What would you wish to be true?

[---Beany---]

Despite what you believe, would you rather there be nothing at the time of death, or do you wish that your experience does continue in some way, be it reincarnation or whatever.

And for all the athiests, would you rather there not be a god (Any kind of god not just xian) or do you think life would have more beauty knowing it was created from a conscious source rather than chance.

Are you happy for your life just to be a segment of moments in history or would you rather it have more meaning where love plays a much bigger part in life than just being something that facilitates survival?

Call me a romantic, but I'd rather the consciousness continue after death and constantly grow and evolve and experience ever higher feelings of love and unity of spirit. I think our interactions and experiences and hardships and everything we go through would be much more beautiul knowing it was for the betterment of all of life.

I'm not after any arguments in this thread. There are too many in this forum and they get tiresome. Let's keep it lighthearted.

[Martini]

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---

And for all the athiests, would you rather there not be a god (Any kind of god not just xian) or do you think life would have more beauty knowing it was created from a conscious source rather than chance.

I think life would be far less beautiful if there was an omnipotent god behind all of this who allows so much pain, suffering and evil in this world.*

But of course I would love to live an eternity in everlasting happiness; it sure sounds alot better that not existing anymore.



*Please, lets not highjack this thread into telling others why there opinions are wrong and keep it to just answering the OP's questions, so he can see where people stand.

[PerpetualBurn]

I would much rather know what is true than have a wish with which to shape truth.

[Twisted_Ferret]

I would perhaps like consciousness to continue, but even that isn't a big deal. I'm content as it is.

[Elephantitis Man]

Actually, I think an eternity of happiness would be rather boring. What is happiness without the contrasting sadness? Nothing. You can't simply have one without the other, lest it becomes your everyday disposition, at which point, it loses its value. Part of what makes happiness and joy so grand is that they are temporal. The feeling fades, normalcy resumes, and we eagerly await and cherish future bits of happiness we experience. To have happiness everlasting would spoil it, spoil us; we'd become numb to the feeling.

However, I do love life. Should I have a wish, I would probably opt for non-transcendent reincarnation. Basically, we would all live multiple lives, but retain nothing. When I would die, I would later open my eyes as a newborn, only it would not be "me". I would retain no memories of this life, no resemblance to personality or anything else. I would actually be someone else. The beauty of such a system would be that

1) there would be no baggage in being reborn. One would not grow up longing for their former family and friends. No bad memories or fears. A clean slate.

2) With that clean slate, one would be able to experience life, all over again, as it was their first time.

Just as out of the cells composing you as you developed fired their first synapses in the brain, spawning what you now realize as "you", as both your conscious and subconcious being; and when you pass away, those firings will cease; a fetus elsewhere will begin the development of its being, and a conciousness will spawn.

I suppose it's all rather confusing, though.

I want pizza!

[gremlin hunter]

I want 'god' to be the worlds global conscienceness(sp?). That would be awesome if we found out that really we live in a spiritual democracy

[redzed]

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---:

Despite what you believe, would you rather there be nothing at the time of death, or do you wish that your experience does continue in some way, be it reincarnation or whatever.

The laws of physics seem to demand a continuation of some sort, however I would not wish to remember a lot of this life. I'd like to forget the shitty bits, where there was suffering or where I fucked up(but not forget the lessons learned).

I would like to continue at a higher state of consciousness, where my mind only held joy, and, in a good place, like a rainforest covered montain verging a coastline with great beaches and some special people to share it with. Nice dream!

quote:And for all the athiests, would you rather there not be a god (Any kind of god not just xian) or do you think life would have more beauty knowing it was created from a conscious source rather than chance.

I'd rather we were all on an equal footing, realising the energy of which we are composed is eternal and indestructible(like what we call god)! That eternal energy has always been and always will be. Sentient beings sharing in that energy would realise they are an indivisable, indestructible part of eternal being, without beginning and without end recognising that all others are the same.

quote:

Are you happy for your life just to be a segment of moments in history or would you rather it have more meaning where love plays a much bigger part in life than just being something that facilitates survival?

In the broader sweep of history, has my life much significance? I doubt it, the universe is far greater than one can comprehend such that as Marcus said: 'our lives are like the tiniest speck in the greatest river'.

What is love? Is it possible to define it? Does what we call love, in fact facilitate survival or, is that just something we call love because we want to believe there's more than pain and suffering?

Is it because one desires to believe in love and light, that life is good and one can be happy, so we blot out the suffering of the vast majority of our fellow human beings and live in a delusion we call love?

Namaste

[Abrahim]

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---:

Despite what you believe, would you rather there be nothing at the time of death, or do you wish that your experience does continue in some way, be it reincarnation or whatever.

And for all the athiests, would you rather there not be a god (Any kind of god not just xian) or do you think life would have more beauty knowing it was created from a conscious source rather than chance.

Are you happy for your life just to be a segment of moments in history or would you rather it have more meaning where love plays a much bigger part in life than just being something that facilitates survival?

Call me a romantic, but I'd rather the consciousness continue after death and constantly grow and evolve and experience ever higher feelings of love and unity of spirit. I think our interactions and experiences and hardships and everything we go through would be much more beautiul knowing it was for the betterment of all of life.

I'm not after any arguments in this thread. There are too many in this forum and they get tiresome. Let's keep it lighthearted.

I want to enter into a paradise in my second incarnation.

[Source]

I wouldn't want to cease to exist, yet I wouldn't want all that God worshipping heaven type of afterlife either.

I have to go with something like redzed said. A higher state of consciousness.

[Rust]

I'd like for there to be a god. The idea of complete justice would great; rewards for those who have been "good", and punishment for those who have been "bad".

I'd also prefer an eternity of bliss over reincarnation or nothingness.

However, I do think the universe would not more beautiful "knowing it was created from a conscious source"; at least not if the god in question is omnipotent or posses the ability to better his creation. If that were the case, he could easily create a much better universe; I'd have to settle knowing that this is sub-par, a notion which is not beautiful at all.

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Should I have a wish, I would probably opt for non-transcendent reincarnation. Basically, we would all live multiple lives, but retain nothing. When I would die, I would later open my eyes as a newborn, only it would not be "me". I would retain no memories of this life, no resemblance to personality or anything else. I would actually be someone else.

Really? Personally, that's the aspect I despise most of these reincarnation scenarios. If I cannot remember what I was in a past life, then I'd might as well not lived it. It would be as if tomorrow morning someone were to say to you that reincarnation is real, and that you had lived many past lives... "Great...?" I don't have the pleasure to remember what I did in those lives, and when I die, I won't have the pleasure of remembering this one; there might as well be nothingness.