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Edited by Masque of Night:
9/28/2015 4:29:13 AM
14
The Concept of Eternal Consciousness
There's been a lot of religious topics being thrown around here lately (as if that ever isn't the case), so I figure it's about time I make one. Although, i'll be doing so in a manner a bit different from how this subject is normally approached. In fact, this is more of a thread about a specific concept that finds itself to be a part of most religious systems. As the title may tell, i'm referring specifically to the concept of an afterlife, and more specifically an eternal afterlife.
Now, i'm aware that not all religious systems incorporate this, but a large portion do, especially among those widely practiced in the modern day. Now, the specifics of what the consciousness or "soul" goes through differs highly between faiths, and within said faiths as well, but the same basic concept throughout is that in one state or another, your consciousness will go on without your physical body, for a very long time, if not eternally.
So this brings me to my question, what is your opinion on the idea of a state of eternal consciousness? Would you [i]want[/i] to live forever and be consciously aware of it? Does this idea sound horrid or pleasing to you? What factors would your sentiment on this matter be dependent on?
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Consciousness, in my opinion, is the most incredible thing in the universe. The entire history of the universe, countless laws and mechanics of nature, and perhaps luck have led to the capability of a very small part of the universe to be aware of itself and it's surroundings, and to learn about both. (And even learn of and interact with other conscious beings.) Perhaps it is merely hubris, or fear of mortality that leads to our ideas of that construct existing eternally. Or, perhaps there is a bit more to it. One time in a discussion with my friends about teleportation (I know, complete nerds), we wondered whether upon destroying one's self by transferring the information somewhere else as an exact copy, one's sense of continuous consciousness would end, and another would begin where it left off. That brings up a better question. Doesn't brain constantly change and replace it's smallest parts? Who's to say we're not in an endless cycle of dying to allow the next new thought to cross our minds. TL;DR 2 deep 4 me
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1 ReplyTime for a brief musical interlude... To answer your (and Queen's) question is have to say yes, I'd probably enjoy an eternal afterlife as it is portrayed by most religions (the Heaven/Nirvana/Valhalla/etc. sides, anyway). But that's kind of the point, right? Why would we strive to attain it if it wasn't appealing?
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It would depend on the nature of the afterlife. If it was floating around aimlessly as a ghost for eternity, no thank you. If it was, as some religions portray it, a life like this one without all that sadness and stuff, I'd probably like it.
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2 RepliesNot that this really has anything to do with my post but here's some backstory.[spoiler] Ok so I was brought up as catholic, not super religious however, my family wasn't "crazy" about it but I went through the steps (sacraments w.e). [/spoiler] So now that I'm 20, I've really started leaning towards beint agnostic. I'd like to believe there is an afterlife, but then again there isn't enough proof for me personally. Now that being said, I've always been fascinated with the idea that when you die your consciousness is spread across the universe, both apart of everything and yet your own separate (for lack of a better term) "being". Energy can't be destroyed right? Maybe when we die, it's transfered in a way we can't understand/comprehend it, therefore we create religion(s) as away to "cope" with the lingering question of "What comes after?"
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5 RepliesReminds me of this. http://www.galactanet.com/oneoff/theegg_mod.html
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5 RepliesLook up the second attention. Prepare to have your mind blown.
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Eternal life sounds tragic tbh
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9 RepliesI don't want to live forever.
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3 RepliesEdited by II Smiggles II: 9/28/2015 5:05:33 AMI personally find religion fascinating (specifically Buddhism and eastern religions) However I believe you could have made your point without incorporating it (Simply my tiny two cents. Don't weigh anything on it as I'm babbling that out rudely) OT: As selfish as it can be viewed I do wish for an eternal, or at least, extended consciousness. Specifically a longer lifespan in the same body. Reasons are solely to do with learning and experiencing. There's not enough time in a human life for me to become educated on all the subjects I wish to indulge in. Not enough time to do all the events and activities and traveling I vie for. Though I'm well aware that humans are not psychologically equipped to cope with that stress. We'd slip into madness not long after a normal span of life. More or less due to watching repeated patterns of existence.
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4 RepliesAwareness is a very complex thing. I doubt an entity that has become self-aware and cognitively advanced can simply cease to exist. I am Christian but that is my "logical" take on it.
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1 ReplyHow long does an eternal heaven last before sin is reborn and the cycle repeats?
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7 RepliesLiving on forever is a kind of grey area for me. If it was as most big religions portray it, as in having a spiritual form of yourself, body included, in some sort of paradise, then count me in. As long as my friends and family as of now joined me, that would be amazing, although, realistically, we'd all die at different times, and so there would be several years with gaps in my friend/family circle, which would be tough. Whether you believe in it or not, I can't see the concept of a kind of [u]good[/u] afterlife not appealing to people.
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1 Reply[quote]DistractMeFromSadThoughts[/quote] Anyways, the thought of an endless afterlife could bother me after a while. Then again, I'll probably understand it better when I get there.
