Religion

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Sun Oct 2, 2016, 09:20 AM Oct 2016

"Proof" (?) of an afterlife [View all]

I was raised as a Methodist and converted to Buddhism 20 years ago.
I've read numerous books on 'near death experiences', reincarnation, etc.
At 70 years old, and in poor health, I am still seeking evidence of an existence beyond this one.

I know we believe on 'faith', but what is the best 'evidence' of an afterlife?
Thanks

98 replies

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"Proof" (?) of an afterlife [View all] left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 OP

It's purely a matter of faith grubbs Oct 2016 #1

None, as far as I've ever seen. nt SusanCalvin Oct 2016 #2

There is no material evidence. We are left with Thomas. rug Oct 2016 #3

Doubting Thomas? beveeheart Oct 2016 #6

One and the same. rug Oct 2016 #8

The only thing that lives on is the good you do for others Moostache Oct 2016 #4

Plato and Sirach affirmed that. Brettongarcia Oct 2016 #23

There is much we don't know. pipoman Oct 2016 #5

We are here now. In what may be an infinite universe of infinite possibilities, Doodley Oct 2016 #7

That's essentially what I'm going to write. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #10

Thanks for the reply. I agree that is possible, but if it is inevitable we will return, is it also Doodley Oct 2016 #14

I've wondered about that. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #22

I agree that the chances of our existence seems to be so tiny that it appears Doodley Oct 2016 #53

And the chances of getting the correct number on all 100 roles of dice would be far greater cpwm17 Oct 2016 #57

You keep trying to put the burden of proof on others for disproving your reincarnation theory Major Nikon Oct 2016 #91

Throughout history cpwm17 Oct 2016 #92

I'm not sure how this helps your argument Major Nikon Oct 2016 #95

Ain't any. Iggo Oct 2016 #9

Zero evidence of afterlife. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2016 #11

Also looking up to see the white operating table lights Brettongarcia Oct 2016 #86

Much as I'd like to live on forever after I die, writing a book just seems like too much work. stone space Oct 2016 #12

All reward and punishment in the afterlife is conveniently unverifyable Major Nikon Oct 2016 #13

It is only unverifiable if we cannot confirm that we are not already in an afterlife. Doodley Oct 2016 #15

Even then it's still unverifiable because you can't confirm the after-afterlife Major Nikon Oct 2016 #16

No you can't, but can you confirm that our existence now is life or the afterlife? Doodley Oct 2016 #34

Yes Major Nikon Oct 2016 #37

Please point me to the evidence. Doodley Oct 2016 #44

Cogito ergo sum Major Nikon Oct 2016 #45

You made a claim that a particular conscious-self can't ever reapear. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #46

No, I did not Major Nikon Oct 2016 #47

I won't bet my life on in particular reality cpwm17 Oct 2016 #48

Your reasoning process appears to rely heavily on the nonsequitur. Major Nikon Oct 2016 #49

The question still remains unanswered. Doodley Oct 2016 #54

I already have Major Nikon Oct 2016 #56

I use a similar argument against the requirement to prove the negative cpwm17 Oct 2016 #58

Your assumption is just as far fetched Major Nikon Oct 2016 #59

You haven't made any logical arguments against the possibility of conscious minds returning. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #61

I feel no obligation to disprove something that was never proven to begin with. YMMV. Major Nikon Oct 2016 #63

I guess my multiple lines of reasoning will all remain unchallenged. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #64

Honestly I didn't think it was even worthy of as much effort Major Nikon Oct 2016 #65

Science works because there are repeatable patterns in nature. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #66

As far as I can tell you are simply replacing "soul" with "conscious-self" Major Nikon Oct 2016 #67

Conscious self is just another name for conscious mind. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #68

And yet you proceed to compare it to other processes in nature as if it were a thing Major Nikon Oct 2016 #69

To me, the belief that a particular self can't return is cpwm17 Oct 2016 #70

Belief in the supernatural requires the suspension of reason Major Nikon Oct 2016 #71

