Reflections on the big question

[Dave A]

I'm pretty comfortable with the science that predicts the sun's (and earth's) demise long after I've shuffled off this mortal coil.

Hey - if mankind can find a solution to the challenge by then, cool.
If not, I suspect the universe probably won't even notice mankind is gone.

[Marq]

Dave - Lets hope thats true!

[pmbguy]

Man is an animal imbued with something extra other animals do not have. What that “extra” is exactly is not known. We share enough biology, genetics and behaviour to be called animals. I easily reconcile being an animal with being a spiritual being. Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive?

Humans are spiritual animals

[tec0]

I foresee somewhat of a different view. As ages progress so will the world of science. There is already tests being done on a artificial organs that will replace our need to eat and breath. The systems take what is there recondition it and feed it back into the body. Thus humanity will soon no longer need a symbiotic relationship with the world or nature.

Already artificial organs are a reality in both mechanical and biomechanical form. Science is developing bio-ink that has the potential to rebuild the human skin one sell at a time. These technologies will redefine the human race when they enter into the market "if they haven't already".

DNA reconditioning is a biotech designed to target your DNA and rebuild it effectively resetting it's genetic clock so that it will not destroy itself. All of this is already in the making.

Then there is talk of the singularity or the merger of mind and information, like in the movie "The Matrix" you will simply be able to upload a skill and use it as if you have done it all your life. Again this technology is in development and mice "test subjects" showed very promising results.

Soon the human body will overcome death. But even this is not new.

So what is new? Nothing... All that is... Was and will be again... Words written thousands of years ago. Thus proofing that we are stuck in a perpetual reality. The "now" as we experienced it was experienced many times before. Each and every word we wrote already written. Once you understand this principle you realise the need for transition from this world to the next. Spirituality isn't just a "thing" or a belief.

Spirituality is a fundamental part of consciousness because without it the "now" cannot exist. The world and everything in it everything on it cannot exist without the mind. Because without the "mind" there is nothing. Yes stars will shine planets will go about their business but at the same time there will be nothing because there is nothing to witness it.

[pmbguy]

Interesting direction, it is possible that technology could one day make us immortal. This raises many questions. What about the soul? Will the soul ever be expressed-further realised outside of the immortal person’s body?

If not, then will you still choose to fulfil your spiritual journey at some point in time? (Being immortal)

(For simplicity sake, immortality through technology means being able to die, but potentially living forever- this example)

And yes we talking about the far future so you will probably be dead.

What will the implications of immortality be on monogamy statistics of the immortals? (being valentines day and all)

[tec0]

Interesting direction, it is possible that technology could one day make us immortal. This raises many questions. What about the soul? Will the soul ever be expressed-further realised outside of the immortal person’s body?

If not, then will you still choose to fulfil your spiritual journey at some point in time? (Being immortal)

(For simplicity sake, immortality through technology means being able to die, but potentially living forever- this example)

And yes we talking about the far future so you will probably be dead.

What will the implications of immortality be on monogamy statistics of the immortals? (being valentines day and all)

Herein you will find the fundamental difference between you and me. I believe that the soul is immortal "as in can never die" and that the physical body is merely a conduit. To prolong my physical existence wouldn't bother me because it gives me more time to learn about this world and the spiritual world.

But would I go on for all time? I don't think that is an option eventually something will go wrong and the soul will move on. No place is that safe no technology is that perfect.

[pmbguy]

When did I say the soul is not immortal? but anyway. As a premise you are immortal and can't die, unless you choose to die (In my example).

Technically speaking the body and mind then reside together forever (The body means any form you are in whilst alive).

My question is under these circumstances would you choose to die (After a very long time) because you can't die another way for the soul to leave your body - go to heaven or wherever

[This is a theoretical question - we are asking the question itself and to a lesser extent where on the probability scale it lies.]

[tec0]

When did I say the soul is not immortal? but anyway. As a premise you are immortal and can't die, unless you choose to die (In my example).

Technically speaking the body and mind then reside together forever (The body means any form you are in whilst alive).

My question is under these circumstances would you choose to die (After a very long time) because you can't die another way for the soul to leave your body - go to heaven or wherever

[This is a theoretical question - we are asking the question itself and to a lesser extent where on the probability scale it lies.]

That is just it... See this is the computer brain VS real brain question ? (I don't know if you know it so I will explain as best I can)

Imagine for a moment I take your brain and copy it to the computer. Now your brain is copied onto the computer its first thought "this worked" your physical brain wakes up and goes "what am I still doing here" then the doctor doing the procedure goes "cut the life support" bye bye physical body.

So what just happened? Simple answer the "YOU" in the computer is you in every way "mentally" and will think COOL I am alive and will live forever. While your now dead brain will experience whatever scenario a dead brain experience"

The question here is was the brain to computer copy a success? In a way yes it is you in every way perfectly copied. But it is still a copy...

