Science DOES have an answer to "What happens when you die"

iongantas · 1 month

Unfortunately, "you" isn't just material, but a particular pattern, which is gone.

throw_away_not_gay · 1 month

Or you could just say:

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft star-shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.

rasputine · 1 month

Entropy's a bitch

Tummers09 · 1 month

Well, having lost someone very close to me recently, this is comforting. I know she's gone, but this helps me appreciate when she was here, and not that she is no longer. That is what helps me feel like moving into the next day, to get up with energy, and to feel like I'm going to be okay without her.

This helps me feel like I'm happy to have had her in my life, and not as grief-stricken now that she's gone. I don't really care what all the other comments say. My memory of her will be cherished.

DefinitelyRelephant · 1 month

This "it's not really over" shit has got to stop. It's feelgood nonsense. Death is the end, period.

You can't hug a disorganized, "disorderly" clump of photons. You can't have a conversation with the ashes of a loved one. They're gone. They're not coming back. You're never going to see or talk to them again or share how your day went or lean on eachother in hard times, because death is the end.

It has to be that way.

Everything that begins has to end.

That just makes the time you spend here that much more important.

You must spend it in ways you can look back on with satisfaction.

You must do what you've been putting off and never really got around to.

You don't know how much time you have.

Incalite · 1 month

In all frankness, that sounds like a shitty substitute for "He's in Heaven now."

complex_reduction · 1 month

I thought this was a really nice monologue.

I'm as atheist as they come, but I still don't understand why all you people in the comments are flaming this. Nothing in this image implies any sort of faith in an afterlife or "beyond".

swampfox_spartacus · 1 month

i think if someone i knew would have died recently i would have started crying reading this

manuel_robot_cleaner · 1 month

Less orderly is a bit of an understatement.

snedman · 1 month

This is all bullshit. My best friend died last year at a young age. He's just gone. I gotta deal with it.

People who I know who are Christian say atheist funerals must be depressing. It's true. It's a lot harder to deal with the finality of death than thinking my loved one will be seen again, or is watching down from above (a concept that always disturbed me when I was young, especially since my Mum died when I was a kid and I wondered if she could see me jerking off)

Attending a funeral means you haven't died yet, so it's time to make the most of what life you have left.

Gdott · 1 month

Grieving person: Now I'm sad and confused.

RoadRunner172 · 1 month

Aaron Freeman? aka Gene Ween ?

philotimon · 1 month

Who in the world is Aaron Freeman?

And what consolation is it to a parent that is burying his/her child that the energy that the child imbued is still with her?

I don't know of the exact figures, but a few hundred people farting would roughly equate to one person's energy released at the time of death. Does that put it in perspective?

People don't care what happens after death. As long as the life they've lived had some meaning to someone else after they're gone. Don't exploit death for your own selfish means of propagating atheism. It is, contrary to popular belief, not a light of knowledge in a darker world, but a slightly grayer darkness. Replacing something someone believes with the fact that nobody knows isn't really a comfort.

Iazo · 1 month

Too bad that the state of existing is not defined by energy, but by information. And information can be destroyed.

vanhope · 1 month

However, matter does get created/destroyed. Or more appropriately, pops into and out of existence.

Lawrence Krauss

borgfinkleton · 1 month

"all the the photons that bounced off of your face"

nice

GoneFishing36 · 1 month

I thought the "all the photons that bounced off you're face, all the particles that were stopped by your smile ..." was a beautiful line

I'm a dude, but think that's some serious pickup line materials right there. Girls?

I love science.

hwamil · 1 month

This is cool and all, but why does it have to assume that I'll die so early (before my parents)?

kingkobalt · 1 month

I always like to think that no one really knows anything about anything, we make up religion or try vainly to understand this place with science and theory's (Which I find fascinating and intriguing) but neither will ever provide the answers we seek. Only more questions.

KillaMixa · 1 month

I think this would work if said to the right person.

GendryGray · 1 month

"Walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him"

And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know"

This seems a little weird. Hmmm

seriouslytaken · 1 month

Photons do not bounce. Source: my professor who went ape-shit when hearing someone describe the interaction as a "bounce".

lepemetus · 1 month

I think a lot of people are missing the point. This isn't saying "It's not really over" or "he's not really dead." You don't have to believe in energy or soul or anything other than concrete scientific facts. He's just stating the facts. The facts of exactly what it is that happens after you die. He's saying that every microscopic change that you have created in your life and its impact will remain forever. He's saying every memory that all of your loved ones have of you and every thought that has every been created because of you will not cease to exist. Every particle that was affected by you will keep on changing and affecting the rest of the universe forever. That's what they mean by 'you're just less orderly.' (bit of an understatement) It's not trying to imply that you can still walk, talk, laugh, love... it's just stating the exact facts of the physics behind what happens when you die. To me, that's a lot more comforting than anything else.

