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**bumxumer** · 06-30-2012, 01:21 AM

In my view our minds are basically an electrical machine. This means there is energy. Energy is not created nor destroyed. It does change forms but still exists.
Now what's to say that our energy doesn't take on another form?
Also, what's to say that there isn't a "force" (for lack of a better term) that somehow guides our energy into it's next form, based on the actions of this form?
Be that Karma, God, a Deity...............Depends on your belief.
Even at the point that there may not be a "force" to do this, where does this energy, which is what supported the brain go after the flesh has worn out?

I'm not sure if you understand what you're insinuating here.

You cite the first law of thermodynamics and then go on to suggest that energy can take on another form (presumably through "reincarnation") but you do not explain the mechanism for this.

Actually, upon death the body's energy is not necessarily transferred to some other body. Most energy in the human body is stored in the form of chemical bonds, which break down at death in the absence of glucose and oxygen. Due to a lack of ATP, the cell's energy currency, energy is no longer actively produced or consumed, and maintenance of the body and its organs is no longer possible. The breaking of chemical bonds results in the release of energy back into the organic world. Any energy lost by a system must be gained by the surroundings. There is nothing spiritual about this. It is a physical process.

The body's change in internal energy can be represented as follows:

ΔU = q + w

Where ΔU is change in internal energy (of the body), q is equal to the heat added to/removed from the system (the body), and w equals work done on or by the system (the body).

Some energy remains in the body at death, which is why it is possible to burn a corpse, as the deceased form will convert its chemical potential into thermal energy. Energy is emitted as heat as the body decomposes.

Furthermore, the brain's energy is electrochemical in nature. When an individual dies, the energy in neurons, produced with the assistance of ions that help create an electrical potential at the cellular level, diffuses. That energy may be consumed by detritivores or recycled as heat.

There is no place for God in all this.

The Buddha did not teach that energy persists from one body to another, like a transmigrating soul. Even if it did, nothing like a God exists to guide the process.

Samyutta Nikaya III 144

"Bhikkhus [monks, the Buddha said, holding a fleck of dung on his fingernail], if even if that much of permanent, everlasting, eternal individual selfhood/metaphysical being (attabhava), not inseparable from the idea of change, could be found, then this living the holy life could not be taught by me."

http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Atheism

06-30-2012, 01:21 AM	#25
bumxumer Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 510 Senior Member	In my view our minds are basically an electrical machine. This means there is energy. Energy is not created nor destroyed. It does change forms but still exists. Now what's to say that our energy doesn't take on another form? Also, what's to say that there isn't a "force" (for lack of a better term) that somehow guides our energy into it's next form, based on the actions of this form? Be that Karma, God, a Deity...............Depends on your belief. Even at the point that there may not be a "force" to do this, where does this energy, which is what supported the brain go after the flesh has worn out? I'm not sure if you understand what you're insinuating here. You cite the first law of thermodynamics and then go on to suggest that energy can take on another form (presumably through "reincarnation") but you do not explain the mechanism for this. Actually, upon death the body's energy is not necessarily transferred to some other body. Most energy in the human body is stored in the form of chemical bonds, which break down at death in the absence of glucose and oxygen. Due to a lack of ATP, the cell's energy currency, energy is no longer actively produced or consumed, and maintenance of the body and its organs is no longer possible. The breaking of chemical bonds results in the release of energy back into the organic world. Any energy lost by a system must be gained by the surroundings. There is nothing spiritual about this. It is a physical process. The body's change in internal energy can be represented as follows: ΔU = q + w Where ΔU is change in internal energy (of the body), q is equal to the heat added to/removed from the system (the body), and w equals work done on or by the system (the body). Some energy remains in the body at death, which is why it is possible to burn a corpse, as the deceased form will convert its chemical potential into thermal energy. Energy is emitted as heat as the body decomposes. Furthermore, the brain's energy is electrochemical in nature. When an individual dies, the energy in neurons, produced with the assistance of ions that help create an electrical potential at the cellular level, diffuses. That energy may be consumed by detritivores or recycled as heat. There is no place for God in all this. The Buddha did not teach that energy persists from one body to another, like a transmigrating soul. Even if it did, nothing like a God exists to guide the process. Samyutta Nikaya III 144 "Bhikkhus [monks, the Buddha said, holding a fleck of dung on his fingernail], if even if that much of permanent, everlasting, eternal individual selfhood/metaphysical being (attabhava), not inseparable from the idea of change, could be found, then this living the holy life could not be taught by me." http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Atheism
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