Immortality

Living forever is something that many of men have often dreamed and wondered about. Of course, it is impossible for our bodies to maintain an existence forever (at least not that we know of). We grow old and our body frail, extinguishing from the Earth and it has been this way since the dawn of our existence. I will not begin to argue about souls, or even the afterlife; these are not the objects of immortality, at least not in the way we describe such an idea to be. We want to live on forever on Earth, not just in the wandering of our souls after life or in heaven. These things that I have mentioned have been considered something different than immortality, as if the idea of their ‘being’ going to another place - and never ceasing to do so- is not the exact definition of immortality. But still, they contend it to be something different, so we will not bother ourselves with these ideas, but more so with the type of immortality that could exist here on Earth, amongst observers and critics alike. Since we have already decided that a physical presence cannot be maintained on the Earth forever, we will not explore such a possibility. I suppose one could, but it would come to naught. Another job best left for scientists. So now let us move to the other kind of immortality of which we are all familiar – memories. Great men have lived and died, but only few of them are world renowned – always remembered through the years and always will be. One could probably count these people on their fingers and toes, examples including Michael Jackson, Ghandi or Hitler. Their actions on the Earth have left such an outstanding impression that it lives on through decades. Here I think we may find a type of immortality. For when one is alive and then perishes he leaves behind a legacy, of what he has done, thought and felt. And that is all a person really amount to, is it not? Are we not just the products of our prejudices, our opinions, our loves, our hates? If we were not, would we not be all the same? So if we are a product of these things; these things make up the essential fabric and person of who we are (for a man is nothing but a beast without morals) – could we not say that these things are what make us truly alive? Though we are not talking alive in a literal sense, but in a figurative one. And what if those things were kept alive? What if your morals, ideas, prejudices, philosophies, and everything that you stood for in your life was kept alive in peoples’ memories? Could we not say that Hitler has just as much affect now as he did then? Could we not say that Socrates' true being is still alive and well today? I would think so. The impact these types of people have left on us is as much a part of us as is the dealings we have with our loved ones. They have etched out a place in history, as well as people’s minds. These certain individuals’ legacies STILL affect people today, thousands of years later. When we on Earth only strive to have our feelings, emotions and needs acknowledged by others – felt by others- continuing to have this happen, for thousands of years, or better yet – forever, would be just as immortal as anything I can think of. Having your ‘message’ felt by all in the world, for all the years that men study the past and as well as one another, is immortal in every sense of the word. Many men have achieved such status, and it is curious to see the actions they have taken to achieve such status. Gandhi, who preached love and peace, and Hitler who was the dark opposite are never forgotten in the minds of lucid men. These people live on forever, how good or bad may their message be.