I don't believe in the supernatural at all. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #73

And yet you are claiming your "conscious-self" not only can but has transcended your physical being Major Nikon Oct 2016 #74

I have no evidence that my conscious-self is attach to any particular atoms in my body cpwm17 Oct 2016 #75

You acknowledge "conscious-self" isn't a thing, yet base your premise on its transposition Major Nikon Oct 2016 #78

I addressed the teapot above. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #80

You are getting harder to understand with each post Major Nikon Oct 2016 #83

Is there a distinct you that is separate from somebody else? cpwm17 Oct 2016 #88

There's lots of things which differentiate me from everyone else Major Nikon Oct 2016 #90

Russell's Teapot doesn't apply here and doesn't help your position at all. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #93

I'm not claiming any position is the "default", which is where you are confused Major Nikon Oct 2016 #94

What is consciousness? We can build computers but know very little about the human Doodley Oct 2016 #85

Yes, we know so little about consciousness. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #89

Music isn't a "thing." It is neither only soundwaves or perception. Can it be transposed? Yes. Doodley Oct 2016 #84

Music IS a thing, and isn't a state of being Major Nikon Oct 2016 #87

Are you saying consciousness is not much different from being dead? Doodley Oct 2016 #96

No, and such nonsense is too ridiculous to be entertained Major Nikon Oct 2016 #97

You are the one who made the claim. I am just asking you can back-up your claim. Doodley Oct 2016 #60

My "claim" was that any mention of an afterlife is conveniently unverifiable Major Nikon Oct 2016 #62

I'm not demanding anything. I'm pointing out that we don't have a clue if Doodley Oct 2016 #50

If you really intended to be rhetorical about it... Major Nikon Oct 2016 #51

You're citing Descartes first step in the proof of God - for what reason? rug Oct 2016 #72

What are the properties of the afterlife? trotsky Oct 2016 #21

You wouldn't anymore than you'd recognize you are alive. Similarly, there is a theory that Doodley Oct 2016 #35

Completely unfalsifiable theories are fun to think about, trotsky Oct 2016 #36

Those that tend to dwell on such things... Major Nikon Oct 2016 #38

Yeah, well... trotsky Oct 2016 #39

The same with there being other universes. cpwm17 Oct 2016 #43

Afterlife Electron1 Oct 2016 #17

'Proof of Heaven' Author Has Now Been Thoroughly Debunked left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 #19

There is no evidence available except witness-accounts. DetlefK Oct 2016 #18

Witness accounts aren't evidence. Act_of_Reparation Oct 2016 #20

Your energy will live on ............ read The Shack Angry Dragon Oct 2016 #24

"read The Shack" left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 #25

Millions of people believe in an afterlife based on a fictional novel. trotsky Oct 2016 #33

my proof is in the first part............. I just suggested The Shack for your enjoyment Angry Dragon Oct 2016 #40

I believe there is... Mike Nelson Oct 2016 #26

Except reality. cleanhippie Oct 2016 #29

There is no proof because no one has ever made the return trip Warpy Oct 2016 #27

Well as a Buddhist Loki Liesmith Oct 2016 #28

no left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 #31

How does that square with the doctrines of Loki Liesmith Oct 2016 #32

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it transforms from one form to another. still_one Oct 2016 #30

And? Goblinmonger Oct 2016 #41

Whatever the OP wants it to be. I will not project anything else still_one Oct 2016 #42

I really enjoyed Michael Newton's 2 books on this topic. Chemisse Oct 2016 #52

You haved lived and you will live again. Let it be so. The Wielding Truth Oct 2016 #55

Look into whathehell Oct 2016 #76

I am doubting NDEs (near death experiences) more and more Paula Sims Oct 2016 #77

Here is a web site you may want to visit awake Oct 2016 #79

You get a turn at life, when its over, someone else gets a shot Uben Oct 2016 #81

"Thousands of years and no proof of an afterlife" left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 #82

If you accept the premise of a Near Death Experience... brooklynite Oct 2016 #98