Fuck You” and “Asshole”, for mearly stating a certain belief? Why is that Sewerhooker and huck? These people didn’t cuss you out for not believing in God or an afterlife. Judging by previous posts, you both seem to be intelligent people. I second guess that however, when you guys disagree with a post and call that person an asshole.
In past threads regarding religion huck, you seem to be legitimately pissed at people for believing in a higher power. It's almost funny that you disagree so much with someone that you lower yourself to name-calling and insults.
I'm sure you think it's silly for people to quote Bible scripture on this board. Alternatively, I think it's silly that someone can look at this earth and the universe around it and declare that we are all here by chance. That I'm sitting here, typing away just by random chance. THAT is absurd. "Existence", if you will, is way to complex to come into being by accident.
So, flame away gentlemen. :)
Just pop the blue pill, and believe the few decades your on this planet that everythings a matter of chance, luck & ‘life’. Whatever you do, don’t pop the red pill, cause then you’ll see the world in a different light and the purpose you were all placed on it.
I think nothing, we are just animals.I would hope that we are reborn into another body with a chance to improve upon our last lives though,and I would hope that those like Hitler etc are punished. But I think Heaven and hell was really just myths used to explain the uncertain and frightening and also a way to keep the masses in line - sin and it will always be seen etc, ata time when the law was not what it was. Either way I believe in karma as how you have affected others in your past shapes your personality for the good or bad and new people pick up on that.
You’ll fly forever. Your name, body, ego will be forgotten… you’ll be intangible and have no need for anything profane (of human or earthly existence). You wouldn’t know how to do anything other than exist as energy. You’ll become a part of the sun and the stars. You’ll live forever though time will no longer matter anyway since you will be intangible. You will observe everything and feel every part of perfection though you won’t be able to appreciate it as “yourself”. That is what I believe… 
Basically no part of “yourself” left, after all… you are only being lent these things like a mind and a body. But, your will, your soul will continue on as a functional momentum effecting everything else that will ever exist and already does exist anyway. lol
Simple. When I first responded to this thread I stated I dont belief in god ‘PERIOD’. I never disrespected spiritual ppl. When Teelsa posts her thread she basicly insults me by saying I’m close minded and incapable of understanding the bible. AKA she told me and others like me that we are idiots. She was on the attack. Thats why I replied what I did. But dont worry, people see what they want to see and you probably will agree with her either way, thats ok. You try to tell me that I took her words the wrong way etc etc. The only problem is I can read btween the lines rather clearly. So save yourself the righteous act, go back to all the posts, and give it an unbiased read.
I’m not the type of guy to start BS up, but when I’m attacked I dont bend over and welcome in the enemy.
I think the statements you are referring to is where he is comparing computer powers in that area to those of the human mind. He does go on about this. They are difficult problems, but not unsolvable. I think he also goes overboard in his computational theory of the mind. There seems to be a current trend towards treating the brain / mind as a “black box” without reference to the rest of the body. I think this is a mistake. Clearly there is a lot of feedback in both directions. I like Searle’s descriptions the best: “The mind is what the brain does.” “Consciousness is an emergent property of a sufficiently complex brain” These seem to me to be common sense descriptions of the world as we actually experience it. On a personal note - I am sometimes bothered by the idea of a death that is just an end, but see no choice to believe otherwise.
Nephorm, there is a reason you are asking this. And I think you know why. I believe that you already know the answer, you just need to inquire within.
I kinda like RS’s take on the afterlife. It’s got that nice, James Redfield “Celestine Prophecy”, fluffy, bullshit feel to it. I have to confess though, it’s a nice idea. I would like to believe that our body’s energy doesn’t just die when our physical self dies. The idea of becoming part of a higher consciousness is kinda cool. Whatever happens, I’m satisfied with the life I’ve had on earth. If there is some sort of afterlife or alternate level of consciousness than thats just a bonus as far as I’m concerned. I find it funny that many of the religious or christian people assume that those of us who are not religious are by definition, non-spiritual. Most of the most truly spiritual people I know are non-religious. Conversely, there are few christians I know who I would consider deeply spiritual.
Dustin as you know discussions on religion can be heated due to strong beliefs. The problem some of us non-believers have is the “I’m right your wrong” attitude of SOME belivers. Take TEELA, “God is real”, yet she claims to have an open mind. Quoting the bible is not proof of Gods’ existance either. I know, some non-believers can be just as adamant in their views with regard to a higher being. I for one don’t believe in a God, but that does not mean it can’t or doesn’t exist. Now for your post. “Alternatively, I think it’s silly that someone can look at this earth and the universe around it and declare that we are all here by chance”. With this your are doing the same thing Teela did, dismissing YOUR idea of what a non-believers’ views MIGHT be, as silly. Do you think this is constructive to an open debate? Why would you ASSUME that, not only is this perception of yours is valid, but that it is shared by ALL non-believers? To my mind this sounds like you are dismissing Evolution, Big Bang or any other views, other than yours, as insignificant. Then you ask why this attitude would piss people off. Do ALL belivers think the same? I think not, even though they(I hate using that word) may share a common idea with regards to a higher being.
I wasn’t attacking anyone. So sewerhooker you think you are someone who can read between the lines? No where in my post was I saying people are idiots. Besides I wans’t even talking to you I was simply trying to show my belief about Nephorm’s questions about what happens when we die. By the way I’m not a hypocrite! I said I believe and worship God and to say other wise would be a disservice to my Savior. I’m not going to argue because it is pointless. Everyone is going to believe what they choose, so I’ll leave it at that.
LW: Thanks for the support! Great verses!
Although I do believe in God, it’s hard to deny that the Big Bang didn’t happen.(The evidence of a great explosion is evident throughout the far reaches of the universe. Energy all seems to be moving away from a central point.) Belivers, I suppose, could see that as the work of God.
Perhaps 'silly' wasn't the correct word. Maybe far-fetched?
Just curious, what happend that made you not believe in God? If you don't mind me asking. Was it an event in your life or was it something someone told you?