This is not meant to trample on anyone's beliefs who might read this. I firmly hold that every person has a right to believe what he or she feels is right and I would not wish to inflict my views upon you in a way that would seem like I was trying to force you to convert to my way of thinking. This is simply the questions I have asked myself and some of the reasons that I find many belief systems to be saddening.
Most of my issues come from the idea of an immortal soul, this is to say something that exists inhabiting my body, but separate from it. What reason do I have to believe that this is the case at all? Some claim that there are certain intuitions indicating that there are more things perceived than can be explained by just our brain. This is where the dispute I think shows itself most clearly. The brain is incredibly complex, and even with the most recent advances in technology there is still so much that we do not yet understand about how it works. These claims of emotive states or significant feelings are simply responses caused by our senses that we do not understand. So many have to create an elaborate scenario to deal with it. Such is the case when it comes to our own mortality. Most find that if they simply cease to exist upon death, then their lives must the be insignificant. However, their lives do feel significant for them and so there must be something that persists through death. This is just one possible reason among a plethora of others given for immortality of spirit. It seems to me that this is simply crutch created out of fear. Just because a life has an end does not mean that it lacks significance.
This is is what my biggest problem with a belief in a deified God and soul is, I feel that it completely devalues one's life and robs this world that we live in of all its grandeur. To fully experience a sunrise, a soft moment with a lover, or the death of a loved one, I do not need to have a soul separate from my physical reality. All of that emotion and feeling is contained within my consciousness produced my brain. Maybe, this is not as romantic as saying that there is something else beyond this, but things don't necessarily work that way. Why can't it be the case that in my physical self I experience the full force of significant events? Why must my brain lack the ability to fill me full of warmth? Just because I do not have a soul does not make my existence any less significant or devoid of meaning. If anything I believe it makes my life even more important. If this is all I get, then I must embrace it as fully as I can. There is no heaven to look forward to and no painted dreamscape to spend eternity in. What I have is that golden sunset I see with my own two eyes and I decided to place a certain meaning on that memory. I am in complete control of myself and my destiny. There is no cosmic force running my life for me. It is my responsibility to use the time I have and not depend upon or hope for another opportunity.
"We answer to no God, just each other here. This life is all, and it is enough. No heaven to await, no hell to fear." - Richard Spencer
Most of my issues come from the idea of an immortal soul, this is to say something that exists inhabiting my body, but separate from it. What reason do I have to believe that this is the case at all? Some claim that there are certain intuitions indicating that there are more things perceived than can be explained by just our brain. This is where the dispute I think shows itself most clearly. The brain is incredibly complex, and even with the most recent advances in technology there is still so much that we do not yet understand about how it works. These claims of emotive states or significant feelings are simply responses caused by our senses that we do not understand. So many have to create an elaborate scenario to deal with it. Such is the case when it comes to our own mortality. Most find that if they simply cease to exist upon death, then their lives must the be insignificant. However, their lives do feel significant for them and so there must be something that persists through death. This is just one possible reason among a plethora of others given for immortality of spirit. It seems to me that this is simply crutch created out of fear. Just because a life has an end does not mean that it lacks significance.
This is is what my biggest problem with a belief in a deified God and soul is, I feel that it completely devalues one's life and robs this world that we live in of all its grandeur. To fully experience a sunrise, a soft moment with a lover, or the death of a loved one, I do not need to have a soul separate from my physical reality. All of that emotion and feeling is contained within my consciousness produced my brain. Maybe, this is not as romantic as saying that there is something else beyond this, but things don't necessarily work that way. Why can't it be the case that in my physical self I experience the full force of significant events? Why must my brain lack the ability to fill me full of warmth? Just because I do not have a soul does not make my existence any less significant or devoid of meaning. If anything I believe it makes my life even more important. If this is all I get, then I must embrace it as fully as I can. There is no heaven to look forward to and no painted dreamscape to spend eternity in. What I have is that golden sunset I see with my own two eyes and I decided to place a certain meaning on that memory. I am in complete control of myself and my destiny. There is no cosmic force running my life for me. It is my responsibility to use the time I have and not depend upon or hope for another opportunity.
"We answer to no God, just each other here. This life is all, and it is enough. No heaven to await, no hell to fear." - Richard Spencer
you learn from your mistakes.