auswegian

Thing about this. There are lots of different ideas about what will await us beyond death. But are any of them really that attractive. My main problem is losing my personal identity, thats something that frankly terrifies me.

Athiesm, obviously, would suggest we are just going to not exist any more. Thats bad. I wouldn't know I'm dead, which is all right I suppose, but it really doesn't make me feel any better.

Monotheistic heaven-and-hell theory isn't much better. Either eternal damnation, which is bad, or eternal bliss, which is ok but requires you to completely devote yourself to God to the extent that you lose your identity. Thats bad, and not particularly attractive.

As for reincarnation, well, thats fine. But think of this. Your conciousness is determined by your memories and experiences, right? Well while you might be a certain person, the person that is you+hundreds of peasants, workers and soldiers throughout history would have a thousand different memories and experiences and personal qualities. A Nazi in one life, a Jew the next; a chauvinist in one, a beaten wife in another. The combined personality would take some of what you are. But it wouldn't be you anymore.

And Nirvana? Bah. Extinction of the ego, when you get down to it, is destruction of your identity. You only leave the Wheel by virtue of destroying yourself. Not satisfactory.

So is there any way we can survive this with our unique personalities intact? Or are we really stuffed?

__________________
"Look, I'm pretty relaxed for a guy who just lost money on a rave. And who's currently speeding down the highway drunk off my tits. And I'm being chased by someone in a blue Corolla. Woohoo! I just ran a red light!"

phukraut

you forget, if you assume reincarnation is real, and that you will be reincarnated when you die, don't forget that you have probably already been reincarnated before. your current life would also be a "combined personality". But you obviously do no doubt your individuality now, so why would you doubt it in your next life?

ellipsys

i know i dont have the capacity to think even half as deeply as the majority of you guys, and my simplistic beliefs and explanations reflect as much =) but, they work for me.

i really do believe that we are all unique entities, spirits if you will, merely housed in mortal bodies for the time being. the way i see it, which makes the most sense to me, is that this time on earth is a stepping stone in our sprit's progression. when we die, we go on to the next step, who knows, eventually we might create worlds and beget spirit children, starting the cycle anew.

trying to think about stuff like that without the aid of some kinda illegal substance makes my head hurt, though.

striderkevin

Believe whatever you want to believe. Sooner or later we're all going to die, and I'd rather think about it when the time comes. There's too much to think about and live through right now, and I don't plan to die for many, many, many years to come.

__________________
"A false life is equal to death. Be your true self" -Strider Hiryu

xman

we are doomed

Johnny Rotten

Guilty as charged. I can't stop speculating about this stuff. It just fascinates me. Loss of identity, release of all ego. It's just so strange, yet very interesting.

Moonduck

Out of all of the various post-death concepts, the least frightening is atheism's pose. I've always found it interesting that the belief system that screams loudest about man standing alone in the face of an uncaring universe would have the lightest of eternal sentences after death. I am glad that the courage to not believe is rewarded by oblivion.

Monotheism's eternal bliss or eternal torture concept sounds equally dull and pointless. It is a draw/draw situation. Eternal torture is pretty much meaningless. The pain and torments would bleed into meaninglessness after a while, as would the joys of eternal bliss. With nothing to compare and contrast one's situation to, the situation become meaningless. It is the old "without evil, there can be no good" idea.

Reincarnation is pretty scary, personally. It implies that the part of us that transits on to our next incarnation gets no rest. It is merely one dreary and painful life after another endlessly.

Nirvana is a nice idea, but it is oblivion nonetheless. It is the atheist's end seen as a goal to be sought instead of an end to be feared. Interesting that a life of contemplation and meditation is rewarded with destruction of identity and removal from the wheel of reincarnation. In essence, those that seek Nirvana are simply believers looking to end as unbelievers surmise they will end.

Again, oblivion is the kindest of ends. Nothingness is better than eternal anything in my book, and Nirvana is nothing more than oblivion in an orange robe.

MacGnG

Are we doomed? Yes..nno...maybe..
oh yea we are...well not right now but
eventually.. ok yea tommorow.....