Anyways, I'm not sure why this is getting flamed. I'd much rather this be said at my funeral over 'he's creeping on you from heaven'

to each his own

edit: I have to completely agree that you shouldn't give false hope. When you are dead you are dead. You will not be able to interact with anyone. I don't think that paragraph ever implies that you are not dead, it implies you are not non-existant. Also, you guys are aware that Aaron Freeman is a comedian right? I believe this was meant to be more amusing than deep.

spion23 · 1 month

Wow. Seriously amazing. I would love this sort of thing at my funeral, or if i ever have to do a speech im gonna steal this.

Geohump · 1 month

"You want your mother to know..."

Hell no I don't! I don't want my mother at my funeral! Kids should never die before their parents. (yes, it does happen....hope it doesn't)

wdtnb · 1 month

I think for a family that is grieving, this note is a wonderful thing for them. It's beautiful. Does it require someone to pray to the almighty Physika or exile and persecute other for not honouring his name? No, and it does nothing but provide some comfort for someone who is hurting. No harm comes from this but a little self deception at worst; at best, no harm. Everyone here bashing it needs to calm down a little.

Panzerfaustpanda · 1 month

You know, it's stupid shit like this that makes me realise that transhumanism is the only decent conclusion for an atheist.

danmodernblacksmith · 1 month

I have spent my entire life thinking about what will happen to me when I die. I am a proud atheist and do not believe in any spirituality. This theory is based on observation. First thing you need to understand is that your existence is your own and your perception of living is based on experiences and those are the product of the passage of time, when there are no events there is no perception of the passage of time, anyone who has ever been knocked out will understand this. You get knocked out for ten minutes and open your eyes to say "how did I get here?" there is no recollection of the passing of those ten minutes. So this has been established. Second thing to take in is that your experience of life is that of the beginning of consciousness, living your life, and then death. We all go through this. Whether it's a minute or 110 years, it's all the same.

So, here's the crazy part. Say you were to live 100 years. (you'll never know because you will never perceive death) but after 50 years you will only have gotten to the half way point between the "now" and the "end". 25 years pass...guess what? You are still only halfway between the "now" and the "end". Jump to your last moment one second between the "now" and the "end". Your conscience is forever in the "now" death as an experience will never happen. The blackout never happens because to perceive it one would need to regain conscience. I've thought about this for thirty years I'm 45 now and I'm positive this is what will happen. Have a nice day.

Bicworm · 1 month

And at one point you'd hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk down to your brokenhearted spouse there in the chairs set up in your back yard...

FTFY

bellabob · 1 month

Yeah, the materials you were made of are still around, but you as a person are gone forever.

Nickyjtjr · 1 month

That's actually pretty comforting.

dimitrisokolov · 1 month

Yes, you're dead.

acermate433s · 1 month

Narration by the author's himself

5ynd1c4t3 · 1 month

Here's the thing... doesn't this mean that's it's very possible once we die to become a "new life form" sometime in the future? Perhaps after our earth and galaxy are destroyed and collide with Andromeda? Then, we will have a new conciousness.

spenser3541 · 1 month

I think a lot of people are missing the point. This isn't saying "It's not really over" or "he's not really dead." You don't have to believe in energy or soul or anything other than concrete scientific facts. He's just stating the facts. The facts of exactly what it is that happens after you die. He's saying that every microscopic change that you have created in your life and its impact will remain forever. He's saying every memory that all of your loved ones have of you and every thought that has every been created because of you will not cease to exist. Every particle that was affected by you will keep on changing and affecting the rest of the universe forever. That's what they mean by 'you're just less orderly.' (bit of an understatement) It's not trying to imply that you can still walk, talk, laugh, love... it's just stating the exact facts of the physics behind what happens when you die. To me, that's a lot more comforting than anything else.

tr122 · 1 month

I don't know about you, but I plan to outlive my parents.

compFix · 1 month

This is so awesome. I love walking into a wake and listening to the priest attempt to console people and still tell people that dying of cancer at an early age is still "Gods Plan". I can honestly see the faces of some people as they cringe for a minute, and then stop when they notice that they are doing it. Having a physicist do a sermon would be way more beautiful than a having bullshit artist who knows nothing about the deceased do one anyway.

TimetogetDownvoted · 1 month

I don't think I'd find any of this comforting if my loved one died. That being said, a physicist would be a very intelligent person who will only speak truth, and if they have any compassion, they'll be empathetic. That beats having some jackass priest lie to me while I greave...

JAmes1620 · 1 month

I like the religious versions better...

billguy1033 · 1 month

The Bible says it is appointed to us to die once, and after this comes judgment. Humans are more than just matter. We were created by God, and have an eternal soul that will never die. Rather, it will stand before God and give an account when our mortal bodies die.

