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Immortality
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Immortality |
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IMMORTALITY AND THE AFTERLIFE
How to find clues as to what immortality might entail(2nd edition - February 2006) by A.O. Kime Whether immortality is in the cards for humans has been debated for centuries, assuredly since the Stone Age. Yet there are only two sides of the coin when it comes to the question of immortality. It is simply yes… or no. Either it exists or it doesn’t. It is a simple matter only initially however, and especially simple if the answer is no, because then the trail would end. If the matter is yes, and if to pursue the particulars, it would become just like all other metaphysical questions… elusive and subject to all sorts of possible answers. Compounding the problem... answers to metaphysical questions lie within a
vast sea of unknowns where everything is diametrically opposed to human logic.
This makes very precarious humanly-conceived metaphysical theories and spiritual
beliefs. From even the slightest deviation from the truth, the reality of a
theory (or belief) could be situated anywhere on the map. And this map
is, well, huge… the scope of metaphysical matters seems to be infinitely
dimensional. Afterlife cluesFirst of all… where do we begin? Well, we can only begin with clues… because there are only clues from which to begin. That’s because no facts exists. While religions tell us of an afterlife, they offer no details, no proof… leaving the matter in doubt. Religions, therefore, are of no help. Near-death experiences aren't much help either. While they might make someone believe more in an afterlife, they yield no information as to what lies beyond. Other than these near-death experiences, there just isn't any circumstances whereby ordinary folks might become privy. Meanwhile, theories are just theories. Ordinary folks, therefore, are of no help... which leaves the spiritual-minded. Of course we already know science would be of no help... scientists know nothing of the metaphysical and try to explain phenomena in 'rational' (scientific) terms. Except to be rational, according to science, one must stay within the boundaries of their core belief… which is, answers must be ‘logical’. However, it is instead illogical to think man's version of logic would apply to the metaphysical... comprised of different realities. The only metaphysical existent science acknowledges is life itself even though, contrary to practice, it does not 'square'. For obvious reasons, science is forced to acknowledges life. While science would accept metaphysical realities if they could be proven but some things are so evident they shouldn’t need proving. Why even try? Why should mankind try to square everything with his subjacent realities? After all, they are subjacent due to the fact the reality of the spirit world is more encompassing. Who says so? The mysteries of metaphysics. So, if religions, ordinary folks and science are of no help... how do we find clues
as to what immortality entails then? Well, there is only one way… spiritually. While the human imagination does play an important roll, perhaps dominates, that doesn’t lessen the wonder just because it is commonly viewed as humanly (psychologically) created. In other words, scientific terms don’t automatically limit or lessen a metaphysical marvel. The roll imagination plays in this type of dreaming suggests only its profound complexity, its astounding ability to 'create', whereas scientific explanations of these dreams merely demonstrate shallow straight-line thinking, much as Darwin’s theory of evolution. Immortal philosophical failingsBefore we continue along these lines, let’s first better understand where we’re at today and what we’re faced with in trying to figure out metaphysical questions. First of all, science hasn’t made the slightest headway in the last 2,000 years. What science claims to know is almost invariably the result of a forced fit. Matters of the spirit world exist within a different environment than our physical world… just as the term ‘metaphysics’ suggests. It follows that a vastly different reality would relegate to the spirit world a vastly different ‘logical disposition’. In other words, the circumstances dictate what can be considered logical and why ‘earthly logic’ doesn't apply to spirit world curiosities. While occasionally science may have caught the scent of some particular spiritual reality, it is forever left with nothing to hold in its hand, that is, nothing logically compatible with physical realities. And since it isn't compatible, it is summarily tossed aside. In other words, human logic is based upon all those things established by the known laws of physics and therefore human logic isn't applicable to the spirit world. It’s a horse of a different color. As a result, as in psychology or sociology for example, scientific assessments aren’t painting the full picture and often the wrong picture. Academia tries to force-fit God’s modus operandi into their professions… well-paid professions by the way, to explain the human psyche. This is not to say it is impossible for humans to figure it out, just human logic. One needs to set aside human logic for these purposes. It is to scrap all previous notions and begin thinking in ways never before imagined. Forget about known scientific contentions, and except for Plotinus, forget about what all the other philosophers have said as well although at least Immanuel Kant recognized this:
Since the spirit world has a different ‘logical disposition’, the approach to
metaphysical questions must therefore be different. Just like man learned to
swim, similarly, man needs to learn how to ‘think spiritually’. First though, one
must sense spiritual logic to get anywhere. It must be recognized and its essence
grasped. Spiritual logic will tender spiritual truths simply because its logic
represents its corresponding reality whereas human logic, based on completely
different realities, is only applicable to itself. Logic, you see, is the child of
realities. But, in order to be a legitimate child (logical), it must accurately
represent a given reality. The Divine Intellect and immortality
But hold on, it isn’t so easy. Unless you measure-up, you’ll never have a clue
what spiritual thinking is all about. One must prove themselves worthy first.
Further, while man managed to teach each other the art of swimming, spiritual
thinking is something you can’t teach someone, you can only teach yourself. That
capability is within everyone however… it is an inherent feature. Everlasting life and the senses
So what will the afterlife be like and where will it take place?
Will we be flesh and blood or become a spirit of some sort? Well, I can’t say, I
haven’t completed the course in Room 101 yet... therefore I can't open any more doors.
So far, the professor hasn’t said either. I’ve often raised my hand to ask those
questions but he ignores me. Apparently he is of the opinion that if you're
searching for clues, the right to open those doors must be earned. While reaching this
point would demonstrate a fervent desire for eternal life, whether it makes any
difference is unknown, but it would seem important. Forever to dream?Lastly, if we don’t receive a new set of senses in order to experience living as we now know it, then another possibility exists, the dream state... call it afterlife dreaming. However, the dream state would completely shatter our concept of what is required to be considered 'alive'. Who knows, in light of the awesome capabilities of the creator, omnificent, maybe life can exist in varying degrees after all. Perhaps the following is a clue ... even though all living creatures are considered ‘alive’, it is a term consistently applied to each creature equally, as if being 'equally alive', whereas it could be a relative matter... as in one form of' life possessing more 'features' of life than another. For example, a 'lowly' creature with merely instincts is not as 'featured' as a larger animal which also possesses awareness. The 'human element' is one more additional feature. What if even more features existed? Perhaps then... ‘alive’ and ‘life’ should no longer be viewed as synonymous. We shouldn’t necessarily feel cheated by the dream-state possibility however. Many of our dreams, especially those mentioned earlier, are effectively the same thing as living. After all, the images and action are vivid enough to believe them real while dreaming. Besides, 'afterlife dreams' could be even more vivid. To a large extent, reality equates to that which is believed to be reality anyway.
Importantly, those images and scenarios experienced in dreams (or in afterlife dreaming)
wouldn’t take place if we didn’t have our current senses however… perhaps the
purpose for being human.
These incredible books by A.O. Kime are available here!
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Kime
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