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This gets complicated
Apr. 27th, 2004 06:05 amA friend asks what happens after death. My views are complex so I'm posting here rather than as a comment.
First there's the issue of just what elements comprise a sentient being. We often speak of body and soul, which concepts are derived from ancient philosophical thinking. Whether the soul has an existence independent of the body, whether it survives the death of the body in any way, and what happens to it if that is the case have been the core beliefs of most religions through the ages.
I believe that the real truth about all this is larger and more complex than our present ability to comprehend it. Thus the apparent contradictions of religious beliefs, as each sees only a part of the whole elephant (to borrow from the old parable about the blind men.) Here is my own theory, in which some of you may recognize strong Asian elements, particularly Hindu and Buddhist.
( Tivo's own Cosmic Conception )
First there's the issue of just what elements comprise a sentient being. We often speak of body and soul, which concepts are derived from ancient philosophical thinking. Whether the soul has an existence independent of the body, whether it survives the death of the body in any way, and what happens to it if that is the case have been the core beliefs of most religions through the ages.
I believe that the real truth about all this is larger and more complex than our present ability to comprehend it. Thus the apparent contradictions of religious beliefs, as each sees only a part of the whole elephant (to borrow from the old parable about the blind men.) Here is my own theory, in which some of you may recognize strong Asian elements, particularly Hindu and Buddhist.
( Tivo's own Cosmic Conception )