Other Wordly Affairs

Religion is quite a bold subject, and it tends to hurt many peoples feelings. I will try my best not to take away from anyone else’s convictions, for I believe one cannot possibly know the answer to the all mystical question of a greater being. But what I will do is give my own opinion on the matter, because hard as I may try, I find it hard to come by any facts on the subject that can be strewn against opinion. It all seems to be opinion in some way or another, there is no way around that. Because if it was the opposite- if there were facts to be argued for the existence of a God, there would be no discussion. Because facts are meant to be true, and I have yet to come by someone who can give me truth as to why their God MUST exist, it all seems to be what they think. That leaves me with nothing to do but give my own opinion and state why I think in such ways. I will try to use as many ‘facts’ as possible, but I mostly will be using common sense to guide me. Anyone who cannot stomach a debate on religion, or cannot stomach to question their own convictions without jumping to the conclusion that they would be abandoning them should NOT read further. In order to debate such a subject, one must possess the ability to take a view point opposite of their own. I have done this many times, and it has lead me to the thoughts that I am about to dispense… Over the thousands of years that man has walked the earth, it seems that religion has always been there with us. As far back as we can date our early ancestors worshipped Gods, so it seems that there is something inside us that drives us to such ideas. I would venture to say that these ideas and beliefs have been thought up and contrived to give people what they want: meaning. For whatever reason it is dreadful for a person to think that after death there is nothing, and that everything we do on Earth amounts to nil. The thought of being so alone and so meaningless frightens the majority of people. So much so, that we have contrived our own makers and our own Gods to give us the answers that we could not give ourselves, even going far enough as to give ourselves a paradise after death! Instead of continuing the search for meaning, they cling to faith, using it as a crutch when individuals come to ask the tough questions, and blindly following what it preaches at no expense. It is troublesome, at least, because one has yet to prove that a God exists. And yet, so many take this to be a fact. I suppose one could argue that because so many believe it, it must be true, and consequentially makes it true. But this does not hold to the test. For once the great population thought that the world was flat, and no one could be told otherwise. So we cannot deduce that because people believe it so much, that it is true, because people often believe foolish things. So we ‘without faith’ keep searching for something, some kind of fact, to let us know if such a being exists. But none has presented itself. The faithful argue that there are signs and messages to their credit, but it still relies on the perception of the individual. It still relies on what people think it means. But let us go back to why I think we have made these Gods up for ourselves. I happen to be of the opinion that if I were squashed the same as a lizard, it would amount to no difference. We are both organisms of the Earth, both operate of the same chemicals and natural processes, and both live and die just the same. So why then, has the human race clung to such a fantasy as heaven, when we would not expect the same from a lizard? Of course, the answer is that a lizard cannot consciously think. “I” is not in the lizard’s vocabulary. Why should humans be so different? Well, the fact that I can sit and write divergent thoughts on the subject is a whole matter in itself, but the difference is that a lizard would never worry itself with such things. It has no conscience to tell it to be worried about having no meaning. The fact that we do, enables us to be scared over such trivial things, so much so that we make up answers for ourselves – No one wants to be as meaningless as a lizard, right? So we have God and Heaven, and we have had him and our endgame paradise in many forms over the thousands of years. He is all knowing, and created everything- even has a spot for us in a wonderful place! What a perfect existence to have! Someone thought it all up and we are just pawns in his game! What a beautiful thing faith must be, because it must come with such happiness. To know in your heart that you have a purpose, that someone is watching over you must be very comforting. But it is not suited for the logical type. Too many inconsistencies exist in it to be true, and I find myself leaning more towards the natural aspect of life. All things exist and live off one another, say the faithful, because that is the way God intended it! Never once thinking that maybe some other force may be behind it, one as natural as water running downhill through dirt. It changes and adapts to everything and everyone, all at once. Nature itself is the true designer, in my lowly opinion of course. Now, what of the word ‘God’? What does it really mean to people? In my mind, if there is some other worldly force behind everything, driving everything, ‘God’ is just as good a name for it as any. But it seems silly to think that such a profound figure would be as we’ve made it, taking human form and all. It seems that if there were to be a ‘God’ it would be an all encompassing force – one that can never be found, because it is one with us. But, people will always have their faith for God and heaven, and others will always detest it. In that, I would like to remind all who hold their convictions so tight: that the truth which you seek and cherish, the meaning of our existence, is sought by both sides of the spectrum. Whether one calls it ‘God, or ‘Nature’, or ‘Chance’, it is STILL seen as a force driving things along. Do not be fooled by people’s objections to your opinions, and their hatred, and their sympathy for them. Because they seek meaning exactly the same as all humans do, and as humans have done since we can remember. Is there a God? One could not say for sure. But you could also not say the opposite for sure either. All in all, God will probably always exist, as will the search for the proof of his existence. Hopefully we have stirred up the faithful enough not to be so blind. And hopefully we have riled up the nay-sayers enough to see that they themselves seek meaning, with the convictions they hold to be true. Before now I have mentioned little between the difference of having faith, and being religious. Now, if God were all knowing, and a good servant of his had been good all of their life, why would they have a need for church? Can all the things a good Christian must do to be faithful not be done without giving money to a church? Would God not know that you are faithful, because he is able to hear our thoughts and our prayers? What of church then? What of organized religion? Such a profound being as God could not possibly care whether or not you were late for church, a man-made house of worship- or care that you did not kiss the priests hand, or give him money. Surely he must not be interested in such material things, because such things are only given value by us, man, not Him. So really he must care about virtue, and honesty, and love, (if he were to be up there caring at all of course), because these are the things that make good men, not donations or church attendance records. Faith and belief is a beautiful thing, and inspires hope and love, where religion is just a scheme to control the masses, and exploit this ever so lovely faith. God would not be swayed by such material and trivial matters. As if CHURCH had any effect of God’s opinion of you. He would judge you solely on what is in your heart and mind, not by the actions we perform. Men of good moral character do not commit heinous acts, just as men of indecent moral character DO. But only because it was in their mind in the first place, they were bad before they committed these condemnable actions, or they would not have thought them up. So, if assuming all that I have said is true, a person of real faith and belief would not be swayed by a church labels, boundaries, and convictions of an organized religion. They would see it as a personal matter, and no church should have a say in the relationship between an individual and their God. (Of course, this is if such a relationship exists.) But, over time we have seen that humans seek safety in numbers. And I will end this segment by saying that almost all religious persons I have encountered have been good-hearted, honest people. Over-zealous? Perhaps. Close-minded? Maybe. But it makes no difference. They are still good people. So we will let them have their religion and God. And we will hope and wish that no more death and destruction is brought upon us in the name of these things… That is another matter altogether, and perhaps it is better left for another time in my thoughts.

