Verified answer

according to them we fade away into non-existence

ATHEISM. ATHEIST. A LACK OF BELIEF IN GODS.

NOT A lack of belief in souls!

So basically since "I didn't say we are machines, I said we are made up of atoms so are machines, yet machines can be repaired we cannot, so how do you define death?"

So essentially, Christians are made of atoms, so are Atheists, why will one go to heaven and one to hell?

Why aren't you dead yet? Your immunity system fighting to keep you alive doesn't repair you after you get cut or injured? Do you realize that skin is mended, injuries heal? That you are alive, a machine is not? Machines are created out of parts? That we are totally different?

Your body wears out or essential components needed to keep it alive stop functioning. Without death the planet would become overrun. We couldn't pass our genes along and provide the opportunity for adaptation in changing conditions. We would become static. We are working on life extension which involves repairing aging cells and organs as well as slowing the aging process. Once you are dead though the cells and tissues degenerate and basically rot so there is no bringing them back.

Not all atheists lack belief in souls or some sort of afterlife though.

Actually, most atheists have some of the only philosophical perspectives of death that coincide with the actual accepted definitions of death...

Death:

1. The event of dying or departure from life

2. The permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism

3. The absence of life or state of being dead

4. The time when something ends

5. The time at which life ends; continuing until dead

6. A final state

7. The act of killing

Many other religious people think death as just a "phase" and not the end, which is in direct contrast and contradiction with the definition of death.

And to address the rest of what you said in your question:

That is just science-fiction nonsense.

Dont you propose Skeptics? Atheists can beleive in an afterlife too you be conscious of. and the tunnel of white easy is from the brains organic function of what occurs whilst it shuts down and there is likewise a organic hallucinigen in our brains. yet they havent certainly related this to the seeing deceeased kinfolk, purely the sunshine section so far. there have been scientific assessments in this till now. I dont think of it counts untill theyve seen issues they shouldnt be conscious of or have been lifeless for like a million/2 an hour a minimum of. extremely some close to loss of life studies take place with human beings deaf for 2 hours or something sometimes even O_o

Who says there's no way back? Assuming we develop the technology that would be required to repair a body like a machine, and find a way to jump start the brain like a car's engine, there wouldn't really be much stopping us from bringing people back. That is, as long as we preserve the brain of the person with all its knowledge and personality intact.

Because without oxygen the brain, a complex organ, quickly deteriorates beyond repair. We can revive a dead body and keep it going for a long time, but the brain and the connections it contains is a delicate thing.

If the processor in your computer melts, there is no repair man that can fix it. You could replace the processor (i.e. transplant a brain), but in terms of neuroscience, we are not at that stage by a long shot yet.

If we could be "repaired " like machines, we wouldn't die in the first place.

I live my life here on Earth, with no fear of death.

Personally, I believe christians fear death more than atheists.

Maybe they aren't as sure of an afterlife as they should be

Life sucks then you die. What is there to explain?

You do know that if we had sufficiently advanced technology and enough processing power we could raise you if you die? Whether that person would still be you is a philosophical debate.

Edit: Like I said, we're not there yet. But we will.

Death - the heart stops beating, the brain stops working. Simple.

I do not think that a fear of death is a valid reason to believe in the myths of a bronze age tribe from the Middle East.

The American Education System strikes again.

"why other non-living things don't rot like us"

Rotting is 'breaking down'

All things break down. Iron quickly, plastics slowly.

*EDIT* Why do we die?

Here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/apr/29/gene...