Spong's Study of Life, # 2

[_Roger Morrison]

Hi Nehor, thanks for your personal thoughts. Much appreciated & respected. No need to apologize... I will inject my thoughts into what You said:

I said earlier that the afterlife is not an entirely religious subject. RM:That might be due to the cross-border-influence in our culture that Religion has played through the ages?? The promises of my own faith are not addressed to intellectual curiosity; they're meant to inspire and frighten believers. If you approach them from a purely secular standpoint they seem to have little to offer. RM: Interesting observation. Very much the opposite with how what science offers is accepted... Look at the caricatures of heaven and hell that we have in our culture. However, if addressed to someone who loves God already and has some desire for Him (I say some because mortals can't do it perfectly) then it becomes very, very religious. RM: I think the same could be said of those who understand the mechanics of life, and "love" that life is offered unconditionally (except for practiceing the laws upon life-science requires)... Someone who loves God more then anything else will dance for joy at the thought of dwelling with him forever without the veil holding us apart. RM: As is the case of those who love the assurity that knowing the truths of what sustains life, (photosynthesis, as an example) and abiding such, their lives will be as good as they apply their knowledge to the physical and psyche aspects of their life. The veil to "part" is ignorance... The same person will feel holy fear at the thought of separation.
RM: THERE IS NO FEAR of that, as there is only unity/connectedness in reality.

Wow, I went on for a bit.....sorry. Thanks!

Roger
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[_Roger Morrison]

Uncle Dale, I think we are both on the same track, going in the same direction. You said:

But there is another sort of life-after-death that makes an impression upon my mind --
and that is the tiny bits of reproductive genetics which survive from one generation
to another. I look at a photo of my great grand-mother and then look at my own
grand-daughter, and see hints of the same eyes -- the same chin -- the same smile.
A microscopic bit of my ancestor's DNA lived on, after her death. Perhaps all the
really survived was a template -- a pattern -- a biological photocopy. But it is unique
and it preserves something of my great grand mother. I find happiness in that.

I understand human flesh--as other flesh--to be bio-degradeable, returning our nutrients to the biosphers to nourish new live as you indicated. Who knows who will be a diamond? ;-) I also see us as genetic links in the human chain refining knowledge that lifts us farther from the cave with each generation--that is quality nurtured... That is the evolution of humanity from what it was to what it is; then to what it will be. A slow process but one that is, in general and in specific examples, technologically obvious. And, i don't hesitate to suggest socially, albeit at a slower pace. Often slowed by religious influence, that is now becoming influenced by science as never before. As i see things...
Roger
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[_solomarineris]

Uncle Dale, I think we are both on the same track, going in the same direction. You said:

But there is another sort of life-after-death that makes an impression upon my mind --
and that is the tiny bits of reproductive genetics which survive from one generation
to another. I look at a photo of my great grand-mother and then look at my own
grand-daughter, and see hints of the same eyes -- the same chin -- the same smile.
A microscopic bit of my ancestor's DNA lived on, after her death. Perhaps all the
really survived was a template -- a pattern -- a biological photocopy. But it is unique
and it preserves something of my great grand mother. I find happiness in that.

I understand human flesh--as other flesh--to be bio-degradeable, returning our nutrients to the biosphers to nourish new live as you indicated. Who knows who will be a diamond? ;-) I also see us as genetic links in the human chain refining knowledge that lifts us farther from the cave with each generation--that is quality nurtured... That is the evolution of humanity from what it was to what it is; then to what it will be. A slow process but one that is, in general and in specific examples, technologically obvious. And, i don't hesitate to suggest socially, albeit at a slower pace. Often slowed by religious influence, that is now becoming influenced by science as never before. As i see things...
Roger

UD & Roger,
I like reading your your soulful interpretations. I am genuinely happy for you UD that you can keep that abstract afterlife hope alive. Roger, evolution of humanity is unique, it never happened before to any species who became self aware, sentient. In my book we won DNA lottery,
It is very likely that it will never happen again. I won't lament about it, I enjoy the opportunity or chance given to me.

Nehor
The overwhelming consensus though it that there is an afterlife. One wonders why.

I don't wonder about it, there is no evidence whatsoever somebody came back to give an accounting, (I don't believe NDE's are valid evidence). I can't say for sure there's nothing after death, I just don't see any evidence for it. ( I won't take anybody's word for it, I have to see it myself).

[_Uncle Dale]

...
It is very likely that it will never happen again.
...

Given another 10 generations of our own physical/social/scientific evolution,
I'm fairly certain that one day we'll help elevate dolphins and bonobos to
the level of sentient beings.

They then may have a few things to teach us.

UD