RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (6) Humankind's time

Human has the time between birth and death.

Archaic Judaism believed in a place called Sheol. This place is for the shadows, as in the Greek mythology the realm of Hades. Sheol does not equal to Hell – souls are not suffering, this is a place for the speechless who is still as death. In the scripture it is emphasized that God is the God of the Living and not the Dead. As it is written in Psalm 115:17 “It is not the dead who praise the Lord , those who go down to silence” And in Psalm 88: 10-12 the questions: “Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah, Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?” The standpoint is obvious: the living must deal with the things of life and not the things before or after life. 

 

Christians believe the life is an invitation for participating in God's plan. Death results in interim judgments, whether the soul goes to the Heaven, the Purgatory or the Hell. The Last Judgment will decide whether the soul will eternally see God – or never, as casted out in the outer darkness. 

Islam teachings are about Seven Skies (Jannah ~ Heaven); the highest level of Paradise being the Firdaws where the prophets and martyrs, and the most truthful and pious people will dwell. Also, those sacrificing themselves for Islam get instant salvation. 

Taoism and Confucianism deal with things of life such as morals and good government. Hinduism’s core point is reincarnation. It is worth mentioning that it is always the body that let the soul go, and not the other way around. The soul cannot leave the body; if it wants do die, first it needs to destruct the body. The progress in human life aims to get out of the circle of reincarnation. Those who do not need a rebirth but still come back to help others called Bodhisattvas. Currently only one loka (world) is open, namely the human world, so people can reincarnate only in this world. The reason for the growing world population is the quickening samsara (the repeating cycle of life, birth and death), and the only possible way of reincarnation. According to the Hindu mythology at the creation God had separated one part of him and this part split into 14 billion particles, 14 billion God's sparkles.  

 

The eastern ascetics aims to prepare for death and the life after death, shortening the time of suffering because of physical desires in the previous life. The main point is therefore the self-determination; there is only cause and effect. Buddhism is similar, but there is no belief in an eternal soul and in self-independence from the rest of the universe. According to Buddha the thinker ceases to exist, but the idea remains, those who feel decease but the feeling remains, actors decease but actions remain. This is like ideas, feelings and actions would be energies, separating once but one day uniting they would reconstruct another human being.  

You may want to check out the Wachowskis' film on the idea.

  

“Men live and die for an idea,
But the idea is immortal.
You can persecute it, judge it, forbid it, condemn it to death,
But the idea continues to live in the minds of men….
He whom it penetrates no longer feels isolated,
For above all the idea remains…..”

NOTE: In the Mahayana Buddhism they pray for the dead for 49 days after passing away, 49 being the estimated time it takes for the spirit to be reborn again into a new life. Some spirits are reborn 3 days, 21 days, 49 days or 100 days after death, and in some cases even 7 years.

RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (5)

 LOVE. LOATHING. ATARAXIA. 

 

In religions the most highly regarded emotion is the love (charity). As Paul writes (1 Corinthians 13), “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (…) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (…) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Love is mutual, God loves their children and humans love God. And those whose love is greater have a greater power too. But can God or humans live without love? Probably not, except for those having hellish darkness in their soul. 

 

An exception is Taoism, where according to Lao-ce Tao precede Love. On the contrary, loathing aims for destruction and annihilation. It can be with or without motivation. A vindictive person can be corrupted, intimidated, silenced by conformist pressure, but hatred itself does not cease to exist. It seems that hatred is decoded in humans’ ancient aggressive instincts. 

Apart from Love and Loathing we might choose Ataraxia (a lucid state of robust tranquility, characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry) which is closely related to apatheia (a state of mind where one is not disturbed by passions). English words for this feeling, closest in meaning: unconcern with contemplation, equanimity, tranquillity. So this is definitely not apathy which has negative connotation. This unconcern is an opt-out which roots deep in ourselves; this is sage, this is the inner freedom of the soul. This is the emptiness, the nothing. This is to be found in everything, as all the colors are to be found in the white color. This is the way of the silence. 

RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (4)

Sophists considered thinking an endless process. It can only be stopped by applying value judgements, a characteristic of social studies. Having an opinion means stopping the process and having a view, having a standpoint. This also means that the rational process of thinking is interrupted by emotions, so we feel we have an opinion and we feel it right and true. 

Religions begin with an axiom – the teachings of a Great Spirit are unquestionable. Scientific thinking, however, aims cognition that is making known the unknown; the motivation being the eagerness for knowledge. This also means that every theorem must be provable and confutable. Therefore there is no absolute truth in science. In contrast, religious thinking cannot result in confuting the axiom. The religious truth is not proven but revealed and it is valid through acceptance. In religious thinking the result is sure (predetermined), which is the proving of one of the postulate. So, science is about how the world is, and religion is about how the world should be – as pointed out by Descartes.

There are phenomena which cannot be described or explained by rational means or in a combinative-logic way. In these cases come emotions handy. Since emotions such as mythicism, magic, vision, calling (of God), intuition, dream, interpretation, symbols, tantric representations, mantras, along with deliberately abandoning rationality, and prayers literally are irrational. However, teachings should be considered false if 1. they alienate the disciple from his inherent culture (since it is not a coincidence he was born in that culture); 2. they make the disciple haughty; 3. they do not require spiritual and moral efforts. Similarly, teacher should be considered a swindler, if 1. he accepts everyone who pays the fee, and does not select among students; 2.he makes the disciple dependent on him and kneel before him, and not before God; 3. he prohibits doubts and humor; 4. he keeps chasing up followers and does not wait for disciples coming themselves.

Thinking aims for objectivity and strives to separate the subject (who recognizes) and the object (what is recognized). Emotions are subjective reactions to recognized phenomena. Characteristics of emotions: 1. their opposite is the unconcern, the opt-out; 2. they are not ruled by human will; 3. they do not emerge on a logic base; 4. for emotions chronology does not count; 5. their strengths do not depend on the objective importance or significance of the occurrence; 6. so, emotions have their own subjective laws. 

image credit: skoften.net

RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (3)

MYTHS are stories important for a group of people and for a religion. 

The collection of myths is called Mythology. In archaic times myths were considered the calling of the spiritual world.

The human answers to myths are CULTS. For instance, the myth of the resurrection is followed by the feast of the unleavened bread, as a rite, as a cult. We can say that a group of people has a culture, if they deeply live their myths and cults. On the other hand there is only barbarity, where people consider myths and cults as fables. Cults accompany man throughout his life. Their function is, first of all, to reinforce individual and social identities. 

Usually, there are 4 main stages in human life: birth, maturity – end of the childhood, marriage – establishing one's own family, death. All of them have their own cults. For instance, a boy to be considered adult man needs to meet requirements, such as being able to look after his family, self-control, ability to endure spiritual and mental shocks, and to keep quiet. In our days, however, there is no interest in myths; cults disappeared, traditions fading away. It is difficult to reach adulthood in such a well-organized kindergarten as our society – as said by an American sociologist. Therefore, there is growing need for mental and spiritual support, usually to be found within closed small communities. These communities tell you what to believe in and how to live. Polytheist pagan cults demanded their followers to live the fullness of life, including all hidden and extreme opportunities. 

In the MYSTERY everybody actively participated and the goal was an altered state of mind and going beyond the limits of civil life. Thus, this belief sometimes resulted in orgies or ritual killings. Later, the Judeo-Christian monotheist religious ethics prohibited living the extremities of life, the core category becoming compunction and remorse. 

Polytheist believers eased their remorse caused by upsetting one of the deities by praying for another for defence. In contrast, monotheism is characterized by totalitarianism. God is Almighty and Omniscient and therefore cannot be misled or deceived, God looks into the hearts. Remuneration and punishment are at his discretion. Core categories are: sin, compunction, atonement, purification or catharsis, salvation, redemption and damnation. 

RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (2)

2.1 In religions only God is INFINITE.

Everything apart from God has an end. The expanding space had a beginning, and so had the substance. Before the Big Bang there was the absolute Nothing, which means there was zero energy. This scientific approach seems to get closer to the religious way of thinking, that is, God created the world from nothing. The world started with the Logos. In the religious world view there are sacred and profane spaces.

Spaces becoming sacred through Revelations or Recognition (and even by human consecration). In general, people love to live near to sacred places, and they also love religious feasts. In fact, civil people created sacred places for themselves too. For instance, sacred are the place of birth, the schools, their home, and the most sacred is their bed. It requires great emotional proximity to get somebody else into your bed. Similarly, there are national commemorations, festivals and there are profane celebrations such as birthdays, name days.


2.2 TIME comes from the infinity and goes to the infinity. There are 2 theories; we can speak about circular time and linear time. The first is a characteristic of Far Eastern cultures. For instance, in Buddhism there is an era of water, fire, earth and air. In the Old Testament, however, the linear time theory comes back, but in this case the time has an end.



There is the God's plan, in what and for the realization of the Humankind joins forces with God.


Anyway, God's given us the freedom of choice. Such a freedom is the core point of the Existentialism too. However, according to this philosophy there is a passion for freedom, and this passion emerged through choices and decisions, and when people are free to choose, they choose themselves, and they are fighting to the death for this property.

RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (1)

notes from Peter Popper's Book - Is anybody there?

own translation


1.1 FAITH - Paul defines faith in Hebrews 11 as “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. So on the one hand faith is being certain of what we hope for. This implies that you can only live the transcendent and not know it. On the other hand faith is the doubling up the existence, thus, creating a dualistic world view. There is a microcosm, the material world that you can physically sense. And there is a macrocosm, beyond space and time, that you cannot sense, things never seen.




1.2 TRUTH - Knowledge is based on scientific truths, which are provable and rebuttable. However, time passing by new scientific truths emerge and overwrites former truths. Therefore, in science there is no absolute truth. There is only relativism. We can say that the story of science is actually a story of human errors. On the other hand there are truths you cannot prove in a rational way. For instance, Jesus says "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) This is true for those who are sure it is true, who feel the truth. In mathematics this is called conjecture. Nevertheless, every culture is composition of conjectures and superstition.




For there are questions in the improvable truths concerning the details; such as Satan appeared to Jesus in a physical body? Lazarus was a novice to John, who was beloved by Jesus, and is Rudolf Steiner really his reincarnation in the 20th century? You may say that for Life the Truth is indifferent, only the effect counts. Faith is usually composed of mosaics of faith. That is, you fear being punished for your sins by God (Christianity), but you also believe that underground waters affect your well-being (Feng Shui).


1.3 The RELIGION is faith in a framework. Teachings are built upon each other. Teachings are about 1. God and the transcendent world – this is Theology; 2. The World and its origin – this is Ontology; 3. The Human, his purpose, life and death – this is Anthropology; 3. Morals, Good and Bad, Redemption and Damnation – this is Ethics. Every Religion deals with the relationship between God and the Man. It seems that for a religion to emerge 3 features are required: consciousness, self-reflexion and mortality. The main point is that the Humankind is continuously quarrel with Mortality. You may say, however, that the purpose of Religions is solely the Consolation. Freud writes about the Unconcern of the Nature – Man creates religions against a cosmic solitude. Nevertheless, almost everyone has felt the existence or the effects of something supernatural and he that has something to do with infinity and eternity. This is called Oceanic Feeling, by Romain Roland.




