Blog #6

I believe that in some way we do survive death, even if it is simply as fertilizer for a nearby flower. There are, however, beliefs and arguments that state the exact opposite, that once our brains stop functioning our consciousness is lost and therefore we cease to exist.

I don't believe this is the case. Although our consciousness is a result of memories and chemical reactions that occur within the brain, I am inclined to believe that what drives us emotionally is attached to something greater than a physical mass. There are sensations we experience emotionally that seem connected to a greater source, for example, love. Love is not simply a learned behavior, which would suggest that it is innate. If there were nothing greater for humans to experience outside of this life, what would be it's purpose, love? It contradicts any suggestions of survival since you don't need to love to survive.

Blog #5

Do We Survive Death?

Yes I believe that we do survive death. You want my convincing argument? Well I don't have one. There is no real concrete evidence to support this theory nor to disprove it. Scientists are working to prove that consciousness does not extend beyond the physical realm. Quantum mechanics is being used to explain the metaphysical and new age idea that we can control our own destiny with a simple thought. Nihilism, atheism, psychics, near death testimonials all scramble to find a way to define what we presently do not know. 

I am comfortable with the candle idea (see blog #3). By the time the outline for my 6 page paper on my belief that we do survive death is due, I hope to have a new and exciting scientific break thru to support my ideas. What? I still have like 6 days.

I need to remove my name from this blog before I pull out all my hokey beliefs to back up my opinion on this matter.

What will my peers think?

Blog #4

Theism -  is the belief in one or more divinities or deities. There are many forms of theism but at its root there are generally teachings that support a belief in the after life.

Atheism- is a rejection of theism that affirms the non-existence of a god or gods. Most generally, a person that subscribes to atheistic beliefs would not believe in life after death.

Nihilism- is a philosophical position which argues that existence is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. Nihilism, like atheism, lends itself to the belief that there is nothing greater that exists that can be communicated to explain a significance in human existence. Therefore belief in an after life is pointless.

Metaphysics- is a branch of philosophy that investigates principles of reality that transcend any particular science. It is concerned with explaining the ultimate nature of being and the world. It serves as a sort of umbrella for theories that have a scientific approach to explaining what we do not know about after life and the nature of existence.

Reincarnation - is the belief that the essential part of a living being survives death to be reborn into a new body. Although it is considered a religion, there are some varieties of Buddhism that do not include the belief in a personal god. They do however belief in rebirth after death.

Rachels, James. Rachels, Stuart. Problems from Philosophy. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009, 2005.

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