The same goes for your 100% immortal body... It comes to this question "to what extend do we still have a soul and to what extend to we lose our soul" The moment death becomes an option rather then an inevitably then this question becomes very important because What if your body goes on living for a long time but your soul is no longer a part of it?

So the answer: you keep on living as long as you can because the possibility exist that you may have only this life to live. And when you really think about it you realize but "that IS what we are doing now trying to live as long as possible" Well for the most part anyway.

[pmbguy]

So let’s say the body is kept alive indefinitely in a state to which the soul still adheres...what then?

[tec0]

So let’s say the body is kept alive indefinitely in a state to which the soul still adheres...what then?

Then the last question would be "would I have the procedure done to begin with. But it is a lot more complicated see suicide is taboo and that complicates things. If one dies because there is nothing that can be done then that is acceptable but if you can do something about it and you don’t by action or lack of action it “can” be considered suicide. In short to die by choice isn’t an option so sadly I would say “if the soul remains with the body” then forever we shall live...

[adrianh]

There is no such thing as a soul, it is unadulterated horse crap sold by religions trying to get your cash before you die. When you die you are gone.

I have a question for those numbskulls who believe in souls. What exactly is a soul if it can't speak without a voice, hear without an ear, see without an eye, smell without a nose, think without a brain nor feel without a heart.....

You are deluded if you think the universe gives a royal continental rats left ball whether our brains end up in a little glass jar. I'll say this much, if I could figure out where those jars are kept I will go push them all off the table!

Here is a challenge for all of you who claim that we this entity called a soul: explain to me how the soul of a bipolar schizophrenic sociopath religious nut who derives great pleasure from cuttings his victims into tiny little pieces while they are still alive (for their benefit of course) fits into the greater scheme of things....or the child born with a serious handicap and doesn't know his arse from his elbow or the brilliant artist who falls on his head and no longer has a memory....You delude yourselves if you think that you are more that this life and this body....you are simply fools who are to small minded to take responsibility for the one and only life that you have....this one! Get a grip, I cannot think of more that a handful of people that I like to spend a bit of time with, let alone every single soul belonging to every single twat that roamed this earth for all eternity, you must be frigging crazy. Imagine all the arguments, jeez, I dare not imagine putting up for eternity with all the stupid people that roam this earth and I damn sure you wouldn't want to put up with me either.

This is my bottom line to life, the universe and everything: Get off your ass and enjoy every second of it because when it's gone it's gone forever!

It all comes done to one thing and it is this: Freedom...and the key to freedom is money...

The rule is simple: Have Money.... and buy the custom made life of your choice

[tec0]

There is no such thing as a soul, it is unadulterated horse crap sold by religions trying to get your cash before you die. When you die you are gone.

Well I could take you to a old abandon farm house and you could stay the night and the next day you could try and explain what happened during your night time snooze but why on earth do I want to do that? See things do exist regardless of your opinion or mine for that matter. I cannot explain it science is yet to do any type of real exploration on the subject.

I know enough that there is something and that something damn well doesn't need permission from anyone to exist.

*** edit ***

I deleted the last part

[pmbguy]

Fuck Adrian, you have the balls to say what many feel. I still feel something special abound somewhere, yet my reason agrees with you, with some discomfort of course.

Back to the above situation (immortality with attached soul) which proves problematic for the religious because dying is part of the journey to the afterlife. The big question is would one chose immortality Or the afterlife – heaven etc?

@tec0 – What did you experience in the old farm house?

[tec0]

Fuck Adrian, you have the balls to say what many feel. I still feel something special abound somewhere, yet my reason agrees with you, with some discomfort of course.

Back to the above situation (immortality with attached soul) which proves problematic for the religious because dying is part of the journey to the afterlife. The big question is would one chose immortality Or the afterlife – heaven etc?

Nope it is not problematic if you know the scriptures.

As for the farm house well I never set foot into that house. But I know of two people that did and the one became mentally unstable. That said my own experiences are exactly that my own. I need not share them with you or with anyone.

[adrianh]

I am just totally tired of all the bull$h1t. We waste an unbelievable amount of energy of bull. Life is short and we need to live it. We dance around trying to please mindless people simply because we think its the right thing to do. We miss opportunities and have regrets because we felt we were not good enough or whatever.

I don't give a $h1t, I will live my life to the full and I really don't care whether there is a soul, an afterlife or any of that crap. I live with a brain that is defective in many ways and is become more defective by the day. I do not believe that I am more than my defective brain simply because that is the only reference that I have.

We live and we die, I will not spend the little bit of time in between already dead because I am made to believe that I will persist when I am gone. Are you frigging mad, it is like going to the Spur and not eating a fat steak because you are made to believe that there is a better steak waiting at home just as long as you don't eat the one sitting on your plate. F*ck that!~