a theory on "the afterlife"

[bc]

my friends originaly concocted this under the influence of a cornucopia of drugs...however, when discussed sober, it made all the more sense.
A believe an existing theory on brain function is this: Most of the time, average people use 10% of their actual brain capacity. Granted, certain regions of the brain are used for different things, other than innate intelligence, perception, etc. etc.
I think (hypothesis begins here), that the relationship between the actual amount of brain being used at a given time, and the abilities of the brain at that level are exponential...the brains' abilities increase at an ever greater rate.
People often report seeing their lives flash before their eyes the moment before they think they are going to die. A nearly infinite number of experiences and memories fully relived in literally the blink of an eye. How is it possible for the brain to do this?
Additionally, when the brain is operating under REM sleep, they say dreams last approx. 7 seconds...yet in a dream a whole day, or multiple days may pass. This is because without distraction, your brain is running at a maximum speed (on that 10%).
Perhaps what happens, in that moment before death, is that something is triggered (chemically?) which allows the brain to somehow function on a higher level, using the full capacity of you brain. Were this true, the amount of things which your brain could actually do in that final moment is nearly infinite.
So, our theory is this: That final moment, before you die, your brain actually starts working 100%, becoming incalculably faster than it has ever run before. In this final moment as your life flashes before your eyes, perhaps your brain anticipates the landing so to speak, and projects into the future, taking your perception of the afterlife and extrapolating every possible experience, much like a dream. So in that final moment, your brain projects your afterlife for you, from whatever ideas ahbout the afterlife you've formed by living, and because of the expanded abilities of your brain, it can live all those experiences as a dream in that instant?
Any ideas????
bC

 

[richierich]

I almost drowned once and yeah, much of my life did get reviewed in what must of been like seconds, but seemed infinite. I was ver exhausted, and felt so heavy... It seemed that I was above myself and remembering things that happend in my life. Looking back at those moments I did think that perhaps under those conditions my brain was in hyperdrive or something. I'm not sure if it was 100% instead of 10% - the nueron connections are some immensely huge number, but I certainly beleive that the altered level of awareness that we all experience is because we perhaps are using more of our brain or parts of the brain are interacting in new ways.
Very intersting - thanks for the thread! Hope this was what you were seeking in a response!
PEACE
richierich

 

[bc]

yes, something along those lines.
it really fries my brain to think about (especially when i'm so baked) but it's a suitable rationalization for someone like myself, unsure of what to believe in, it serves as a sort of scientific explanation for what is generally a more religious idea, making a somewhat amiable solution to the science i've been brought up with, and the clashing ideas of the western religious world.

bc

 

[satori18]

i did enjoy reading your post...but i have no response directly to it...yet.
but having a scientist mother, my mind/soul is at ease about the afterlife.
i do not care, religious/spiritual or not, no one can deny the law of thermodynamics..
your body holds a constant temperature of around 98 degrees, sometimes more, sometimes less.
you die.
your BODY(key word) is cold.
the energy, (your soul...that is arguable)in the form of body heat, has to go somewhere.
if you would like to ensure feeling uneasy about death forever, okay, then think that the heat energy just dissipates...but how can you deny the cyclical nature of the earth...that you CAN see/touch/taste/feel. you can't.
heat energy, leaves ur body after death, joins whatever the hell u want it to...
your body(not for most americans who participate in the disgusting burial caramonies of the christian-west, heavy brass caskets)SHOULD decompose into the ground. you are part of the earth. somewhere, there is a tree, growing, sprouting, what have you....you are in essense, part of the tree...the tree gives off oxygen, you are inhaled , helping another being sustain life...
people can be as pessimistic as possible about death, worrying about heaven, and hell, and judgement. the only thing i worry about, is making dure that i live my life as the kind of person who will eventually grow into hmmmm, maybe a willow tree, instead of a pricker bush...teehee
whew...i gotta sit down. i'm not even stoned.........

 

[Fuzzzone]

Actually man in most parts of the country the law dictates what you can and can't be buried in. They require caskets with liners to reduce the possibility of ground water contamination from decomposition and the spread of human-specific virii and bacteria. I don't think its at all necessary, but that's the law. So let's not run around blaming it on someone's religious practices (Christianity doesn't even give any kind of stricture as to what you can and can't be buried in).
Fuzzy

 

[Dtergent]

ya i really think you control what's to happen to your "spirit" after you die.
for instance, reincarnation occurs mostly in places where their religion supports it. i read a book on reincarnation, and it happens so often in hindu countries, like india. and believe me, these cases were real and kinda scary even.
mad luv
D

 

[satori18]

i do apologize then....my ignorance...
i do know that a kosher casket has to be unfinished pine....to foster returining to the earth as quickly as possible
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satori shalom

 

[St@rsk3y]

Bare with me people,
bc you were talkin about your brain actually being able to do anything in that split second, well I think you're absolutely right, how much of our brain r we using? Scientists say something like 13% and the rest no one fuckin knows. I think there will be a day when we finally unlock the rest of our mind... the saying goes, "you can acomplish anything if you only put your mind to it", well i'm just waiting for that day 'cos fuckin' hell!
(whoa, went a bit deep there... watching 2 much Phenomenon... good film though, kinda what i'm talkin about)
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keep it tidy, keep on smiling

[This message has been edited by St@rsk3y (edited 21 May 2000).]
[This message has been edited by St@rsk3y (edited 21 May 2000).]