Step Brothers' Philosophy

[udunson]

I was talking with my Step Brother today about the normal stuff we talk about, religion, government, politics, technology, gaming, etc. What he brought up, was the possibility of well... and "afterlife"

Not how most people would picture an afterlife, but here is the scenario.


You are a Christian, have been, always will be, til the day you die.

Well, one day, your god didn't save you, and at the young age of 50, you die from a heart attack.

While as your heart may be beat, your brain, is still very much viable.

Your brain can process, and experience at a much faster pace when you're asleep, or hallucinating.

For instance, if you take DMT, you will trip out for what feels like hours, but in reality was just 15 minutes.

Another example would be a dream, when you dream, you're only in REM sleep for a limited time, yet on some nights it may feel like you have multiple dreams, for multiple hours. If you are a skilled Lucid Dreamer, you can even control yourself in that dream, yet time, or more so, your perception of time, is skewed, if even in existence at all.


So, theoretically, if you were to die, with your brain still in tact, wouldn't you technically have an "afterlife"

For what is only maybe a few minutes, of your brain still functioning after your body has perished, could it not feel like a lifetime?

So if you were christian, and thought you were going to heaven, couldn't you die, and your brain hallucinate persay as to you being in heaven?


I just thought his idea on such matter was cool, I'm not saying I agree with his ideas, but I think its plausible.

[Captain Colostomy]

What difference would it make? Sounds like the continued delusions of the departed. It wouldn't change the reality of it one whit.

[bennyboy]

REM sleep comes in cycles, several times per night. So it's perfectly possible to have (and recollect) several separate episodes. Also: Lucid Dreams are super-awesome. Nobody has fully lived who hasn't had control of their own dreams. Fun!

As for death-- while a heart stopping signals imminent death, I think when you've had your last experience would be the right time to officially call it game over. So if your brain is still cranking along, I don't think you're dead-- you are dying.

As for time: I've also considered that as the sense of time breaks down, the subjective experience you have could seem like an eternity. Perhaps it is your state of mind as you are dying that determines whether that seemingly eternal moment is pleasant or unpleasant. Or. . . you might just fall asleep and never wake up (what with being dead and all).

[Walking Void]

REM sleep comes in cycles, several times per night. So it's perfectly possible to have (and recollect) several separate episodes. Also: Lucid Dreams are super-awesome. Nobody has fully lived who hasn't had control of their own dreams. Fun!

Fuck You Benny, I have amnesia! *runs away crying*

(amnesia is significant because You only "have" dreams if You remember them in the first place. You dream every night, but You can only remember a certain number of dreams. Waking up in the middle of the night usually allows You to remember what You were dreaming before You wake up in the morning)

[pineapplebunnybounce]

You should watch the BBC show Life on Mars.

It's about this dude who's in a coma but living a life that's extremely real in his own head.

[bennyboy]

REM sleep comes in cycles, several times per night. So it's perfectly possible to have (and recollect) several separate episodes. Also: Lucid Dreams are super-awesome. Nobody has fully lived who hasn't had control of their own dreams. Fun!

Fuck You Benny, I have amnesia! *runs away crying*

(amnesia is significant because You only "have" dreams if You remember them in the first place. You dream every night, but You can only remember a certain number of dreams. Waking up in the middle of the night usually allows You to remember what You were dreaming before You wake up in the morning)

Lucid dreaming is a learned skill. Basically, keep a journal and do a few psychological "tricks" while you're awake to train yourself to recognize when you're dreaming. It's all over the internet, and I think you will remember dreams within a couple days, and have a lucid dream in less than a month if you're willing to work a little.

I've had a few lucid dreams in my life, and all I can say is holy freaking crap! Anyone who thinks dreams are vague, abstract impressions lacking detail or meaning doesn't know what they are talking about. In that state, if anything, experiences feel richer and more detailed than they do in waking life. It's very different than the "random memory dump" of normal dreams.

But the best part of lucidity is the freedom to choose your dream content. I sometimes foolishly chose to hear music (really heard music made in my head) instead of the more obvious choice: sex with the entire women's beach volleyball league in my oceanside mansion.

[Walking Void]

Lucid dreaming is a learned skill. Basically, keep a journal and do a few psychological "tricks" while you're awake to train yourself to recognize when you're dreaming. It's all over the internet, and I think you will remember dreams within a couple days, and have a lucid dream in less than a month if you're willing to work a little.

Coincidentally, I recently purchased a memo pad because my memory is so shitty. Now I try to record what happens whenever I can.

Edit: Woops, quoted myself. No one even said what I said, so it would be hilarious to ask, "who the fuck said THAT?"!

[Doubting Thomas]

Actual death is when your brain ceases functioning, so those two or so brief seconds between your heart ceasing to beat and brain death isn't an afterlife, but the final few moments of a life. But once the brain dies, then there is no more activity in it. Game over.

[ManMachine]

I was talking with my Step Brother today about the normal stuff we talk about, religion, government, politics, technology, gaming, etc. What he brought up, was the possibility of well... and "afterlife"

Not how most people would picture an afterlife, but here is the scenario.


You are a Christian, have been, always will be, til the day you die.

Well, one day, your god didn't save you, and at the young age of 50, you die from a heart attack.

While as your heart may be beat, your brain, is still very much viable.

Your brain can process, and experience at a much faster pace when you're asleep, or hallucinating.

For instance, if you take DMT, you will trip out for what feels like hours, but in reality was just 15 minutes.

Another example would be a dream, when you dream, you're only in REM sleep for a limited time, yet on some nights it may feel like you have multiple dreams, for multiple hours. If you are a skilled Lucid Dreamer, you can even control yourself in that dream, yet time, or more so, your perception of time, is skewed, if even in existence at all.


So, theoretically, if you were to die, with your brain still in tact, wouldn't you technically have an "afterlife"

For what is only maybe a few minutes, of your brain still functioning after your body has perished, could it not feel like a lifetime?

So if you were christian, and thought you were going to heaven, couldn't you die, and your brain hallucinate persay as to you being in heaven?


I just thought his idea on such matter was cool, I'm not saying I agree with his ideas, but I think its plausible.

Generally speaking, death is measured by brain activity not heartbeat (bloodflow).

MM