Regardless of your religious, spiritual or political background; how do you justify your mortality?

You, on this Earth, you live and you die. But why?

Please don't turn this into a flame war about which point of view is right though venomless queries are encouraged.



Personal Example.

I believe I'm here on this Earth as a biological fluke. I think that the consciousness we experience is just a melting pool, a biproduct of our experience.

I also believe in a universal consciousness, with every single part playing a critical role by merely existing.

My body is constantly shedding itself, when I finally expire I don't fear death because although I slip back into a more subtle role, I'm still an intricate part of the universe.

Your philosophies?



p.s. note to LostCause, posted in My God because I was interested in the differences between religious, spiritual and athiest viewpoints that tend to clash here.

Why does my mortality need any justification?

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Why does my mortality need any justification?

You don't need to, it's not a nessecary thing. This is just an open forum for people to discuss the intricacies of their existance.

Because I can't change it.

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Why does my mortality need any justification?

Rgiht.

What's more, "we" are not mortal. Our mortal bodies only serve as the means by which our immortal souls are manifested on this plane.

Souls always have been and always will, and need no justification.

I am a Buddhist, so a brief synopsis in my beliefs regarding mortality;

Life is uncertain, the only certainty is death (and taxes if you live in the west :P). You were born into this world with death as a goal, just as you breathe in, you breathe out.

I think my main justification would be that in my opinion, there is no self, I do not believe in immortal souls, or some Christian/Muslim beliefs regarding paradise following a moral life, I believe in rebirth, but not heaven. Just that there is no self, only emptiness, we are all part of something bigger than individualism. There I find my solace, my happiness.

These are only my beliefs though, and those shared by fellow Buddhists. I do not seek to impose them upon anyone.

Metta

Jack

quote:Originally posted by CatharticWeek:



Regardless of your religious, spiritual or political background; how do you justify your mortality?

You, on this Earth, you live and you die. But why?

Please don't turn this into a flame war about which point of view is right though venomless queries are encouraged.



Personal Example.

I believe I'm here on this Earth as a biological fluke. I think that the consciousness we experience is just a melting pool, a biproduct of our experience.

I also believe in a universal consciousness, with every single part playing a critical role by merely existing.

My body is constantly shedding itself, when I finally expire I don't fear death because although I slip back into a more subtle role, I'm still an intricate part of the universe.

Your philosophies?



p.s. note to LostCause, posted in My God because I was interested in the differences between religious, spiritual and athiest viewpoints that tend to clash here.

I live right now and will eventually die because sometime close to a hundred years from now my body will no longer be able to deal with the stresses of life. we are tied into everything in some form or fasion and just like everything else will cease to exist when the last grain of sand in our hour glass hits the bottom.

People are things.

Things break.

quote:Originally posted by ArmsMerchant:

Rgiht.

What's more, "we" are not mortal. Our mortal bodies only serve as the means by which our immortal souls are manifested on this plane.

Souls always have been and always will, and need no justification.

Then what is the point of this plane? Why would we be here just now, if we we have always 'been'?

This is a very complicated and daunting subject. Those who have the "answer" to this subject know less than you do.

My entire life's goal is to discover the information outside Humanity's spectrum. The chances of discovering such is nigh impossible, but still a goal.

Don't get the wrong message; I have a plethora of explanations swimming around in my mind, but to explain them all would take up quiet alot of space. I'll throw an idea out there for you, though.

There was a point when god was confronted with free will. God wondered what would happen if his blank and mindless angels had minds, had thought. He decided to test this idea out first. He selected several angels and gave them thought and will. The angels were placed in bodies that could wither and die, but keep the angel safe-he didn't want to lose any angels, as this experiment could go horribly wrong-and set them on a planet with the resources that were required to sustain the bodies. He made the resources precious in the angel's eyes, but dangerous to their bodies and their world if too much was taken. God wanted to see if free will affected rationality. He gave them the ability to create more angels, and in a way that the angels would find amazingly enjoyable. God wanted to see if the angels would overpopulate and endanger the world and thus themselves just so they could feel that sensation.

As God watched, he became mortified with the results. The angels quickly began to attack and kill each other, seeking out reasons to do so. Resources were devoured, and the creation mechanic that was used to breed more angels was abused simply for their enjoyment. The angels would even force other angels to engage in this process, or mutate it into abominations that God could never had expected. God watched as other angels tortured or abused others, even their own creations. Some even brought thousands to their death in his name, which tormented him so. God cried when he saw what he had done. Unable to bring himself to obliterate his monsterous children, he turned away, forsaking the horrendous planet he created. Whenever an angel comes back to him from the world, tortured and dead, he brings them out of the shell of mortality, and sees with a heavy heart that the angel inside has been damaged as well. With a broken heart he watches the angel die in his arms as the angel remembers who he is, remembers that there was someone who did this to them, and curses god for what he has done. With that, the angel dies.

We are all immortal, only our bodies are not.

quote:Originally posted by sh0x0rz3r:

We are all immortal, only our bodies are not.

Don't you think it's just a little arrogant, to assume we continue on after death?

quote:Originally posted by Source:

Don't you think it's just a little arrogant, to assume we continue on after death?

Especially when it's entirely based on the assumption of the self. An assumption vulnerable to scrutiny.