If human beings were immortal, would there be a need for an "afterlife?"?
924381
No, there wouldn't be a need and there isn't a need now, IMHO.
340536
i think so.  of course i also don't consider them to be dead.  i consider them to be alive on another level of existence.  i also sometimes think that those communicating with us might not be them, but a higher spiritual entity communicating to us through the image of that loved one because it's someone we'll recognize and pay attention to as opposed to some strange person that we don't recognize at all.  who knows.
974230
Well that's what I already think.\n\nIn coping with death being the end, life became infinitely more precious to me.\n\nWould I seek eternal life on earth... maybe extended, but probably not eternal.
692075
Yeah, always wondered that myself. Just what could one do to warrent ETERNAL suffering? Forever and ever.\n\nEven if such a god existed, who in their right minds would follow him? Those that follow such a god without even evidence that he exists must be especially foolish...
11950
Unfortunately, the human brain has only a fixed number of brain cells even though some experts say that we use only about 10%.  If we lived forever, we would either run out of brain cells or have to recycle them some way; in which case we would become a different "person" that what we started out as.  There is a fable about a woman who wished to live forever; and so she did, growing older and more wrinkled and senile as she went, until she wished that she could die.  A normal life starts at infancy and progresses through childhood, adolescence, young adult, middle age, elder and senior citizen.  Are you sure that you could live forever in the category of your chosing?   Be careful what you wish for.  you may get it!  Good luck.
325903
depends on what you consider a long time.  there are reports of Near Death Experiences of those who had been dead for hours and then were revived automatically, and they did revive by their soul returning to the body.  Now months or years down the road, not likely, but I wouldn't say impossible.
355091
I think that life will continue to be more prolonged and prolonged...but immortality?  I don't think so.   I don't think it can happen, but more importantly, I don't think that it SHOULD  happen.\n\nI think immortality would probably be a curse more then a blessing.  I don't know if I would want to live forever.
588617
I think the answer to that question lies in whatever a certain person believes in. Some people believe in heaven and hell, some people believe in reincarnation and some believe everything ends.\nI think the human soul consists of energy, just like everything else in this universe. When we die this energy is released and can be used for other things, like as a soul in another person. So technically the soul never dies.
18057
The existance of an afterlife is something I am so not qualified to answer, since I have only known this one.  I'd hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but i doubt there is a heaven or hell.  So call me a heathen, whatever, I surely believe in some divine creator... But the reason humans invented such ornate tales is to firstly keep people in line.  People do good and hope for reward.  Secondly, they believe so that the loss of a loved one can be comforted.  I feel that people should find their comforts in other ways.  Death is not a tragety really.  People want something to look forward to.  Thirdly, some might say arrogance; that humans are somehow above all other lifeforms and part of them lives for all eternity.  The forth reason people believe in an afterlife is fear.  Death is one of the most feared things, along with pain and failure.  Why is it feared?  Because no one truly knows what happens.  That's why people might cling to religious descriptions, which are also rather vague and hold few actual details.  So, believe whatever you wish my friend, but there's my two cents.
868372
Im an agnostic, I dont think you can prove an afterlife till you are there.  So yes, I live as if this is it and I think that is a much better way to live.  Life is precious.  It does make me sad that one day I will have to leave my children and one day they will also cease to exist, but that just makes my time with them more special.  \nIf everyone believed this though, you would be unlikely to get suicide bombers, as the selfish idiots do it thinking they will be rewarded, or people who waste their time sitting in church or various other pastimes designed to prep for the end of their life.  I feel sad when I see people waste so much time praying, but some people need to feel they have something to go onto, and if that helps them meet their end without fear, i suppose thats good.
841506
No they don`t. According to Bible only humans have souls. And unfortunately one needs soul to go to heaven. By the way I don`t believe there`s heaven. :D
1035809
I have no experience. Why should we not fulfill our wish before death? This I can assure the story is valid before death. I dont want to tell one to take risk. Who knows.
1061709
The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual and experiential, beyond this world, or after death.  Most religions have theories about the afterlife.
755222
You know that no one can prove, but you want to know. How's that?\nYou don't believe in God and Jesus, how can you believe whether you have an immortal soul or not? If you have one, you will live on after your death, but in which way I cannot tell you.\nA scientific answer does, to my knowledge, not exist.\nSorry I cann't tell you more.
11089
The first question you need to answer is: do you believe in a life beyond death?\n\nIf not, then the purpose of this life is truly something that is limited to this life. Which means, there is no greater purpose behind the scenes, so whatever goals you set for yourself in life, they're it.\n\nIf you believe in something greater beyond death, there are many beliefs around the world. Many people believe in an eternal soul that goes through many different stages of learning, beginning at very basic consciousness, learning as a living being, like here on Earth, then moving on to more complex matters. If this reflects your own way of thinking and believing, then you may consider your current life as a single lesson (or more) in this evolutionary process of your soul.
1113135
immortality isn't sufficient for taking over the world.  if you're immortal and too stupid to come up with a good plan, then you're gonna have a pretty miserable eternity.
915363
It is a strange human need that dates a long way back.  I do not understand why people need an all-powerful, all-knowing being.