What Atheists Believe Happens When Life Ends

Atheists do not believe in God, gods, or any form of a religious afterlife. Instead, atheists often believe that this life is the only one you get. They deny what religious scripture, such as the Christian Bible or the Islamic Qur’an, says.

Many atheists believe that death results in eternal oblivion, also called nothingness. This eternal oblivion ends consciousness. This also means memories and one’s identity also cease to exist.

Specifically, this idea of nothingness also means a return to nothingness. People will once again return to the same experience that they had before they were born.

As many atheists believe that their death will result in eternal oblivion or nothingness, some feel death is a calm and peaceful experience. This is because eternal oblivion will result in the complete end of one’s consciousness — and one’s pain.

Regardless of what each atheist believes happens at the end of their life, there is one thing they all believe: death will be the end of all their worries. Day-to-day human life is full of anxiety and concerns, even for the happiest of individuals.

Scientists say that energy cannot be created — or destroyed. Therefore, when one dies, a body’s energy must go somewhere else. Scientists say this energy is redistributed into other forms upon one’s death.

For atheists who believe that their death begins a new transformation from matter into energy, some believe that there may be some level of consciousness to this change.

However, not all atheists think that their consciousness will remain. Some believe that our body’s energy is transformed from matter into some other energy wavelength — but that our consciousness ceases to exist.

Those who believe that their energy will transform into something else entirely upon death sometimes think that their energy could create something new. Though their consciousness will cease to exist, their life energy could become something else.

Some people believe that their energy will rejoin the universe in some way once they die, similarly to others who believe in one’s transformation of energy. However, these atheists specifically believe that their energy will become small atoms once again.

While some atheists focus on a return to the cosmic universe, others focus on death meaning their body will return to nature on Earth. According to these particular atheists, their bodies decompose when they are buried in the ground.

There are some who don’t really think much about the afterlife, or what will happen when they die. They simply accept death as a fact of life. That’s it.

Death is inevitable. Therefore, atheists view dying not as a religious experience of something new, but more as a natural end of a life. The cycle of life always includes both birth and death.

Those who do think about what will happen when they die often realize that they can leave behind some positivity in their death. This can lead some atheists to decide to donate their organs when they die.

As many atheists believe death brings about eternal oblivion, they know that they won’t consciously have any sort of an afterlife. However, they do encourage the idea of staying alive through people’s memories.

For atheists who don’t believe in life after death, much of their everyday life can become more meaningful to them. Many find joy in knowing their loved ones will remember them in memory once they’re gone.

Other atheists focus less on what actually happens when they die and more on how they will live on once they’re dead. To them, they will soon face eternal nothingness — so, they want to make their lives on Earth really count.

Some atheists find absolute joy in the knowledge that their memory will live on through the lasting impact they made when they were alive.

Others may choose a more creative way to be remembered in death. Artists who are atheists may find joy in knowing that their art will exist in the world long after they have passed away.

To many who don’t believe in God, this one life is all they have. Their life is a natural cycle of birth and death. So, they choose to worry less about death and the afterlife — and more about the life they have. 

Many atheists may disagree on what, exactly, happens when their life comes to an end. However, many of them do try to not fear death. They don’t view dying as a tragedy.

Finally, there are many atheists — and agnostics — who don’t know what death holds for them at all. However, they refuse to let this unknown factor frighten them. Instead, they embrace the unknown.

Many atheists also understand that the full mystery of consciousness — and how it is connected to one’s physical body — may never be uncovered. At least, it won’t be in their lifetime.

Clearly, those who don’t believe in any religious scripture can differ on what, exactly, happens when they die. However, many atheists do have one thing in common. They all want to cherish the life they have. They know how important it is to be living.