@littlek,
Quote:After I die? One big point in the conceptualization of my atheism was that there is no energy gained or lost in a closed system such as the universe (and Earth). At least largely this is true. We are bundles of energy. Life is energy. What happens to that energy when we cease to be alive? It has to go somewhere. Ideally, it goes back into the earth to be dismantled into individual elements (each which carries their own energy) so it can be taken up by living things (yes worms, but also trees, flowers and food crops).
With all due respect LittleK .... I don't think this is correct at all. My objection is with the mixing of science with the metaphysical.
All human energy (i.e. the energy we get from food we use to do things and keep ourselves alive) is turned into heat and stays eternally as unusable heat. Most of this energy eventually leaves the Earth (and remains unused in space).
The energy we are using (and losing to space) is replenished by the Sun. But, this is a temporary thing. In a astronomically short time, the Sun will run out of fuel and the energy will disappear. There is no such thing as an energy cycle. The process is Sun->plant->you->space (or perhaps) Sun->plant->animal->you->space. Any process ends with useless energy in Space.
There is a carbon cycle and a water cycle, this doesn't count to me as life after death. Chemically speaking, this is as metaphysical as you get. Most of the elements that we are made of come from rocks in large enough quantities that sharing with worms isn't that important.
The most miraculous thing is genetics-- our ability to reproduce. Our ability to pass on genes is as close to immortality as we can get. But, since we are on a temporary planet depending on a Sun with a limited amount of fuel, even this doesn't count as anything close to eternal life.
