To an atheist from a Christian.

[mineman43]

Hello, I haven't quite seen this question around the site, but please answer.

What do atheists believe will happen when you die? I would appreciate specific answers too...

[McCulloch]

Many people believe in spirits or ghosts or whatever you wish to call it. Let us call it energy dissonance. An imprint of energy left in the atmosphere and surroundings of a place where a "spirit" was released from its body. This being a ghost, although this would only be the residual energy.

There is a vast difference between energy, which cannot be lost, and mind, consciousness, memory, emotion and thought which can. Just as when we die the atoms which make up our bodies do not disappear, they just break down and cease to be a living body, so then the energy which animates us also breaks down, providing energy to other life forms and other processes on this planet. But there is no reason to believe that any of what you think of as your self, your thoughts your memories, your consciousness, your emotions will survive the death of your body. In fact, some of them will have disappeared before your death.