Death is the end

We seem not to wonder if there's an afterlife for any other living thing. Yet,
when we realize our own mortality we look for any shred of hope to cling to.

Cold and pointless and yet that produces some of the nicest people you know. What's the point of a mosquito?

The question (whether there is or isn't an afterlife) is going to be resolved for the first time, scientifically.

The question (whether there is or isn't an afterlife) is going to be resolved for the first time, scientifically.

It's already been "resolved" for many, including many who are "in science". 

It will at some point be (*)resolved by the larger part of the science community as well, but I predict that will require the passing-on of a lot of scientists who are and will continue to hold on to any shred of evidence to the contrary like grim death. Which to them, it is! 


* I really would rather the word: "accepted". Because much of the necessary the evidence is there to see NOW, it just needs to be accepted.

I believe their "existential meaning" is not at all in what they left behind (things, people's memories, accomplishments, writings), but what they accumulated and took with them.

Like: their experiences, and lessons. Those things made changes to their core values and those things combined with what was there already and formed a new, maybe more wise, maybe more evolved, core being. THIS is the point of what we are doing here all these decades. And it is the only thing of eternal value that we do here both for ourselves and for those whom we come in contact with. And those people whom we touched in some way, may not even know they were changed in the process.

There are close to 7.5 billion people that you don't matter to. One day you will be dead for 500 years and won't matter to anyone. You only matter while alive and while you live in the memories of those who knew you. When they die you won't matter.

There are close to 7.5 billion people that you don't matter to. One day you will be dead for 500 years and won't matter to anyone. You only matter while alive and while you live in the memories of those who knew you. When they die you won't matter.

So, again, faith or science speaking here?

Also, what does the word "matter" mean to you as you've used it in this post?

There are close to 7.5 billion people that you don't matter to. One day you will be dead for 500 years and won't matter to anyone. You only matter while alive and while you live in the memories of those who knew you. When they die you won't matter.

Re: the 7.5 Mil- Oh how wrong you are. They matter to me, I just don't know them individually.

Of course the people 500 years from now won't know me, just like I don't know those who came 500 years before. This is all true. 

But the value of my being here 500 years from now will still be with me, in my larger, ever accumulating self. Those lessons I've learned. those people I've helped and loved. That will be with me and it will be important to me, and also to those whom I touch, help, love, and mentor in the future. 

It's like planing a garden. The seeds I plant now, don't have any consequence until some time later. 

Patience grasshopper.  

"The point of a mosquito?"

So... Being a food source for animals that are upper in the food chain is not enough? How about spreading pathogens that prevent overpopulation?

Really, you can't be that shallow.

How many of your ancestors are not remembered because of the life they lived? If you yourself do not make a major contribution to history you will like millions of other humans alive and dead will pass from memory eventually to be forgotten. My niece traced our ancestry back to the late 1300's, there are no records going back further. Until she did that no one knew they lived and no one will ever know the names of our ancestors before that. Why would anyone think there's existential meaning?

Your question assumes an answer. It's conclusory. You're basically saying "there's nothing that exists when we die, so if people don't talk or think about you after your death you are forgotten and cease to exist in any way." That's assuming the conclusion. People find existential meaning for a variety of reasons, many of which I'm sure you're familiar with, that you just managed to magically brush aside with an arrogant assumption.

"The point of a mosquito?"

So... Being a food source for animals that are upper in the food chain is not enough? How about spreading pathogens that prevent overpopulation?

Really, you can't be that shallow.

I was a metaphorical question.

I was a metaphorical question.

Rhetorical questions are supposed to convey a point, that one doesn't.

We seem not to wonder if there's an afterlife for any other living thing. Yet,
when we realize our own mortality we look for any shred of hope to cling to.

Cold and pointless and yet that produces some of the nicest people you know. What's the point of a mosquito?

I think most people do wonder about whether animals have an afterlife. I'm sure that people who have lost beloved pets wonder whether they will see them again.

Your phrasing shows your bias, Steve. I'm assuming you read my post before this response yet you deliberately twist the meaning with a phrase like "any shred of hope to cling to". I explained my fear of death was despite the good evidence for survival yet you say I'm clinging to shreds. You can't even show me the respect of addressing the things I did say. It doesn't matter that my good evidence is your shreds - what matters is that you have deliberately twisted my meaning from "despite" to "because of". And don't make excuses about using the generalised "we" as opposed to specifically addressing me. This was a response to my post.

Again, when I said cold and pointless, I explained that those people live their lives as though they don't really believe that, not that the cold and pointless "produces" nice people. Here's what I actually said:

Lastly, I'm yet to be convinced that atheists who present that kind of hard-line nihilistic worldview actually believe what they are preaching. It seems to me so cold and pointless yet I have people who are close to me and espouse those views and yet live their lives as though their lives have ultimate meaning; that love is more than mere brain chemicals and that altruism is "better for the soul" than personal gain and selfish goals. Some of the kindest people I know are atheists.

In previous threads you have admitted to your bias (albeit justifying it by saying that proponents are biased too). That admission doesn't absolve you from any responsibility to present your case honestly. Making your point by responding to things that were never said or worse, where the opposite was said or implied, is not being honest.