This is the subject that I want to focus on in my philosophy studies, as it has always fascinated me.
There are many different ideas around what happens to us when we die and I was bought up in a slightly 'odd' situation in that my step-dad was an Athiest and my mum was a Christian.
I myself am a very open-minded and believe in something, but my husband is more on the Athiest spectrum. Like my step-dad used to say, If I cant see I don't believe it.
I suppose we all have our different beliefs in what exists, and there is so many theories its hard to know where to start.
I'm currently looking at Buddhism for a Uni assignment and it has always fascinated me. The theory of 'reaping what we sow' in this life and the last is fascinating. I'm talking about the whole karma thing.
I'm actually fascinated with the karma concept, its do much deeper than just the art of payback.
In fact, my fictional series of supernatural thrillers in based on Karma. (Google Aubrey Fox-UK) You will find all my works if that interests you.
Going back to Buddhism, a religion that believes we come back in other forms as a result of how we behave in past lives. We are here to always learn a lesson.
Unlike other religions, our God is ourselves as universal teachers. Of course, Buddhists pray to their figures of worship, but they focus mainly on earth teachers to aid their spiritual development into a higher form of self.
I am only touching the surface of it here, but what I am trying to say is that although I am not entirely a believer, (I'm not a disbeliever either) it is a fascinating concept.
Thoughts?
Well, you could even take it a step further and ask "Is there a life before death?"
Or do we all "live" as a part of a big illusion? Do we raelly physically exist, or are we only elaborate models in a huge simulation? Its a option that we cannot rule out.
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what is your way to deal with this mystery?
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As we cannot tell if thats the case or not, I continue based on the assumption everything is real. But if I find out it's not one day, I'll be really peed off. And then I'd like to say a few words to the person who is running this simulation!
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What if we run this simulation?
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That's a very interesting concept. Are we mere pawns in a bigger illusion?
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I find it difficult and more or less a distraction to ask a question like this. I think it is way more useful to act always in a manner that could sustain until the end. Just as ancient philosopher Solon said: " In all things you do, consider the end"
If one behaves that way it is more of a concern to die an honorable death than to speculate on the rewards of an afterlife or rebirth.
In the middleages there were some christian and also islamic mystics who asked the question: "What goes to heaven?" I think this question is also a better question to ask, because no matter what you believe or not believe in, there is always doubt. But let's assume you die and go to heaven, what will go? Your body? I don't think so. Your wordly desires? I don't think so. So it must be the soul ( greek word: psyche), which goes there. In its pure form, without any worldy attachments.
Let's go to the assumption that one will be born again and again. If you act well, then you rise up in status the next life, if you behave wrong, then you will be downgraded.
If I look at all the systems known to me, I really do not think, that this question of what comes after death is important. The question that is important is:
"What do I have to do here?" and this we can only know if we "know ourselves", hence the inscription at the oracle at delphoi: Gnothi Seauton, which means, "know thyself".
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This is a very deep answer, thankyou! Not sure I understand it well, but are you saying focusing on the karmic element of 'getting it right' is deflecting from a good moral code?
Also in regards to the question itself, yes it's meant to be quite an 'open question' to create a philosophical flow. The concept of 'what goes to heaven' is quite thought provoking, whatever way we look at it, our bodies do not go with us. If we lose a limb, we cannot connect to that limb mentally when it's gone.
Or can we ?
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Not sure if my English is good enough for that. Yes you can call it the karmic element, but it is everywhere. "You reap, what you sow" is from the bible ( i think), other religions have similar proverbs (sayings). I do not know about limb connection, but there is people who still feel their arm, after they lost it and it is painful and numb. in neurology they found some evidence as well, that if somebody loses a hand for example, the neurons in the brain, that were responsible for moving this hand change their function and "help" out the other hand. That way some people can learn to use their left hand ( after they lost their right ) in a way they never could have imagined.
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I believe, There is a life after death. No doubt !
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Ooh have you any examples ?
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You can check details in Al-Quran
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If there is life after death, what form would it be... if we are energy in a heaven, then we will rekindle with lost family and friend. If we are re-incarnated, we will begin anew... but for what purpose. Also would Karma follow the heaven spirit or the reincarnated soul, perhaps both.
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Yes, there are a lot of questions to explore. Also so we have a purpose or are we just 'existing' as scientific matter?
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I would say as much purpose as a blade of grass or any other organism. The main difference I see is the blade of grass does not have the handicap of conscious thought.
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Yes good point!
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I think that religion is the result of humans having a fairness gene. Deeply ingrained in every human is the propensity towards fairness. Even our distant cousins the chimps have a very strong tendency to fairness. When rewards are unequally given, they literally go ape shit. This fairness gene seems to be an important survival trait in social animals.
So fast forward to humans developing high awareness of reality. And that reality is not fair, horrible things happen to individuals without any reason. So instead of going insane, we have invented a buffer against reality's cold random violence. Religion. You see those evil men prospering? God will get them in the next life. See those poor nice people dying in hideous ways? God will reward them for their suffering. See? Everything works out nice and fairly, no reason to go insane. :-)
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That is an interesting concept. I don't think that is the way it is, but I respect your right to believe it, because not a single person can prove their belief is the right one. I think free will works into all of this. We have the free will to take advantage of people or lift them up to a better life. We can make the world into a waste land (to a certain point, then the earth itself takes over to rid it of the parasites (us)), or we can turn it into a paradise. But I also believe there is a balancing. It may not happen in this life. It may build for multiple lives before it comes back to haunt you, but it does balance out because the entire universe it built on a system of balance. Too much of anything, even the good parts, cause an unbalance in something (us, the world, etc.)
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Very interesting perspective. We hear every day about how religion causes war...but the fairness gene. That's really interesting.
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I was raised with 3 different belief systems. Cherokee, Christian and Pagan. I also study many other religions throughout life. I have a system I believe is true, but I am always open to other ideas as I also believe religion is the worst thing that every happened to the world and you don't have to be religious to have a good relationship with The Creator.
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I get that. I am not religious but I find it fascinating.
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