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I want to speak to an important question, though: why DO we continue? I don't see death as innately undesirable (though the period immediately before it can be

I want to speak to an important question, though: why DO we continue? I don't see death as innately undesirable (though the period immediately before it can be painful) but I think that karma is real (not the loopy, Westernized kind; it occurs over millennia and its only continuation is through the mind itself-- nothing supernatural other than reincarnation, if that qualifies) and that rebirth is true. Choosing to die isn't necessary karmically negative-- and euthanasia goes into a different category-- but killing anyone (including oneself) in anger or out of a negative emotion probably is karmically negative, and the moment between lives is one of the most powerful/karmically charged points that one faces. So, for me, it just seems like a risk I don't want to take. Even when life seems horrible, I don't kid myself into believing for a second that I couldn't be born again much worse off, facing all the same karmic problems but with less in the way of resources. (No, I'm not saying "suicides go to hell" because I'm not sure I believe in a hell; but I am saying that I think an afterlife is, although certainly not proven, more likely than not and I don't want to go there on bad terms.)

javajosh 13y ago
> nothing supernatural other than reincarnation, if that qualifies Evidence of reincarnation would be astounding! Interestingly, even if reincarnation were proven, scientifically, to happen, it wouldn't change my belief at all. My duty is to Earth life in general, and the human organism in particular, and that's true whether my mind is the same age, or very much older, than the body I'm currently wearing. :)
- michaelochurch 13y ago
  There's evidence, but not proof, for reincarnation. (It's probably impossible to prove or refute.) Researchers like Ian Stevenson have worked on it. Personally, I prefer not to try to remember past-life memories. If there were a reason for it, I would. Also, I tend to think (and I know this is an unpopular view in CS circles) that there probably are some paranormal interactions between consciousness and the world. Where I call bullshit is when people claim control of it-- that they can talk to dead people or predict the future or communicate telepathically. That stuff is all bunk.
gnaritas 13y ago
> it occurs over millennia and its only continuation is through the mind itself Minds last no longer than brains, which is a human lifetime; how could it possibly occur over millennia? > nothing supernatural other than reincarnation, if that qualifies) and that rebirth is true. Rebirth and reincarnation are supernatural beliefs; they have no foundation in fact or evidence at all. > but I think that karma is real Based on what evidence? > (not the loopy, Westernized kind It's all equally loopy.
- eshvk 13y ago
  I will take another go at explaining what OP said. Things you do have consequences; if you beat your wife every day, it is likely that your son will solve his problems by beating people. You will be dead soon, he will live on to inflict this on the world.
  - gnaritas 13y ago
    While that makes much more sense, that's not what karma means. So if that's what he meant, then he doesn't actually believe in karma.
ANTSANTS 13y ago
>I don't see death as innately undesirable (though the period immediately before it can be painful) Ironically, I was under the impression that dying itself is strangely pleasant and comfortable, while being dead and done forever is the scary part. Not that I ever bothered to ask a dead person or anything.

javajosh 13y ago

> nothing supernatural other than reincarnation, if that qualifies Evidence of reincarnation would be astounding! Interestingly, even if reincarnation were proven, scientifically, to happen, it wouldn't change my belief at all. My duty is to Earth life in general, and the human organism in particular, and that's true whether my mind is the same age, or very much older, than the body I'm currently wearing. :)

michaelochurch 13y ago
There's evidence, but not proof, for reincarnation. (It's probably impossible to prove or refute.) Researchers like Ian Stevenson have worked on it. Personally, I prefer not to try to remember past-life memories. If there were a reason for it, I would. Also, I tend to think (and I know this is an unpopular view in CS circles) that there probably are some paranormal interactions between consciousness and the world. Where I call bullshit is when people claim control of it-- that they can talk to dead people or predict the future or communicate telepathically. That stuff is all bunk.

gnaritas 13y ago

> it occurs over millennia and its only continuation is through the mind itself Minds last no longer than brains, which is a human lifetime; how could it possibly occur over millennia? > nothing supernatural other than reincarnation, if that qualifies) and that rebirth is true. Rebirth and reincarnation are supernatural beliefs; they have no foundation in fact or evidence at all. > but I think that karma is real Based on what evidence? > (not the loopy, Westernized kind It's all equally loopy.

eshvk 13y ago
I will take another go at explaining what OP said. Things you do have consequences; if you beat your wife every day, it is likely that your son will solve his problems by beating people. You will be dead soon, he will live on to inflict this on the world.
- gnaritas 13y ago
  While that makes much more sense, that's not what karma means. So if that's what he meant, then he doesn't actually believe in karma.

ANTSANTS 13y ago

>I don't see death as innately undesirable (though the period immediately before it can be painful) Ironically, I was under the impression that dying itself is strangely pleasant and comfortable, while being dead and done forever is the scary part. Not that I ever bothered to ask a dead person or anything.