An Odd Thread

[ksinger]

I''m truly not trying to be morbid, but I found this piece by Brooks to be an interesting read. Every now and then it''s good, I think, to truly contemplate our mortality. It seems to me to restore a proper perspective on each day...

Philosophically yours,
K

In Defense of Death

 

[movie zombie]

definitely gives one pause to wonder.....

movie zombie

 

[somethingshiny]

Thanks for posting this link. I found it very interesting, but on the contrary--not morbid at all, but uplifting!

 

[LaraOnline]

My DH would say that near death experiences are an example of brain activity focused in a certain area of the brain.
But why the similiarity of people''s near death experiences?
And can the hallucinations experienced by mentally ill people (as diagnosed by current medical science) inform us as to the nature of near death experiences?

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:06:21 AM
Author: LaraOnline
My DH would say that near death experiences are an example of brain activity focused in a certain area of the brain.
But why the similiarity of people''s near death experiences?
And can the hallucinations experienced by mentally ill people (as diagnosed by current medical science) inform us as to the nature of near death experiences?

Which came first, consciousness, or the brain through which it manifests? We really do just despise the idea, (most of us) that our I-ness is reducible to mere chemistry. I know I don''t like the idea much, but being honest, there is no empirical evidence that we ARE more than that....

 

[waxing lyrical]

Date: 1/20/2009 6:38:27 AM
Author: ksinger

Date: 1/20/2009 4:06:21 AM

Author: LaraOnline

My DH would say that near death experiences are an example of brain activity focused in a certain area of the brain.

But why the similiarity of people's near death experiences?

And can the hallucinations experienced by mentally ill people (as diagnosed by current medical science) inform us as to the nature of near death experiences?

Which came first, consciousness, or the brain through which it manifests? We really do just despise the idea, (most of us) that our I-ness is reducible to mere chemistry. I know I don't like the idea much, but being honest, there is no empirical evidence that we ARE more than that....

I agree. As much as I think that is the case as I am a skeptic when it comes to the "supernatural," I don't want it to be the case. It's an existential crisis that everyone will have to deal with at some point. Annihilation scares the hell out of me. The comfort of the warm and fluffy afterlife in NT theology doesn't register with me anymore. I don't find it logically or philosophically fulfilling. I'm realizing now how much comfort and security it provides. I never feared death then because I was just "passing through" this life and will experience real life after the physical death.

I was actually talking about this with my husband last night. Of course he was on his way to sleep. I want to believe the consciousness survives death. I fear the death of my consciousness, the I and everything I've come to know, experience, think and feel.

I guess this may be way I find rebirth in Buddhist philosophy appealing -- where the subtlest consciousness survives death. I also find reincarnation interesting and appealing. I still can't shake the thought that there's no data to support any of this and there likely won't be as these concepts and theories are part of the metaphysical or "supernatural" realm.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 1/20/2009 9:57:17 AM
Author: waxing lyrical

Date: 1/20/2009 6:38:27 AM
Author: ksinger

Date: 1/20/2009 4:06:21 AM

Author: LaraOnline

My DH would say that near death experiences are an example of brain activity focused in a certain area of the brain.

But why the similiarity of people''s near death experiences?

And can the hallucinations experienced by mentally ill people (as diagnosed by current medical science) inform us as to the nature of near death experiences?

Which came first, consciousness, or the brain through which it manifests? We really do just despise the idea, (most of us) that our I-ness is reducible to mere chemistry. I know I don''t like the idea much, but being honest, there is no empirical evidence that we ARE more than that....

I agree. As much as I think that is the case as I am a skeptic when it comes to the ''supernatural,'' I don''t want it to be the case. It''s an existential crisis that everyone will have to deal with at some point. Annihilation scares the hell out of me. The comfort of the warm and fluffy afterlife in NT theology doesn''t register with me anymore. I don''t find it logically or philosophically fulfilling. I''m realizing now how much comfort and security it provides. I never feared death then because I was just ''passing through'' this life and will experience real life after the physical death.

I was actually talking about this with my husband last night. Of course he was on his way to sleep. I want to believe the consciousness survives death. I fear the death of my consciousness, the I and everything I''ve come to know, experience, think and feel.

I guess this may be way I find rebirth in Buddhist philosophy appealing -- where the subtlest consciousness survives death. I also find reincarnation interesting and appealing. I still can''t shake the thought that there''s no data to support any of this and there likely won''t be as these concepts and theories are part of the metaphysical or ''supernatural'' realm.

Maybe we aren''t supposed to "know"?

As for dying, I have 2 scenarios. The first is some sort of "life" other than this one, the nature of which is quite beyond me. The second is death must be like going to sleep. You don''t experience anything while you''re sleeping, (dreaming doesn''t count because we rarely remember them for more than about 5 minutes). Maybe death is like that.

Again, not trying to be morbid, but this last year has been a time of deep reflection for me in many different areas, with the death of my mom being the the one affecting me the most.