Wise words x

Recently had a pacemaker installed as well . The only time I was unconscious , was under anesthesia .

I'm personally very comfortable with the idea of not existing. But understand we all feel differently

I don’t find it unnerving. I find it liberating. For me to know I only have one chance and this is it is an awesome thought. Those who believe they have to believe a certain way or follow stupid commandments are hampered by their own shame and societies expectations. I am the person I wish to be and not because of eternal punishment or glory. I am that person because it is right and the world is open to anything you have the desire to do

Wow , they truly are wise words . Wishing you a long and happy fulfilled life .

Very well said

Sorry to hear you were strangled !!! I have no fear of death but don't want to suffer prolonged pain before it ( which is obvious) I've always said when I'm no longer useful to my family or society and have a poor quality of life I will comfortably take matters in to my own hands . And being a paramedic I know the easiest way .
Im enjoying life more now without the burden of religion constantly playing on my mind . It's as though I can now see life in colour and before it was black and white .
Religion is so damaging to people's mental health and it's ridiculous that it's still taught in schools.
Great to hear from you , I hope you are still getting as much pleasure as you can from the wonder of living and experiencing life itself x

@Lemonhead526 Tha think you! The very best time of my life, no comparison, is right now!

So true

What makes sense to comfort us might seem attractive. However I will only believe in anything if the is evidence , and the is none

@Lemonhead526 No evidence of existence after death you mean? I agree that there is no evidence that proves it conclusively. But if you go that route, then you also eventually have to face the fact that there's no evidence that proves conclusively that there is no existence after death either. So, evidence wise, the only answer is, we don't know.

Europeans used to believe gorillas were a myth until one of their own "discovered" them. Of course, if they'd just believed the natives in the areas of reported gorillas sightings, they would have accepted the possibility of the existence of hairy man-like animals. But the natives were too dark-skinned, heathenish, and barbarian to take at their word.

I've never had a near death experience. Some have and seen Jesus and some have and had the total oblivion described in the OP. My answer is, I don't know. I'm not going to write it off until I personally am in possession of enough evidence to say one way or another. If it were gorillas, I won't be the one looking like an idiot because I insisted that they didn't exist when I really wasn't in possession of enough evidence to say either way. On the other hand, those who come to hard, fast conclusions without possession of all the facts will be right sometimes but more often than not, they'll find themselves eating crow.

@Meili I understand your keeping a open mind. But I don't see anything beyond the physical existing, the is no evidence for esp , or ghosts or anything beyond the physical mass so that's proof enough for me that death is the end.

@Meili one thing my cardiologist pointed out as there have been studies on it is that people people who report "near-death experiences" tend to have more instances of PTSD and it is more intrusive than those who came close to death without "near-death experiences". His take on it is that the revived person's imagination takes over as a coping mechanism and creates the "near-death experience." The PTSD is because the imagination is still trying to justify what happened.

My take, if there was a deity then all near death occurrences would have the same repeatable story whether not religious or religious and no variance between the religions.

@Lemonhead526 Fair enough. What do you make of NDE? Hallucinations?

@Dougl35534 That's interesting. Certainly the only possible explanation for NDE's outside of them being real incidences is that they are some sort of mental delusion.

From what I've read, NDE's share many similar qualities across culture and age. What varies is that when a deity appears, people tend to see their particular God. Even though people in Asian countries see fewer instances of departed loved ones, they do see them often enough. Tunnels and dividing lines between the living and dead are standard as well. For me, the difference are understandable.

@Meili you might find this interesting [livescience.com]

@Dougl35534 That was interesting. Thanks.

NHS is truly fantastic , it has its problems due lack of funding but is the best value health care system in the world .

@Lemonhead526 Thank you.

Wise words

I understand that fear of being desperate enough to latch on to any hope in a desperate moment.But remember that once you die the will be no pain , no fear not anything. Stay strong in the evidence of science and stay clear of myths with no foundation

@JennyJohnson -- I preface this with: I am not being a smart ass or critical. It struck me as being insanely humorous. So, with that said, consider this:

The line, "We are all special." What does it tell us? It's seems to be saying that we are all special and that would indicate that none of us are special. Think about it, then grin.

@evidentialist no.no we are all special. just ask johnny with an iq of 92 who has had that drummed into his head since he was little got pushed thru the school system & even has some kind of a secondary school diploma/degree. problem now he has to face reality in the workplace. life is harsh.

Religion is so damaging to one's mental health worrying about sin , freeung yourself from this myth is very liberating and makes life more pleasurable.im happier now than I've ever been which makes me a much more pleasant to spend time with.

I understand you have a irrational fear , I suppose that's just man's natural instinct to survive .
I thought my vacuum of nothingness was reassuring , it was like a very deep sleep. And I love sleep .

@Lemonhead526
Yeah I get it is irrational. I guess it's about getting to the sleep part, the discomfort or pain likely involved. But I also think the instinct to survive is definitely a part.

Yes I have 3 very happy boys , and I take on board what your saying .

@Lemonhead526 Then you're Immortality is holding them by the hand.

knowing the direction this world is headed i'm sorry i have children/grandchildren.
my generation was the lucky generation. everything improved after WW2 for the average
citizen. this prosperity & peace continued into the 1970s. since then it levelled off & is now headed down. there's a long list of reasons why. the main 1 is that pensions/healthcare won't be there. & this incredible income inequality is going to come to a boil in the fairly near future.
good luck to all.

@David1955 I have also thought about that and that I should have my cremated remains given to a river.

@David1955 It takes a lot of energy in the form of fuel to cremate a body. Adds to the carbon footprint as almost all carbon is converted to CO2. Mostly just minerals are left.