For those who have not experienced the oceanic feeling, religion is no more than a formal rite. Troy was only a legend before Schliemann and there were only stories about the labyrinth of Minos, but we now know they have existed. World religions are considered “world” due to their influence. 3 of them emerged in the Far East and are based on ENLIGHTMENT. Another 3 of them emerged in the Middle East and are based on REVELATION. The histories of each of them are characterized by a process of separation and fragmentation into different groups. For instance, Jews formed distinct ethnic groups, such as Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe and the Sephardi Jews of Spain, Portugal and North Africa. From another point of view, nowadays there is Haredi Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Reform, Liberal and Conservative Judaism, inter alia. It is also worth mentioning, that modern religious regulations are usually quite different from their origins. Anyway, Religions exist, and will exist, since the mankind is always searching for reasons and rational assurances, and they severely fear of the empty (horror vacui).

image credits: dharmalog.com; softwarehamilton.com; photographyblogger.net; thiennh2.deviantart

UPDATE - REMARKABLE COMMENTS

JP Reville What is there to fear? WHO is there to do the fearing, for that matter?
T Mandrake purgatory would be pretty grim I guess, and this photo is quite close to how I picture it. but actual death is a snap, the light goes out, you know no more.
A Kahn I cannot be certain about anything. Anyone honest would say the same... we all have doubts because so much is unknown. A fear of nothingness is a fear of the unknown... so were I to fear nothingness I would spend all my life in fear and I'm not willing to do that. Therefore I despise any religion or science that tries to instil fear in me or anyone else.
L Latta in science there is no absolute truth. There is only relativism. We can say that the story of science is actually a story of human errors. I Love that!
A Kahn I like it too... but couldn't we extend it by saying that life itself (of which science is just a part) is a story of human errors? And perhaps we never uncover truths but can only expose untruths.
M Clark I fear nothing! I've always regarded it as something inconceivable--I've never known the sheer absence of anything material--so, fascinating to contemplate it.
T Mandrake those cages in time bandit    
K Wright //and they severely fear of the empty//
That is, of course, if they can 'sense' the empty. I cannot imagine why one would or how one could. The picture above, by the way, is not empty..  
D Blair Do you fear being God, the only God, no peers, no "others?" Stuck with yourself, by yourself, of yourself? Demiurge? Does Creation make better sense now? No-thing-ness is the same as all-one-ness (alone?) I kinda wonder about that. Creation being God running away from his all-one-ness, his no-thing-ness. 
K Wright All one can ever lose is consciousness, Vikor. Ever been under anesthesia? Total oblivion. The only difference between that and death is that one lasts longer. I can never understand why things would be more complicated after I die. I will never understand that notion.. 

D Blair Kevin, hi. My wife's a neurologist. Empirically, I'm not sure it's (consciousness) quite as simple as that. There are degradations of consciousness and awareness it would seem. Who knows? Viktor. Even from a strictly materialist approach "I" who am a thing, cannot "have" everything, in any meaningful sense of the word. Even if some Corporation forms and starts selling distant Galaxies to folks, time-space effects get in the way of objectively "having" everything. Time-space wise, not everything is "mine" to have, least as I see it. Gotta drop the Empirical Materialist approach to address the Whole in any meaningful way to us puny humans, I think. Anyway, I was suggesting that perhaps each of us is perhaps a part of the Demiurgic creator god. Each of us can indeed come in and out of existence at the whim or folly of the greater/'behind-our-limited-dimensionality creator god. Each of us little humans can (usually do) become "lost/acclimated" in/to this created world during our usually brief time of existence/creationality. Did that make any sense? It's not just the "bigger" demiurgal god that does all the "creating/forgetting/loosing itself" in its own created existence, it's all the many-layered sub-parts as well.
EC Lee-O'Neal I'm not sure why ending w nothing is a bad thing? What's worse for me is a bunch a dangling carrots of non-nothingness w no proof
K Wright I take you have never received propofol, D Blair? Pure oblivion. Consciousness is a brain function. Remove that function and you have oblivion. No thought, no passage of time, no awareness whatsoever. Death cannot be dissimilar, to my mind.. 
D Blair Kevin. I've been under general anesthesia. Don't know the name of the anesthetic, though. It would be interesting to crawl inside the brain of a late-stage Alzheimer's patient. Consciousness with no working memory? Perhaps ego consciousness is just a useful illusion of the brain, much like stereoscopic vision is a useful illusion?