Re: Boy Claims To Have Been To Heaven
Near-death =/= to death.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.W.Holmes
What do we really know about death? From the perspective of the living, it is impossible to know what it is to be deceased. So-called “near death experiences” are just that: near to death, not gone and returned. The similar hallucinations, such as a bright light, reported during severe trauma have been adequately explained by several studies as having a physiological cause, and have nothing to do with the end of life. Actual death is irreversible and other terms, such as “technically dead”, only refer to reversible states, which have little in common with the absolute form.
What I find interesting is that his "experience" boils down to all the old clichés, huge wings, dead relatives, blah, blah, blah
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.W.Holmes
Human illusions of an afterlife are a reflection of what we know, and what we are; and are confined by the limits of our imagination. To appeal to the broadest base possible, most religions find it necessary to target those who cannot comprehend concepts far removed from everyday life. This results in forms of rebirth that are tainted by anthropomorphism, and restricted by cultural values.
----
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Banquo's Ghost
The sticky question then follows: why that child and not the millions who truly suffer?.
Depends on your idea/perspective of god though. What about a vindictive god? A hateful and incoherent god? A Shestovian god? Or one who takes pleasure in suffering? Or from another perspective why must a god be interested in us anyway? (Two "rational solutions" poke their head up here - envy for our morality or simply there is no interest in us). Ultimately this all boils down to speculation and opinion, there is no way of "knowing".
The sense that every struggle brings defeat
Because Fate holds no prize to crown success;
That all the oracles are dumb or cheat
Because they have no secret to express;
That none can pierce the vast black veil uncertain
Because there is no light beyond the curtain;
That all is vanity and nothingness.
----
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louis VI the Fat
Reminds me a bit of Bernadette of Lourdes, still a multibillion business afer more than a century. But they do believe it, nearly all of them involved really do believe it. Until eventually you get to the point where you wonder if maybe it not just simply fulfills sincere human needs. In this boys' case, for the mother to deal with the loss of her unborn child, and everything else. At Lourdes, it gioves some meaning and hope to the sick and crippled. What else do you tell these people, what else must they believe? I'd believe it too if I were them.
Even those people on television who talk with deceased relatoves of members of the audience...yes, it is all fake. But is it a lie? They don't even have to lie. The audience will want to believe them, will believe them. The ritual is not about deceit, but about fulfilling a spiritual need, however crudely done.
Are we all not simply Bokonists then? Living by the harmless untruths that make us able to cope with this existence? The harmless untruths that make us brave and kind and healthy and happy?
P.S.: Billy Connelly has a great bit about Lourdes, his Nan used to get him to drink holy water from Lourdes for tooth-ache. When he was older he went and got holy water from Lourdes for her and noticed that this water he used to have to drink was used for all sorts of diseases, so he'd been drinking water tainted with all sorts of STDs, pus and blood. :laugh4:
