Mormons believe that shit, that human souls always have existed and always will, and this life on earth is just a test to which heaven you are worth of going to, it's complete bullshit of course, but it seems to make them ... well not happy but smug gits

@LenHazell53 What it makes them is clueless (which many would prefer to being 'enlightened' to whats going in in the world). I've asked myself, if there were no limits on births than the universe could probably bear an infinite no. of humans. The problem is if we supposedly have no death will we outlive the present universe?

Sure, I guess birth is a transition, though a slow one that takes 9 months in most cases, from being just a glimmer in a parent's eye to emerging with a scream. There was nothing before conception other than maybe hopes and wishes and nothing after death except for ideas, memories and maybe a few tangible things left behind.

@Julie808 But not with those being born. Very few even remember any time within the first couple of years of their lives. SO it's really about glimmer in ones eye!? Oh, as for the screaming this did not happen with my daughters birth and she tells me it also did not happen when her half sister was born. The Okie doctor told her (just before cutting her) "gee ma'am, you'd make a good brood mare.

I will remain unknown to billions more than the few who will remember me. I’m ok with that.

@yvilletom Same here.

If anyone remembers me after I die, I can only hope it will be fondly.

@Julie808

Food for research by sociologists: is being loved a female thing and being remembered a male thing? Do transfolk (transmen and transwomen) have preferences?

I’m studying sociology and looking for research topics.

@yvilletom Isn't it well-documented that there are differences in brain circuits betweeen men and women? Maybe you can safely assume that a trans woman still has the male brain circuit and vice versa.

@Ryo1

Can I safely assume that the transwoman’s male brain, before his transition to female, operated as a fully male brain?

Or that a transman’s female brain, before her transition to male, operated as a fully female brain?

I am male, and a gender non-conformist. I enjoy women’s humor about men more than I enjoy men’s humor about women.

I seriously doubt my late partner even cared. From early on she was taught to question everything (from her illiterate, Moslem mother). She was told she was like her maternal grandfather who stood out as a sort of questioner and trouble maker. From an early age she realized religion was silly and couldn't understand how people believed all this crap. At the same time she understood the life/death connection. She never wanted anyone to bring attention to her (she had to do this herself) and this included after her death which turned out to be an ideal death and she appreciated the gift she was given up to the very end. She gave her body to the will body program and being able to help with research was the only attention she wanted.

@yvilletom
You'll have to explore a lot to answer those questions. Good luck with your study.

Researchers have observed sex differences in the volume of certain brain regions in animals. Some studies suggest these anatomical differences are largely due to the effects of sex hormones on brain development. More recent research suggests that the activity, or “expression” of genes on the sex chromosomes plays a role in shaping these anatomical differences. Each cell in your body carries a pair of sex chromosomes, including your brain cells. Females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y.
[nih.gov].

Yes, I think it's a bit of a stretch of the imagination to think that somehow a person's spirit or soul is magically transported instantly into an unknown heaven or hell outside of our own view and touch. People like something easy to believe in to soften the grief.

I personally don't think we need such a convoluted story to help us through the grief, but maybe just the natural reality is best.

When people say "dust to dust" for example, they are not suggesting that this transition happens instantly, but over time. For the "cosmic dust" reference, perhaps that wouldn't happen until the next big bang, who knows.

I often assist people with the scattering of ashes, and those ashes end up becoming part of the landscape, seascape or perhaps get ingested by plants, birds, sea life, but not instantaneously, it takes time.

What means more to me than what happens to our bodies after we die, is that I like to think that what people stood for or were passionate about might be passed on to those who remember them, to carry out that legacy.

For example, when I have conversations with people about the separation of church and state, or the freedom of religion and natural, philosophical and scientific ways of thought instead of religious mythology, maybe some of my ideas will creep into the minds of others who might cultivate them by their actions or speaking up, while I'm still alive and perhaps after I'm gone.

I like to think of spreading ideas out to be like laying a foundation for others to build upon. For those who might think my ideas are "far out" well they can look to the stars at night, far out in the universe, and think of me, haha!

I think for some of us, the one thing we want to avoid is to have our death actually contribute to further problems with using valuable resources here on Earth.

Yes, that might be a good change. I think the "cosmic dust" reference can be a metaphor for the unknown, or whatever is yet to be created out of the atoms in our bodies, breath, etc., as a slightly less spiritual/religious location such as heaven.

It's meant to be somewhat poetic I think, but at least a little more airy and free than imagining our minds being forever locked in by the gates of heaven and being subjected to harp music and hymns all day, or being tossed into the furnace of hell.

Coming from and returning to star dust requires propulsion. Is there a knowledge boundary?

@yvilletom not if you drift on the Ether.....

@yvilletom All matter on earth is composed from the residue of exploding stars so that is correct and when the sun eventually obliterates the earth it will be back there , just takes a bit of time.

@Moravian

What is your evidence?

@yvilletom [education.nationalgeographic.org]

Common knowledge surely?

Yes, I think people like to hear traditional comforting words, along with some metaphorical way to think about the loved one, who was here interacting with us, but now is silent and lifeless.

I offer funeral services where I can assure the client there will be no mention of religious references or supernatural deities or a mythological afterlife.

People can generally think what they like about where they imagine the deceased is, if not in the box or the urn, but I'm not going to say anything that goes against what my deceased client wanted said.

Funeral celebrancy is changing to match the growing secular population.

@Moravian Much common knowledge is prolly common belief.