"What happens when you die?"

[Dfskelleton]

I believe that there's an afterlife. Can I be sure? No. Do I still believe it? Yes, and that's the only answer I need.

Even if you don't think so, that's probably the best thing to tell to kids. That or "I don't know. Nobody does."

 

[Anthony English]

We go to Tel'aran'rhiod to be rewoven into the Pattern at a time the wheel wills.

Except for those linked to the Horn, of course.

Unless they're pulled from Tel'aran'rhiod before their time in which case the Pattern will try to make room

 

[zombiesinc]

I'd say I have no idea, then ask him what he thinks could possibly happen.

 

[TraderJimmy]

depends on how much i like the kid. knowing kids, probably not a whole lot, so, i'll give them the retarded atheist version. you die, soul ceases to exist, and body becomes a freaking tree.

The atheist version is that your soul was a Category Mistake and never existed in the first place. Well, not strictly the atheist version, the coherent atheist version. But then, there's nothing about theism that implies an afterlife.

 

[Twilight_guy]

You answer honestly. You say we don't know but there are many theories, possibly take a moment to briefly explain various religious and non-religious ideas if you want and move on. Also, you could quote Picard.

 

[thiosk]

70 virgins in a hot tub!!!!!!!!!

bow chicka wow wow! mmm mmm mmm ba mmm ba mmmm mmmm mmm ba mmm ba

 

[copycatalyst]

If he's particularly clever, you could try to turn the question around on him. Ask him "What was it like before you were born?"

 

[Starscreamed]

You respawn where you saved last.

In all seriousness, I'm not quite sure what happens when you finally kick the bucket, but I believe that matter cannot be created nor destroyed, so when we do die, perhaps our consciousness continues to live on somehow?

I'd go with the, "I don't know reply", though.

 

[smithy_2045]

You cease to exist.

 

[thenamelessloser]

You respawn where you saved last.

In all seriousness, I'm not quite sure what happens when you finally kick the bucket, but I believe that matter cannot be created nor destroyed, so when we do die, perhaps our consciousness continues to live on somehow?

I'd go with the, "I don't know reply", though.

Well, my problem with that idea of death that goes like this. Let's say I got a video game DVD, the matter in it never gets destroyed BUT, let's say if I break the DVD into tiny little bits. The info pattern is GONE. I think it is probably the same way with human consciousness. That yes, the matter and energy making our bodies isn't destroyed but that isn't what is important, what is important is how that matter and energy are organized. (I could be wrong here, I'm rather ignorant of physics... but I read random stuff about consciousness and to me it is a pattern. I'm also not sure if I should have posted this here, if anyone finds it stupid or too off topic I will delete what I said.)

I think if there is something about us that still exist after death like our consciousness it depends on the existence of some kind of supernatural stuff.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Its mostly a theological question.

I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.

But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.

But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.

 

[cystemic]

There really is no real answer you can give a child, it's one of life's unanswerable questions. I'm an atheist so I would probably tell him I don't know but that's just me. My friends and I were talking about this one day and my friend said "I believe that when we die, we start to decompose and then become food for worms" so I don't think that's something you would want to expose children to. But what if this is how it's been for centuries? Parents not telling their children the truth and making up stories about this and that afterlife. Lies upon lies coming from fear of death. That's depressing. To counter-act this I believe you should watch "the invention of lying", it explores the theme quite well.

 

[camazotz]

Take him to a graveyard and explain that's what happens after you die. As a cold hearted atheist there's really no issue here. Sure, I don't know what happens with the end of one's own consciousness, but biologically we know it all stops, so that's pretty much a damned good indicator that consciousness ends when the biocomputer on which it is running ceases to function. Issues of religion are beyond the scope of rational inquiry, and too diverse for any reccomendation. Even if I were to entertain some belief in the supernatural, it seems impossible to decide just which flavor of fantastical afterlife would be "correct."

If a child understands that one life is all he/she gets, maybe they'll make more of it, and drive a bit more safely, and realize the sheer magnitude of decisions that affect other people's lives adversely, such as in matters of war or the infliction of pain and suffering. It might...lend them a conscience, something far too many people lack, unfortunately.

 

[thenamelessloser]

Its mostly a theological question.

I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.

But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.

But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.

But you do choose to remain being Roman Catholic. I'm not saying that is wrong or right though.

 

[Ashsaver]

I told my cousin "When you die,you just sleep for a very long time"

 

[emeraldrafael]

Its mostly a theological question.

I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.

But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.

But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.

But you do choose to remain being Roman Catholic. I'm not saying that is wrong or right though.

No... not really. Its just what i put down on paper cause its easiest and its what i identify myeslf as if i have to go to church. I stopped beleive in organized religion becuase it just doesnt work. Religion is something everyone has to figure out on their own.

IN reality, I'm loosely christian. I beleive in the ten commandments (even then its kind of a stretch), the golden rule, and the mercy of god. I dont see the point for hell or the devil, and i beleive in the right to be gay, have abortions, or sex outside marriage (three huge No-Nos to catholics). So I'm not really that devoutly catholic. Its just where i take my lessons from, even though pretty much any religion at its core is the same , in my opinion alteast. If others disagree (I'm sure they do), thats fine. I'm not trying to flame bait.

 

[superbatranger]

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

I'd tell them that it's impossible to know what happens after you die, even though we know that the body ceases to function when one dies. But, I wouldn't tell them that because I get the feeling they wouldn't understand. I'd just say it's a mystery that no one can truly solve.

 

[thenamelessloser]

Its mostly a theological question.

I've noticed alot of people who start this kinda thread (or threads about religion and death and things of that nature which are beyond human comprehension) have no concept of god (or refuse to believe), whihc there is nothing wrong with.

But i jsut tell them what i was told (basic concept of heaven, though mine is more communistic really, but thats a different thread all together), and tell them that there really is no way of knowing. Death is like life, where you forge your on path in it.

But thats just me, Im Roman Catholic, so i kinda have to beleive it. more so i wnat to beleive it.

But you do choose to remain being Roman Catholic. I'm not saying that is wrong or right though.

No... not really. Its just what i put down on paper cause its easiest and its what i identify myeslf as if i have to go to church. I stopped beleive in organized religion becuase it just doesnt work. Religion is something everyone has to figure out on their own.

IN reality, I'm loosely christian. I beleive in the ten commandments (even then its kind of a stretch), the golden rule, and the mercy of god. I dont see the point for hell or the devil, and i beleive in the right to be gay, have abortions, or sex outside marriage (three huge No-Nos to catholics). So I'm not really that devoutly catholic. Its just where i take my lessons from, even though pretty much any religion at its core is the same , in my opinion alteast. If others disagree (I'm sure they do), thats fine. I'm not trying to flame bait.

Oh okay, I wasn't trying to be mean. It just didn't make sense to me when you said you believed in the afterlife because you're Roman Catholic. So you believe in a moral and just god so because of that you think there is an afterlife right? Is that it?

 

[Devil's Due]

Tell them the truth, when you die if you're good and faithful you go to Heaven, if you're sinful, and unfaithful you go to hell.

So you're going to tell the kid a lie?

As for the thread at hand, like a previous poster stated, just quote Picard from Star Trek, The Next Generation.

 

[ultrachicken]

"Your guess is just as good as anyone else's."