XáreneMon, Jun 30, 2008 I prefer to look at it this way: Stretching and stopping time instead of actually adding to the numbers of years we are alive. That way, "your" time is affected, not the time of "others".
The foundations of our societies have mischievously shifted to be based on our mortality. Many of the early ancient spiritual and philosophical teachings stress on an immortal life—whether elsewhere; here but in a different form; or here as a continuation of our ancestors and through our offspring. Actually, the foundations have not shifted, but rather it is some form of our immortality that is being capitalized on... "Things" you inherit or leave as inheritance, be it a family heirloom or debt. We become immortal through those "Things".
But attaching immortality to breathing on this Earth and trying hard to stay alive and stay here comes from a nihilistic attitude that death is the end of life. I don't personally believe we will pop up in a "heaven", but assume that death is a passage to another life: If there were a choice to take an immortal life, or die, I would take death. By taking an immortal life here, we close the door to other lives and experiences that come after death.
I prefer to look at it this way: Stretching and stopping time instead of actually adding to the numbers of years we are alive. That way, "your" time is affected, not the time of "others".
The foundations of our societies have mischievously shifted to be based on our mortality. Many of the early ancient spiritual and philosophical teachings stress on an immortal life—whether elsewhere; here but in a different form; or here as a continuation of our ancestors and through our offspring. Actually, the foundations have not shifted, but rather it is some form of our immortality that is being capitalized on... "Things" you inherit or leave as inheritance, be it a family heirloom or debt. We become immortal through those "Things".
But attaching immortality to breathing on this Earth and trying hard to stay alive and stay here comes from a nihilistic attitude that death is the end of life. I don't personally believe we will pop up in a "heaven", but assume that death is a passage to another life: If there were a choice to take an immortal life, or die, I would take death. By taking an immortal life here, we close the door to other lives and experiences that come after death.