The Meaning of Life

The meaning of life is a peculiar subject, and I will not spend too much time analyzing it. I believe the decoding of this matter is best done on an individual basis, with no one coaxing you along the way. But still, I will make a few comments on it, because it fascinates me so. It is not the idea of coming to a conclusive ‘meaning of life’ that wonders me, but the obsession that the human race has displayed for the answer. All sorts of matters, which will be commented on at another time I presume, have been tacked onto finding the answer. Many people have died and fought in religious wars (the best example I can think of), as well as many other endeavors undertook, for better or for worse, in the name of the meaning of life. But again, these will be commented on at another time. Right now we will focus on what the meaning of life may be, instead of all the pleasure and pain the quest for it may have brought upon the human race. Most people of general order associate the meaning of life with some kind of happiness. ‘To be happy’ they say, but such a concept is confusing. Can one ‘be happy’ as a matter of everyday life? Or does this not come from aspects in our life with which we interact with? And if these interactions are letting us ‘be happy’ then are they not the meaning of life-for it was these interactions and situations which bring us happiness? If such were true, then the meaning of life could not be the same for all. What makes one man happy will make another sad, and vice versa. Let’s say that the meaning of life is not to be happy, but something else. Could we really say with any certainty that it would be right? It any more than the notion that happiness is the answer? Let us try. Some say the meaning of life is to reproduce, and this would make sense I suppose. Obviously the object of every animal’s existence is to reproduce, because without it living beings would not exist. Of course there are some who were not meant to bare children, but I feel that is another alley that may take us somewhere we were not expecting. All we will say is that not all creatures could reproduce, because if they did we would be terribly crowded. Now back to the example at hand – the meaning of life being to reproduce offspring. This seems to be a very scientific point of view, and I’m of the opinion they are overlooking themselves. If we are here to only reproduce, then why are we conscious? Why would we not hound around reproducing at a whim and as often as possible- without concern for other crap? Why are we able to love and laugh and think and do all the things that reproducing does not require? If the only reason we are here is to reproduce then we do not need all of those unnecessary bothers! Nor should a dog have a need to chase, or a cat to meow! Why, in such a world, it would only seem fit that we were merely massive, walking reproductive organs! We are not in such a world, however, and I continue to express my thoughts through a computer screen. Which, may I remind you, it just about as far away from reproducing as I could get. So it seems such a scientific view cannot be right (we will not say for sure though, because that would be foolish), and other examples shall be explored in time. Now that we have explored a couple avenues of thought on the subject, I will leave it to the reader to take it further. But, I would like to make light of the things said above: do not take your convictions as fact, and always take others’ with a grain of salt. The meaning of life is ever changing, and in my observations I have found that there is not one meaning of life, but many. It changes just as people grow old and the seasons pass. It would be foolish to think that a concrete answer to this question could exist, but people do. And is it not funny that after a whole spiel about not taking your own opinion as complete fact, I have gone and given mine in such that fashion? We are all human I suppose, and with that I will leave it to the reader.