The
Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch -- creative commons.
What Is It Like to Die?
What's it like to die? If you are religious, you probably already know – or at least think you know.
If you are a Christian, Jew or Muslim you expect to go to heaven or hell. Your expected destination depends more on your self-righteousness than actual behaviour.
If you are a Buddhist you expect to be reincarnated up or down the hierarchy of living things until you finally achieve Nirvana.
But, as an atheist, I basically expect to be switched off when the internal organs no longer work properly, whether through illness, i njury or old age. And when I die, I guess I die. I don't expect to be in a position to honestly say, “Oh shit. I died a moment ago.”
But, what happens to me when I breathe my last breath? Will it be like falling asleep with the proviso that I will not wake up? Or will time slow down until it comes to a stop and my last thought will be my eternity? If the latter, I reckon I should try and think something positive. Most likely, if I know I am dying, I will focus on how much I love my sons and Ira, my partner. And, if I can die in the eternity of that love it will be better than heaven and nirvana combined.
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