If you've failed to worship God as he commands, he will find you in violation of his first commandment, and the punishment for that is eternity in Hell.

But God took on human flesh 2,000 years ago and entered into history, living a perfect life and dying the death you and I deserve, taking the wrath of God we should experience in Hell. If you only turn from your sin and trust only in him to save you, he will.

"Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:22

jordy22 · 1 month

My farts will roam the world for eternity long after I'll be dead 8)

mauser5 · 1 month

So....What happens? When our consciousness dies off, are we thrown into some sort of perpetual dream?

HydrogenxPi · 1 month

"You want a physicist to talk to your grieving family about conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died."

I stopped reading after this. Let's not fall into the religiotard's strategy making shit up and calling it science mkay?

LightningBolt101 · 1 month

And then they sit there confused as they have no idea what the fuck he just said.

TheRubberHoudini · 1 month

I so want this at my funeral

Skyler827 · 1 month

It all depends on how its presented. Really, when it comes to emotional speech, such as speaking at a funeral, it's not what you say as much as how you say it.

andres92 · 1 month

This is... oddly beautiful.

escalate_it_to_11 · 1 month

saved for my funeral

SleepSmuggler · 1 month

I may be wrong here, but I'm fairly sure this was intended as satire. People are so desperate to live on forever, so scared of dying, that every religion promises an afterlife and some people expect science to provide one too.

So although some of it is beautiful, this isn't actually meant to be read as the answer science gives us to what happens when we die, there is a lot of subtext involved.

Deviljho · 1 month

So you are telling me that I shouldn't be sad when someone dies because their energy is still here? What the fuck... Just because their "mass and makeup and composition and energy" are still around that person, who they are and what they brought to your life is GONE. Just because you are atheist doesn't mean that everything related to religion is bad like oh I don't know mourning death...

Bromagnon · 1 month

Noone gives a shit because you're dead

Some quote about science isn't going to sooth any greiving widow

sprazzy · 1 month

That literally brought me to tears. Beautiful.

misslilitheredhead · 1 month

I honestly cried.

AsAChemicalEngineer · 1 month

Energy is not necessarily conserved across reference frames.

ronizzie · 1 month

My balls erupted the first time I read this. So touching.

doubledracula · 1 month

Is that Aaron Freeman, like Gene Ween Aaron Freeman? if so my respect for him just increased exponentially, and i was already the biggest weener i know.

masterphoenix113 · 1 month

In a sense this is true. Everything is made of energy, and energy cannot be created, nor destroyed. It may pop in and out of different dimensions, but it doesn't mean that it is destroyed. Regardless if you think this isn't science or not, the man has a point. The energy that you are will linger on. Whether or not you're in a conscious state is a different story.

MikeNeil91 · 1 month

That was beautiful. Even though i didn't really understand much of it.

squigglebee · 1 month

I want to read this later so I am commenting. So very tired.

analogkid1 · 1 month

South Park has the answer:

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/103963/the-circle-of-poo

Pyrrokhar · 1 month

TL;DR

MrWaru · 1 month

I feel like these are just empty words. People are their brain activity, their personalities and actions in the world and when you die, you're gone forever. It's a bummer, but so it goes.

Pixeleyes · 1 month

This makes about as much sense as comforting someone who just lost their house in a fire by telling them "don't worry, the carbon is still there".

Speaking-of-segues · 1 month

Meh. Might be true. It still not as comforting as telling them that you have gone to paradise and you will all be together again soon

suparhero · 1 month

Its crazy but it soothes my soul, thank you.

idonotcollectstamps · 1 month

Stop being content with death. It is horrible.

Our neurons and neural pathways rot into compost.

There is nothing good about every memory that we ever accumulate rotting away into soil.

No good comes from death.

Stop being content with it.

Get pissed.

Help to contribute to science and work on ways to defeat the disease of aging.

Work on time travel so we can go back in time to prevent the death of all the greatest thinkers and humans.

Cure a disease.

Stop being content with your entire being rotting away into inanimate particles.

jacobbigham · 1 month

This is really quite nice.

I hope people don't tear this apart with extra logic and reasoning and can let this one just sit how it is.

charlieb1993 · 1 month

Yeah, go to a funeral and tell a childless mother that its all okay because billions of photons from her dead child are still out there. See what happens.

NaChoBizness · 1 month

[deleted]

the_newest_phenom · 1 month

This is the dumbest shit I have read in a long time,

WazWaz · 1 month

[deleted]

Iazo · 1 month

[deleted]

Smartio · 1 month

Couldn't this work both ways, since the energy is probably going to be "your soul" (In quotes because I don't know if atheists believe in souls, seriously) and Heaven is just your soul traveling through space? We don't really know what Heaven is like, or what souls look like, so this may very well be what it is, correct?


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