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How can we be certain that there is any form of existence after death? [Spirituality & Religion]

Try as I may to keep my mind open to core spiritual ideas, I can't help but think most of the time that nothing happens after we die.

I would like for there to be some sort of nice afterlife, but I cannot shake the feeling or rather understanding that we are just animals who will decay and return to dust.
SatanBurger · 36-40, F
The same feeling you get that we all turn to dust is the same feeling I get that I'm not sure death truly exists for lots of reasons.

I can't say anything that can prove anything but I had a pre-birth experience that was pretty trippy, that made me believe that nothing ever dies. It's not the ONLY reason but it's something that has never really left. I never talk about it because I'm not exactly sure of the origin and it's hard to explain, I also accept there could be a scientific reason but it does feel more like a memory.

It's hard to explain the feeling of a memory over a dream. The feelings that you get when you have a dream is far different than that of a memory but I realize that memory can be faulty too. But I remember dreams that I had when I was 4. I remember them and then forget them like everyone but my dreams are usually so intense that I do remember if I have a dream or a memory.

Anyways, a pre-birth experience is the opposite of NDE's and happens in the womb however mine [b]didn't happen[/b] directly in the womb, it happened before the womb and ended shortly after. Basically, I was just floating and kind of scared. I didn't have a body and I can't remember where I was going but I remember I kept being pulled down by something. I kept trying to go somewhere but I don't remember where I was trying to go. I remember seeing bright lights and what I know must have been people.

It's kind of hard to explain, but it's a very weird feeling not having a body and just feeling sheer panic. Like it wasn't like I was conscious like I am now, just talking to you. It wasn't that at all, it was more... primal??? I guess??? Like a cat hunting its prey?

It's like... feelings I guess.. weird to describe. Like I was trying to go somewhere but something kept pulling me down as if it was saying I couldn't. I wish I could remember where I was going lol, it must have been super important whatever it was.

But yeah, then I was sucked down into a liquid and for some reason thought I couldn't breathe. I couldn't really "see" in the womb, just shadows and stuff. I felt liquid though. I remember feeling really scared like I was going to choke to death until I figured out that I wasn't dead and could breathe.

I was so scared, started moving a bunch like I was trying to get out. Then everything went black and I don't remember anything from there.

The funny part is, I actually kind of think that if the pre-birth experience was real, it kind of explains why I'm so claustrophobic and stuff. I have all these weird phobias like afraid of elevators, I'll go in them with family but alone, they are gateways to horror movies 😂

Seriously though, it makes sense to me if my pre-birth experience was real, waking up in a womb and not knowing it's a womb at the time (I didn't really know what I was) then yeah, that shit would be traumatic.

I'm NOT saying that this couldn't have been a dream but it does feel like a memory. There's way too much stuff to say why I feel like death doesn't exist but I just feel like that.

I don't however, think it's what you're trying to get at, that when we die, we wake up and are fully ourselves. Let's say death wasn't real, more than likely you would have no memory if you were something else or turned into energy.

But technically when looked at it in that manner, death doesn't exist. I just doubt it's all like we imagine it to be.

In my my pre-birth experience, it was more like a compulsion that drove me... I didn't realize what "humans" were nor that I didn't have what was called "a body."

It was a compulsion and not necessarily anything physical.
SW-User
We cannot be certain. Even so-called "near death experiences" can be explained as processes within the mind, the result of DMT present in the brain, etc. The fact that near-death experiences always seem to be culturally framed betrays that. (It's no coincidence that Christians have NDEs with Christian elements, Muslims have NDEs with Islamic elements, etc.) Death is always going to be the great unknown, no matter the claims of certainty. Of that I'm quite certain. "Militant agnosticism". But that's why the religious have faith. Faith doesn't require empirical proof of the afterlife, but those with faith can be quite certain of what awaits them.
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@SW-User Yes, I've heard this counter-argument too, but some NDE's seem to be neutral.

But yes, DMT is often brought up as an explanation. I'd be interested in hearing if there is a counter to this counter-argument.
SW-User
@GeistInTheMachine Well, the counter is that it hasn't been proven or tested at all. It's simply a guess, no better than any other. Very difficult to test such a thing since NDEs can only be "observed" in retelling. We can't see someone else's NDE, so we have to trust their recounting of it, a recounting that is necessarily colored by interpretation.

