Eternity

Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those of a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world.
- Buddha

I've been thinking about eternity a lot lately. Perhaps it's because I am deathly ill with the flu that has laid one of my roommates out since Friday... or perhaps it's because I have taken too much NyQuil lately. Either way, it's been on my mind, and like my man B-money said above, we have almost no clue.

My ego cherishes hope that there is something after this place. My rationality, however, is unable to escape the idea that we are just simple biological systems, and when we break down too much, it's over. I struggle, like so many before me, to find some middle ground between the two... but striking a balance between eternity and finality seems impossible. I envy the fundamentalist who is so completely absorbed in his faith that he feels no fear of death. To be so certain of the destination would be bliss... but to accept all of the dislogic that goes along with those beliefs would be like self-inflicted Alzheimer's for me.

Like the good little liberal arts scholar that I am, I am doing more research. I'm investigating the feelings of the Flock on this topic - and if you're reading this you're a member. Please post your answers to the following questions:

1) Is there an afterlife?
2) How do you know?

Any answer you feel strongly about will do; prose, verse, claymation, interpretive dance, etc. For entertainment and enlightenment purposes only - please, no wagering.

9 comments:

Modig said...

1) I don't know. But isn't that the point?

2) I don't know that there is an afterlife, no one does. There is an important distinction between knowing something to be true and believing something to be true. I know that if I drop a solid object, it will fall to the ground. I believe that there may indeed be "life" beyond this one. However, I feel that we do ourselves a great disservice by not focusing on the here and now, in this world, in this life.

To point out the difference between knowing something to be true and believing something to be true is by no way devaluing either. Believing in something is in no way delusional or misguided, it simply comes from a different place.

To quote a certain guy from a certain sci-fi show.

"It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It's about faith. You don't fix faith...It fixes you."

Mayren said...

I was totally geared up to wax philosophical about how noone knows and Modig beats me to the punch.
I agree 100% with him.
(did I just say I agree with Modig?)
I guess wierder things have happened. :)
*throws a big huggle to Linus during his time of internal pondering*

Anonymous said...

See I would love to help you out with this, but I have the exact same battle that you are having... it scares me a lot not to know what is going to happen to me. Like you as well I grope for a balance and a clue to let me know that there is something else. All I can say is that I hope there is something else. I'm sure this probably doesn't help you out at all, but it at least lets you know that you aren't struggling alone.

Anonymous said...

As some may know, I grew up in a Christian household and when I started to question what I was taught the scariest thing I encountered was the afterlife question. "If there is no heaven or hell then what happens to us? Does anything even happen?" And I don't know anything for sure, as Modig said no one knows.

I do believe though, that all sentient beings have souls, otherwise how do you explain ghosts!!! Just kidding. (kinda)

Maybe our souls just turn into energy and disperse into the world. Maybe our souls are reincarnated. (I have always felt like a "old soul") I think there is a lot of questions we just won't ever have the answer to.

*Much huggles for the sicky!!

Teh Dr. said...

1. I wish.

2. I don't.

Flynn said...

1 & 2- I'll know sooner than I want to, just like rest of us.

Unknown said...

1. I don't know, but I think so...

2. There have been too many unexplained occurances in my life relating to my who have passed on for me to think that there isn't anything after this. I have no idea what it is, just a strong feeling that there's something.

CorianderDragon said...

I wanted to let you know that I was at the poster sale in the Union, and I found a poster that you might like to see... I thought it was really cool. Its called "What is Life"

Claytonian said...

B-money is good

I use B-fresh and don't know why I started

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