[Mina]

I've been meaning to make this thread for a while now. I made it sooner than later though because I've read in quite a few other parts of the forum people talking about how ISFP's are all about colors and animals hahaha. Somebody even said they never knew a place like this existed and they are never coming back haha. I don't mind our topics a bit, because animals have always been my true passion.. but I do also enjoy talking about other topics besides animals, colors, art, and fashion. Death isn't really one of them, but what happens after we die is definitely one of the deeper thoughts I have from time to time.

Once in a great while before I go to sleep I get into this very deep mood that I hardly ever get into. I really focus on death and I think about what happens after we die. It freaks me out!!!! It only freaks me out if I concentrate on it reallllly hard though. The dying part doesn't freak me out as much, because dying is just reality to me. I'm not scared of death. But it is sooooo freaky to concentrate really hard about what happens AFTER death. Do you think we are just energy? Once we die are we gone forever? Do you think our souls really do go to a heaven or hell? Do you think we are reincarnated? It's so crazy to think a lot of us are going to live on earth for 75-85 years (if we are lucky) and then afterwards we could be gone FOREVER!!!!!!!!!! For millions of years!!

I really think reincarnation would be the best out of all the other possibilities. I actually think it would be awesome to come back in a newborn body, even if it's an animal. Sadly, at this point in my life I just don't believe that really happens. I think that after we die we are just gone forever. No heaven, no hell, no reincarnation. I think we are just energy.



So what are your thoughts on this? What do you think happens after we die? What would you like to happen after you die? Do you ever take the time to really concentrate on this? Are you scared of death?

Other personality types feel free to respond as well, especially you Franny hahahaha ;]. I love hearing everyones opinions. :]

[RyRyMini]

I'd like to meet the person who said they're never coming back! That's really funny. Discussing colors and animals is fun - it's better than when I go into some types sections and they're completely full of emotional woes. Of course it's natural to talk about them when they come up, but all the time? Is doing that any fun? But this is a good thread - we can discuss deeper things every once in a while.

I'm not afraid to die either. I don't mind dying as long as I can accomplish certain things I want to do in life first.

I think a lot of people are afraid of death, and that's why ideas like heaven, hell, and reincarnation were cooked up. It feels a lot more secure and safe to work towards concrete goals so that you'll be "saved" or "reincarnated into a higher caste" than it does to just live your life with no regrets because you believe you only have one shot.

It's scary to think about your presence just vanishing from the Earth after death, but that's what I believe happens. I try not to get sad about it because as humans, we've known all along that it was part of the deal.

[Indigo Aria]

I'd like to meet the person who said they're never coming back! That's really funny. Discussing colors and animals is fun - it's better than when I go into some types sections and they're completely full of emotional woes. Of course it's natural to talk about them when they come up, but all the time? Is doing that any fun? But this is a good thread - we can discuss deeper things every once in a while.

It's also better than the ISTP forum where all they talk about is how other types are constantly intruding on them...

but anyways, I simply believe that when you die, thats it, game over. There was an articl posted in the critical thinking section about how we create a universe in our minds and go to that when we die. It made sense when I was reading it, but was a little too...intense?...for me to remember.

I think if I had a choice, I would like to just end. I like to think of it as finally reaching the ultimate simplicity. I know I am not afraid of death, although I imagine it will be an unpleasant experience. I used to think about this a lot, but it rarely crosses my mind anymore.

[Frannyy]

omg ISFPs you guys are my favorites!!! I love it here!!! You guy remind me of all my ISFP real life friends


@ Mina- WOW, I have NO idea what happens after death... so hard to even conceptualize.... For me, I have tried very hard to see the world as just energy and whatnot, but I don't know because it's really hard for me to imagine that there is not a God. I just still can't see how the 'universe' could have just appeared out of nothing.. I don't know. very deep stuff. And as for reincarnation, I don't know about that either because I feel like we wouldn't know we were incarnated, so would it really be incarnation?? There's no way to ever know... and there is no way to ever know if there is heaven, hell, or just energy. So I neither accept nor reject any possibility because we really won't know until we die- we might not even know then if our souls die too....

@RyRy - I want to meet those people too!!!... ISFP forum is my favorite- you guys always put me in a good mood and make me laugh [unlike ISTP forum where I leave feeling stressed out haha]


@ Lucky- I know, right? [about ISTPs]- I think they hate when I comment there LOL but I still do anyways partly to annoy them... my boyfriend is an ISTP (although 10x nicer than the ones here) and I like to see their interests and ideas... and it's funny that you say that about ISTPs because I remember I posted a thread one time and you were the only one who commented back and I actually thought you were an ISFP because you were way nicer than all of them and you reminded me of a lot of my ISFP friends and how they talk! and you are!... I don't think they mean it, like they say, they don't realize they are hurting peoples' feelings, but most of the ISTPs I know IRL are super nice and friendly! so idk... you would think that they would like hearing from other personality types to see how other people see them

[anagrams]

I just checked out the ISTP thread. I think I married one!