I think the DMT angle is interesting. Many people who take DMT report seeing "elf" like creatures, which leads to two possible explanations: there really are elf-like creatures that people contact when taking this drug or the drug produces a certain kind of hallucination in most people who take it, and "elves" are the closest thing the rational mind can come to describing what it's seen. Is something similar happening with alien abduction stories (descriptions of aliens often have round heads and big black eyes--is this another abstract hallucination that the brain interprets as "aliens"?) A similar process may occur in NDEs which may be why there are similar elements even across cultures (a "bright light", for example).

All conjecture, of course. But something to think about.
If by certain, you mean scientifically proven, we can't.

Nothing else makes sense to me.
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@Mamapolo2016 I admire your bravery. But don't be too eager. Enjoy what you do have.
@GeistInTheMachine I'm in no rush. I am very curious.
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@Mamapolo2016 Understandable.
Adstar · 56-60, M
It cannot be proven by science.. Science can only measure materials and forces within the universe.. God created this universe and is therefore outside the Universe.. Science cannot confirm or disprove the existence of God..

Many people have had personal experiences with the Spirit world and those experiences are solid proof to the ones who have had those experiences that the Spirit world / God / Angels / demons do indeed exist without a doubt..
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
The Bible is pretty clear about this topic.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@GeistInTheMachine You haven't seen anything. You have 0.0 self-awareness, let alone awareness of anyone else. I can only imagine what malpractice you are accusing me of now, but as a general rule I can assure you I was trying to help "a dude" gain some insight by guiding him to a conclusion.

Are your hostile tone and passive-aggressive attitude based in an anger from repressing your true feelings? Maybe its time to stop repressing so much.
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@MarkPaul No repression here. I've made it clear I don't like you, and I know I'm not alone in that. You're not some guru, kid. You're a wannabe intellectual and you waste people's time and energy just by existing on this website.

Move along.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@GeistInTheMachine Kid? I don't really care whether you like me or don't. Why does that bother you... so much?
We all like to think that life doesn't just end once our body fails. I've experienced a few things that reinforce with me that we don't just cease to exist. What is after death, I guess we all find out at some point. Hopefully it's one big party.. 🥂
SatanBurger · 36-40, F
Also I think of weird things like if the past, present and future are all going on at the same time.. then does death exist in that manner? What if my mom, who passed away, is still living in the past at the same time?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm................... lots to ponder about death.
Peaceful · F
Energy cannot be destroyed.
Peaceful · F
@GeistInTheMachine you're very welcome. Also look up the Harvard doctor that didn't believe in God or any afterlife until his NDE. I think he would resonate with you!
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@Peaceful Very good recommendation. Do you know his name by any chance?
Peaceful · F
@GeistInTheMachine Dr Eben Alexander.
SW-User
Yes I think there're an afterlife specially knowing so many people experience something paranormal, ghosts stories etc. I find that quite fascinating
Mikla · 61-69, F
I have no answer of certainty. I guess this is where faith steps in; "a belief that is not based on proof".
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@Mikla I know. I've just struggled with that. I need to delve more into metaphysics. Maybe there is something there. I don't know.
Only way to know for sure is to die and find out. I believe after one dies, one goes on to the next plane.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
The historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead and has become a firstfruits of the resurrection
I can't see how it's even remotely possible for consciousness to exist independent of a living body.

Zero awareness or experience of any sort - I don't mind this in the least. When I'm dead I won't exist and therefore will know nothing about it.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
This is f course a typical materialist answer based n a narrow world view @hartfire
Ryannnnnn · 31-35, M
According to an experiment people lose the exact same amount of mass when they die, always a small amount but always exactly the same. So it makes you wonder if you do have a soul and if it has mass.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
As our mass is renewed every six years then we know the soul does not actually take up mass. Think of a compact disc before and after a program is put on it. It does not change mass but what a difference@Ryannnnnn
Ryannnnnn · 31-35, M
@Speedyman Interesting as that is, that however doesn't explain the loss of mass in the exact quantity at time of death though. I'll have to find the source for that.
Allelse · 36-40, M
revenant · F
It is not proven. yet . So many things science still cannot prove.
I like reading about NDE , near death experiences and stuff like that. It gives a glimpse as to what may await us
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Coppercoil · M
you are because you had to be. You had no other options.
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
@Coppercoil I was what because I had to be?

 
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