Review: Erasing Death

[WillBrink]

You were doing fine until this statement which is illogical.

It's not illogical and will actually happen in the near future. It's just like re booting a very complex computer. The major issue preventing it, is the rapid damage done to the brain, followed by other organs, within minutes for the brain (without intervention) and which can be extended farther and farther as the tech improves. By simply reducing the temp of the body you extend the time, hence why people who died in frozen rivers and such have been brought back after extended periods of time.

[Turnkey11]

I'm going to check out this book, up until very recently I was very much convinced there was life after death. I have no idea what triggered the change, but I was very suddenly filled with doubt which led to some sleepless nights and a lot of Google time reading near - death experiences. I consider myself a devout Christian but I'm having a lot of trouble with the possibility of simply ceasing to exist.

[SteyrAUG]

I'm going to check out this book, up until very recently I was very much convinced there was life after death. I have no idea what triggered the change, but I was very suddenly filled with doubt which led to some sleepless nights and a lot of Google time reading near - death experiences. I consider myself a devout Christian but I'm having a lot of trouble with the possibility of simply ceasing to exist.

My advice is live your life as a Christian since it is what you are already doing.

If there is life after death, your religion "might" matter...it might be irrelevant. If there is not life after death, then all that matters is you lived a good life and were a good person.

I'm on the other end of the spectrum, I don't expect there is anything...so if there is an afterlife of any kind, I will be pleasantly surprised. If I don't qualify for some kind of afterlife VIP room, then I suppose at least I will be with most of my friends.

I would love for there to be something else, but I'm not about to spend this life trying to earn 72 virgins, break the cycle of reincarnation or anything else. I try my best to be a "good person" and that is really all anyone is going to get from me.

[ABNAK]

I'm going to check out this book, up until very recently I was very much convinced there was life after death. I have no idea what triggered the change, but I was very suddenly filled with doubt which led to some sleepless nights and a lot of Google time reading near - death experiences. I consider myself a devout Christian but I'm having a lot of trouble with the possibility of simply ceasing to exist.

Curiosity question: did you just hit your early 40's? Reason I ask is that is when I began to actually ponder this. My brother too. Maybe it's the realization at that age that you've basically lived half your life (?).

[Turnkey11]

Curiosity question: did you just hit your early 40's? Reason I ask is that is when I began to actually ponder this. My brother too. Maybe it's the realization at that age that you've basically lived half your life (?).

Mid 30s, close enough I guess. I have a lot of regrets, wasted a lot of time when I was younger when I know I could've been more productive. I'm kinda lost at this point, seems like I'm racing to retirement when I should be enjoying life.

[williejc]

At age 10 I was diagnosed with viral encephalitis caused by measles. I had a severe convulsion and experienced paralysis, speech loss, and vision difficulties. A funeral home ambulance arrived to take me to a hospital. The embalmer told my mother that I was dead. I was floating above this activity and saw and heard every word uttered. A few days later I could repeat the various conversations and describe in detail what the two embalmers wore. Although I had not met them previously, I saw one of these guys 5 years later and introduced myself.

[Abraham]

I'm waiting for the book to arrive.

Getting it used from Abebooks for $3.73 / no shipping charge.

One of the horrors (at least to me) is the idea of being buried in a box...especially if you retain any kind of consciousness.

When I croak, I'll be cremated.

No need to take up any real estate, pay for a headstone or any sort of service.

Let's face it, in very short span of time, say 10,000 years, (or far less...) the likelihood of being remembered is very very unlikely for a number of reasons. Even if you cured cancer and the heartbreak of psoriasis.

Plus, is being remembered very important anyway?

If, like me, you've lived most of your life, (yep, I'm a geezer) your friends and family won't be far behind you before they too head off for parts unknown...

[chuckman]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/t...s-cpr-29759995

There are many medical reasons this happens. The hypothermia, the child's age, the lack of comorbidities, uninterrupted CPR, the list goes on. That said, there are many reasons this does not happen very often, and some of those gray areas have yet to be explained (well, adequately explained).

I find the who debate fascinating, and as a Christian I certainly have a biased view of what goes on, but having seen people die in various forms since 1990 I am always very thoughtful about death, resuscitation, and what happens to us.

[SteyrAUG]

One of the horrors (at least to me) is the idea of being buried in a box...especially if you retain any kind of consciousness.

When I croak, I'll be cremated.

Ummm, if we retain any kind of consciousness that is bound to the body and could be confined by a coffin, I don't imagine you will enjoy being cremated either.

I'm personally torn. On one hand I want a Viking / Roman funeral where I am set ablaze, and if I have a soul it escapes my body, and my mortal remains are returned to the cosmos. On the other hand I want a Pharoh's send off where everything is as perfectly preserved as possible and I'm set up in a massive tomb with all of my "stuff" and personal regalia for the next life.

But lacking funds I may have to be a bit more practical and simply choose my favorite sword to be at my side for eternity, perhaps a G3 as well with 10 mags. If nothing else it would be fun to confound future archeologists who may discover me.

[Abraham]

SteyrAUG

"Ummm, if we retain any kind of consciousness that is bound to the body and could be confined by a coffin, I don't imagine you will enjoy being cremated either."

I've considered that, but think (maybe) the cremation/fire may extinguish what consciousness might possibly remain, thus releasing you from a kinda/sorta living hell in a non-functioning rotting body.

I'd rather simply not exist than to exist in hideous putrefaction...