Anyway, the thought of dying and just no longer existing has, up to this point, been a pretty comforting thought to me. Not that life is bad, but really I would be dead. If everything about me ceased and I could no longer think or feel or dream, I really wouldn't have an opportunity to be sorry about much of anything. I always figured that death is harder for those left behind. I am more afraid of the act of dying than death itself. If I am not able to go quickly, I hope at least to live my life so that I have few regrets. I need to work on that...

Out of all the theories out there that I have come across, reincarnation is the most appealing to me too. I like the idea of having multiple chances to do it better the next life or even just experience life differently. I admit that I do not know much about reincarnation so I do not know the details of how it works. The idea of energy is much simpler.

The only heaven theory that made sense to me is similar to the Lucky Ones post about going to the universe you create in your mind. Basically, if you believe you are going to heaven, you go. If you believe you are going to hell, that's where you end up. It is ultimately your decision how close or how far away you choose to be from God and if you choose to be far away, well, you miss out on all of the fun. It makes sense to me, but I haven't convinced anyone else it makes sense. lol.

[Brie]

I always figured that death is harder for those left behind.

I think that too, and I worry a lot more about what will happen after the people I'm close to die than what will happen after I die. I'm not afraid of my own death, but I have grown up in a religious family believing that I will go to Heaven. I often think though that there is probably no such thing, and we just cease to exist after we die, like most of you have said. That thought is scary and comforting at the same time.

[firedell]

You die, and then that is it.

[Killashandra]

42.

Honestly... regardless of what faith I have or have not, the lyrics of Muse's Thoughts of a Dying Atheist sums it up pretty nicely to me: "Scares the hell out of me, and the end is all I can see". I don't think that's my personal feeling just yet, mostly because I don't think about death -- not like I did in my miserable teen years -- and haven't really in years. I suppose I mostly don't want to even contemplate it because I still have so much I want to do. I do agree though that, at this point, the end is all I can see and if my crotchety old aunt continues to try and force her views on religion down my throat and imposing her beliefs on my independence and personal freedom of thought I suppose that's all I'll willingly believe -- that the end is it.

I'll probably be a cockroach in my next life if the Dharmic religions are right, such is the idea of Samsara. If I'm lucky I'll move up in the ladder of Samsara but I wouldn't bank on it. :)

[anagrams]

42.

Honestly... regardless of what faith I have or have not, the lyrics of Muse's Thoughts of a Dying Atheist sums it up pretty nicely to me: "Scares the hell out of me, and the end is all I can see". I don't think that's my personal feeling just yet, mostly because I don't think about death -- not like I did in my miserable teen years -- and haven't really in years. I suppose I mostly don't want to even contemplate it because I still have so much I want to do. I do agree though that, at this point, the end is all I can see and if my crotchety old aunt continues to try and force her views on religion down my throat and imposing her beliefs on my independence and personal freedom of thought I suppose that's all I'll willingly believe -- that the end is it.

I'll probably be a cockroach in my next life if the Dharmic religions are right, such is the idea of Samsara. If I'm lucky I'll move up in the ladder of Samsara but I wouldn't bank on it. :)

42

I sometimes wonder if I will chicken out and change my mind (if I get the chance to) once I find out death is imminent. I actually had a piano student that was middle school age, who had athiest parents, bring up this discussion with me. He was incredibly scared that death was the end. I have never had a problem with just ceasing to exist...yet.

(I love Muse)

[Killashandra]

42

I sometimes wonder if I will chicken out and change my mind (if I get the chance to) once I find out death is imminent. I actually had a piano student that was middle school age, who had athiest parents, bring up this discussion with me. He was incredibly scared that death was the end. I have never had a problem with just ceasing to exist...yet.

(I love Muse)

*grins*

My mother was shocked into a strong belief after her mother passed. Before that she didn't say much on the subject, although I'm sure she held a belief. She asked me once if I believed in God and I waffled for an answer to explain to her how I hated people forcing their beliefs on me and how I would come to my conclusions when and if I ever found what I was looking for. I get so very angry when one of my aunts sends me a card with scripture or starts giving me a sermon over the phone. I can't stand that kind of invasion into the personal space of my mind. So I can't say I've given it too much thought and I'm not sure that at this moment I mind too much the idea of ceasing to exist. I'm open to other options, but at my pace, at my discretion, and by my choice.

I think children on the other hand... well. That's a tough thing to think about at such an age. I pity his little heart, and I don't know what I feel otherwise... I think children shouldn't have to deal with such black matters, it's scarring to the psyche.

(And yes, Muse is all kinds of wonderful!)