I think it was Dawkins who pointed out that we are the bodies which
dna uses, to pass itself on from one generation to the next.

So you'll live on Foxy, in the body of your kids. etc.

Your purpose has been to have them and rear them, along with
anything else that you want to make your life's purpose.

Get well soon and enjoy every day.

We leave much of ourselves behind in our children or in memories, the impact we may have had on another's life.

There are certainly things we cannot explain and that we don't yet know. Maybe we never will.

Foxy you asked What's the point? It's a valid and good question. I wonder if there has to be a point. Maybe it is what we do with our lives that is the point of our existence - what we contribute or add to the life of those around us.

It doesn't feel like it is enough. Personally I hope that there is something else after death. It would seem to make sense of this energy that gives us our soul, whether it be reincarnation or another 'worldly' place. There are documented cases where people believe strongly and find 'evidence' of past life through their intricate knowledge of an event, place or person.

Anything at all is possible.

During one time in my life I actually prayed (yes it was desperation) - one of those 'God I don't know if you are there..." type openings.

Oddly enough change did occur soon after but the change was already in motion prior to the prayer so I never really knew if the prayer just provided a positive state, or if something actually happened due purely to prayer. As an atheist I tend to think it was coincidence. Others might explain it in terms of noetic powers (such as was described in Dan Brown's latest book). I also thought why would a 'God' help me - an Atheist.

Humans have always placed a high value on spirituality whether it be of the more earthly kind - Shinto, Bhuddism, Taoism, pagan or more single deity centred like Christianity, Islam, or Hindu.

It is natural to think about death when you are facing a medical crisis. We are all different and yet the same in many ways, that is what makes us human.

I had a pulse rate of 32 and blood pressure of 60, After they give me a pill i was allergic to. Just as well i was in emergency.
I felt parallized, but there was nothing wrong with my hearing. All the male nurse was interested in was saying. Isn't he a shocking colour.
It took a shot of adrenalin to bring me back.
The result of that excursion was a stent implant, two days later.

I am simply overwhelmed.

Thanks EVERYONE for your kind words, your
advice, and your very moving responses
to my questions - which have given me
quite a lot to think about. I apologise
that I'm not addressing each of you individually,
but the 350 word limit restricts what I would
say to each and everyone. All I can say is I
appreciate all of your posts - and they have
helped me a great deal. If I only could - I
would hug all of you. But, I'm doing it in my
mind - and in my heart.

I should explain that I was raised as a
Catholic (my father was raised by Jesuits).
And even though I'm probably not a very good
Catholic - the old roots still have their
influence in that I find comfort in certain
Church rituals. I'm not sure what that says
about me. Perhaps that's why an "after-life"
is important to me.

I believe in a life that
lingers after this - but I'm not sure in what
form - and I've got to confess
that I don't fear hell because I can't fathom it,
and I don't seek heaven because it offers no image
that I can grasp. So it's all a bit of a conundrum.
Deep down, I wouldn't be too upset - if this life
was all we have. I've been very lucky this far
with what I've been dealt. And if my time was to come
up - my wish would be not to survive a stroke - and
live in a vegetative state or be a burden on my family.

There are many things that exist that we can't explain -
there have been occurrences in my family's life that
offered no logical explanation - so who knows what's
ahead for any of us?

If I'm babbling here bear with me - but the tablets I'm
on are having a large effect - especially something
called "Amiodarone," the side effects are awful.

Maybe the thread did not take the direction you thought it would.
But Foxy you are the person responsible for that, our first reaction is concern for you.
That other thread a long time ago took different directions.
We yes me too, told of things we could not explain, some jumped on me using those posts as evidence I must believe in God.
I spoke of my fathers death, a shock, unexpected and instant.
How I still believe I felt his personality travel with me on the long drive to tell his other sons.
Or dreaming my best mate and cousin hugged me and laughed on the night he died.
A 90 year old in this village still tells a tale about his brother killed in ww11 standing at the kitchen table on his death day as clearly as he told others on that day.
Cynics will say I have lost it, maybe I have, I do not think so.

Dear Belly,

Thank You for your continued support,
and concern. You've certainly not lost
it. You never could my dear friend.

Our family has had several unexplainable
experiences in the past. I wish I could remember
that thread you mentioned earlier.

I can't remember
if I ever mentioned it on OLO - but our
previous home was haunted - it wasn't a
threatening presence - and we were never
frightened - but it scared one of our
babysitters who ended up calling his father
to come and replace him until we got home.

The young bloke kept seeing this shadow appear
and disappear at the end of our hallway - and he
finally called his dad.

There's other people who've had things happen
that can't be explained logically. What about
Psychics, clairvoyants, and cases of people
who claim they've lived a previous life and
can describe it in great detail?

I believe there's an afterlife -simply because I
can't find a reason not to.

But I'm interested to continue to hear other's views.

By the way, I've asked for the Richard Dawkins book,
"The God Delusion," as an Easter pressie - instead
of chocolate from the family (they did ask what I wanted),
just to balance things out a bit. I might just get it
as my husband was impressed by what he saw of Dawkins on
TV. I'm curious what he has to say about things.