How would you react?

[Boojatta]

If events in the near future of world history established beyond any doubt that people who died a few days ago, and whose bodies weren't preserved in any special way, can rise and live again ...

(Please read carefully before finalizing your vote. In particular, note the word "would" or "wouldn't.")

[gateley]

1. Other? I don't believe in a god but do believe in eternal life (not necessarily as

we think it applies to us here). I'd be astounded that anyone who died would want to come back to this place and time having just escaped it.

[GliderGuider]

25. +1

Everything I've read about people who came back from a very-near-death experience tells me there was a lot of regret associated with it.
I believe there is an aspect of "me" that is not time-dependent or time-bound, but it's sure not related to my meat envelope.

[haele]

2. Does this have to do with a weird science project?

Or Zombification as is practiced in some of the Caribbean islands? There are actual examples of people who, through a mixture herbs and a form of hysterical hypnosis, had appeared to be dead for a week or so (heart and breathing so slowly that it was almost indiscernible) and then "re-animated" right after they were buried by the poisoner to end up as their slave.

If it were something that medical science could actually observe and start to analyze, I'd be pretty impressed - or scared; it might also be contageous...

Haele

[Duer 157099]

3. Other. I've seen The Walking Dead. n/t

[Uben]

4. The appearance of that is totally possible now.....

....and has been for thousands of years. Hypothetically speaking, if Jesus (if he really did exist)was crucified and was able to slow his metabolism down through some sort of meditation (to avoid a bleed out), and his blood coagulated normally, it's quite likely he could have survived, and even recovered somewhat in three days. What might have appeared as a miracle would really be no miracle at all, just a result of a man who could manipulate his heart-rate.

I don't believe in gods or miracles.

[Boojatta]

6. The Original Post refers to "people who died a few days ago."

It doesn't refer to "people who a few days ago appeared to have died, but didn't actually die."

[Uben]

11. Now you are toying with definition

What is death? Are you really dead if you can be revived? I see death as a complete cessation of all bodily functions. Heartbeat, breathing, cell reproduction, brain activity. Decomposition startes IMMEDIATELY following death, and then the other stages become present. The first being the mortises: Rigor (stiffness), algor mortis, and pallor mortis, which is more or less a color loss...The blood sinks to the lowest tissues of the body, mostly collecting in the thighs/buttocks where the person was lying when they passed.

You present a hypothetical question, and there is no clear answer because of it. That's why I answered with a hypothetical.

[Boojatta]

12. You answered your own question.

I see death as a complete cessation of all bodily functions.

Complete cessation of all bodily functions doesn't specify whether or not the person can be revived. Thus, the possibility of revival doesn't imply that the person isn't dead. You defined death, and your definition doesn't include any requirement that revival be impossible. To conclude that revival is impossible, you would need additional assumptions, such as the assumption that decomposition cannot be reversed.

"Are you really dead if you can be revived?"
Yes, but in the absence of miracles, revival may be impossible.

[Uben]

13. WTF?

Are you just wanting an argument? I'll have to charge you a nominal fee for that if you wish me to continue.

[edhopper]

15. You want to complain!

Look at these shoes. I've only had them three weeks and the heels are worn right through.

[Uben]

18. Sorry, complaints are down the hall to the right!

That'll be six pence, please.

[dimbear]

5. How would I react? Seen those movies. Lock and load, set the alarms.

Stay out of bad parts of cities. Eat canned goods. Wait for civilization to return.

[frogmarch]

19. Absolutely!

[frogmarch]

7. I'd say, "Oh, really? Show me."

I'd want to see proof of this.

[Boojatta]

8. When you were shown proof, how would you react?

Would you be astounded?

[frogmarch]

9. If, after examining the

"proof" presented to me and finding nothing amiss, I would review the steps I'd taken in my investigation, and then, if satisfied I'd left no stone unturned, I'd ask for more evidence. I wouldn't stop until the truth was revealed.

[Donnachaidh]

10. they'd be extras for Zombie wasteland?

:evilgrin:

[Historic NY]

14. My middle name is Thomas I doubt everything.

[edhopper]

16. So you are asking if

those of us who have seen no evidence of the supernatural are suddenly given evidence, how would we feel. (even though such evidence has never existed). Why not ask how we would feel if we saw a flying unicorn or spaghetti monster.

This is a question that has no bearing on reality.

[Boojatta]

17. "those of us who have seen no evidence of the supernatural"

Nothing in the question itself indicates that the people who have seen evidence of the supernatural aren't supposed to respond. Nor do the answer options impose such a restriction on the audience to whom the question is directed.

are suddenly given evidence

That is implied by the question, but that is quite an understatement and isn't what is asked. The scenario is "established beyond any doubt", which goes beyond mere evidence.

Why not ask how we would feel if we saw a flying unicorn or spaghetti monster.

I'm not interested in that question. Feel free to start your own thread about it.

This is a question that has no bearing on reality.

Doesn't reality include states of mind, and how existing beings are predisposed to react?

For example, you are unlikely to react directly to what you cannot perceive. If, during a period of ten seconds, the speed at which the Sun appears to be moving in the sky were to triple, or suddenly drop to zero, then would some particular species of animal perceive and react to the change? Perhaps you believe it is impossible for human beings to actually cause such a change and test for it. In that case, there would still be a fact of the matter. It would be an unverifiable reality, but it would nevertheless be reality.

Actually, some imaginative people have set up indoors something that appears to be the Sun and that has, from the perspective of some observer, the same apparent motion that the Sun has from the perspective of an observer on the Earth. It has been confirmed that some non-human species can perceive changes in motion too small for us to perceive with our unaided senses, and that they would react if the Sun appeared to stop even if it appeared to stop for a brief period of time.

[edhopper]

20. I appreciate the thoughtful reply

but as with many of your post, I am not sure what you are trying to ask or say.

[Deep13]

21. I'd be pretty skeptical. If there was not doubt ...

...that it was true, I would simply accept that a body shut off can be turned on again in certain cicumstances. Religion would have nothing to do with it.

[Iggo]

22. You'd need to expound the 'rise and live again' part.

What's that mean?

[ZombieHorde]

23. I voted...

"I wouldn't be utterly astounded, and I don't belong in any of the above categories re miracles or god."

I would be very surprised, but not utterly astounded. I would expect the resurrected person to suffer from extreme brain damage due to being dead for a few days.

If a person was resurrected after a few days, and was in good health, then I would be utterly astounded.

[Boojatta]

24. Kick