So here's my theory

[Alex K]

phenomenon

[surreptitious57]

Now the only thing one could argue is eternal is energy because it cannot be created or destroyed. However the First Law Of Thermodynamics applies to phenomena occurring within the Universe rather than to the Universe itself. But life forms are not eternal however. And so all living things die at some point in time because physical existence cannot logically be infinite and also because none has ever been observed to live forever and would actually be physically impossible given the time frame that would be required to determine it. The biggest taboo in society is death but there is no logical reason as to why this should be so. For when one dies they are free from all suffering both mental and physical for the rest of eternity. One is going to be in a state of non existence and / or non consciousness for infinitely longer than the current state of existence  / consciousness and so accepting that is something one should be able to come to terms with while alive. Because apart from anything else it is a wonderful coping mechanism. I made my peace with death last year and as a consequence have zero fear of it. It can literally come for me whenever it wants because I know I will be  going to a place of peace. Because death is an eternally peaceful state of being [or non being if one is being pedantic ] I see life and death as two sides of the same coin not as entirely separate entities unconnected to each other. One still carries on existing in some physical form after death. One is after all made of matter. And matter has mass. And mass and energy are but two sides of the same coin as referenced by Einsteins famous equation. So while one may no longer experience consciousness after one dies one still carries on existing in some physical form. But even if one did not then there would still be no sound reason to be afraid of death. For why be afraid of something you are never actually going to experience ? It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It is as irrational as any thing can possible be

A MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE :  IT DOES NOT WORK UNLESS IT IS OPEN

[Pyrrho]

phenomenon

I would just reply with:



But in this instance, consciousness is, in my opinion, not a phenomenon, but is phenomena.  Do you seriously believe that consciousness is really just one occurrence of something?

[abaris]

What is OP smoking. I don't want any of it.

[Javaman]

I think the OP is a POE-seur.

Not quite a Poe, but obviously not the atheist he claims.

Amirite?

[Jenny A]

So I believe that once you are conscious you are conscious forever. Wherever you go/whatever form you take after you die doesn't matter.

Why?  No one ever communicates after death.  All brain activity appears to cease.

So there would be people who would be ready to die and sleep forever(since you can't disappear from existence sleeping forever is the only option.)

So bodies of matter take care of this because you could forget who you are and be in a dreamlike state, living and dying in a cycle which keeps you from feeling the true effects of eternity.

Which means that at least one person would have to oversee the process, someone who those are asleep may refer to as "God".

At times there would only be one person willing to be awake and watch over others, and at other times there would be multiple people who are willing to be awake, which is who would be referred to as "Gods". In an infinite universe it would go back and forth from one person who is ok with being awake to billions who are ok with being awake.

Because why?  Seriously.

So what do you think? And who would be willing to stay awake with me and cause shenanigans for billions of years while others sleep?

I like being alive bunches.  But I'm really sure I don't want to be conscience for billions of years.

EDIT: Fine it's not a theory it's something I made up, but none the less makes you think about what if we all live forever and ever

Indeed it does.  *shivers at the prospect*

BTW:  You might consider starting an introduction thread.

[Alex K]

Vell vell,

these phenomena, then.

[Pyrrho]

Vell vell,

these phenomena, then.

Okay, now we are ready for just:

[robvalue]

To test these kinds of claims, I hit the streets. Then a few hours later, with bloody fists full of gravel, I go talk to people on the street.

Out of 1,000 people I randomly hassled, all of them were conscious. So that's 100% consciousness all the time for everyone ever. I asked them if they were made up of atoms from other previous dead people. No one confirmed this (or would continue to talk to me at this point) but they didn't deny it either.

More testing. As usual, I head to the graveyard next to dig up some dead people.