(11-18-2010, 11:22 AM)gort Wrote: My opinion:

The matter which forms our body returns back to the Earth's environment, but everything that defines us as a person (mind/spirit/thought patterns) will disappear into nothingness. My view could change of course if the Neuroscientists come up with some damned good scientific proof that some other type of "afterlife" was scientifically possible.

Maybe it's a little cold, but everyone has their own belief system.

Quote:Lol nice view point. But it was already scientifically proven that energy cannot be destroyed, it can only change form. And everything is energy. Therefore, we can't just disappear out of the blue.

(11-20-2010, 01:08 AM)Vanilla Wrote:

Quote:Lol nice view point. But it was already scientifically proven that energy cannot be destroyed, it can only change form. And everything is energy. Therefore, we can't just disappear out of the blue.

I would say that it depends on how you define "we". I agree, the matter of which we are composed of, cannot be destroyed, but our neurological patterns (and stuff), which makes makes up our personality would be broken, as the matter which makes up for the neurologica patterns would be decomposed.

But on the other hand, I wouldn't refrain the possibility that some of our personality(soul?) might continue to function on the electrical wave level. After all, the brain activity is made up by moving neurons making up electrical currents, which makes up for our cognitive abilities. Anyway, these currents makes up a wide range of different wave patterns, such Alpha, Beta, Delta, Mu, Theta waves, and perhaps Gamma waves too. (Waves should not be confused with rays). Anyway, these waves a easily measurable, and can continue to exist(bounce, float, walk, i donno) in the vicinity of the locations that the person walked.

Another aspect is, that if these theories about personality-neuron-wave-links would to be true, it would actually reinforce the validity of the millions of countless ghost stories people talk about from time to time, and perhaps the religious theory about heaven too (as to when the spirits/waves dissapear).

Quote:But even the neurological patterns are energy. Imagine if you were to die right now. You couldn't be "Nothing" because "Nothing is nothing" And you are "something" and can't exist in "Nothing" lol. Remember that the energy can only change form (and can't be created nor destroyed, meaning all energy that exists right now has always existed and always will) and even the neurological patterns simply are energy which will change form, perhaps it will no longer be noticed on the physical plane but it will still exist somewhere. It takes awhile to grasp the whole concept of "Nothing can be nothing."
Really, sit there and think about it for at least 5 minutes and do nothing else, lol

(11-21-2010, 05:26 AM)Vanilla Wrote:

Quote:But even the neurological patterns are energy. Imagine if you were to die right now. You couldn't be "Nothing" because "Nothing is nothing" And you are "something" and can't exist in "Nothing" lol. Remember that the energy can only change form (and can't be created nor destroyed, meaning all energy that exists right now has always existed and always will) and even the neurological patterns simply are energy which will change form, perhaps it will no longer be noticed on the physical plane but it will still exist somewhere. It takes awhile to grasp the whole concept of "Nothing can be nothing."
Really, sit there and think about it for at least 5 minutes and do nothing else, lol

I already agreed with you, on that fact that something couldn't become nothing (speaking of energy and physical information). But as you stated yourself, energy changes form (fx. from currents to carbon-ion-charges) and these charges can bind themself to our earthly remains. But what I was initially questioning was whether you would define your dead corpse as "you". Considering you aren't able to speak, breathe, converse, eat etc. as a dead corpse.