F
Forever Sleep
Earned it we have...
- May 4, 2022
- 10,069
Honestly, I can't say I believe in reincarnation. Especially not in terms of the framework of religion. I can maybe get my head around various bits of us being recycled perhaps. Physically we are of course- or would be if we let nature take it's course. As corpses, we would become carrion for scavaging animals- we'd be food effectively if we weren't preserved or destroyed before that happened.
But, in terms of a single soul learning a bunch of lessons, it just seems odd. To what end? What were we when humans didn't exist? Dinosaurs? Other animals? Aliens from another planet?
Do you suppose any animal contemplates its own death? Do you suppose any of them believe in reincarnation? Are some of them just itching to come back as something more 'developed'? What is the criteria for that? 'Well done madam- you've been a particularly good earth worm. We're pleased to tell you you've gained a promotion! You'll be reincarnated as a blackbird. Time to seek revenge on all the other earth worms that teased you.'
It's like- I suppose I can imagine a human learning a humbling lesson by coming back as an animal. But- do animals actually 'sin' in the same way humans (supposedly) do? How can an animal progess when surely, most of them are more likely blindly following their programming?
I think it was @Pluto that said a cow was considered to have progressed to a higher spiritual level somewhere. Maybe some animals do have a certain serenity to them. I doubt they were consciously aiming to reach a higher spiritual level but I suppose you can achieve something without consciously working towards it. Like honorary degrees I suppose.
I just find it kind of interesting. Like- I think as humans, we can observe animals and learn from them. We can revere certain qualities they have. I guess we'll either know or never know whether they did reach a higher spiritual plane when we die.
Personally, I lean towards atheism now and there being nothing. Still, it always puzzles me how people of most faiths reconcile certain things.
But, in terms of a single soul learning a bunch of lessons, it just seems odd. To what end? What were we when humans didn't exist? Dinosaurs? Other animals? Aliens from another planet?
Do you suppose any animal contemplates its own death? Do you suppose any of them believe in reincarnation? Are some of them just itching to come back as something more 'developed'? What is the criteria for that? 'Well done madam- you've been a particularly good earth worm. We're pleased to tell you you've gained a promotion! You'll be reincarnated as a blackbird. Time to seek revenge on all the other earth worms that teased you.'
It's like- I suppose I can imagine a human learning a humbling lesson by coming back as an animal. But- do animals actually 'sin' in the same way humans (supposedly) do? How can an animal progess when surely, most of them are more likely blindly following their programming?
I think it was @Pluto that said a cow was considered to have progressed to a higher spiritual level somewhere. Maybe some animals do have a certain serenity to them. I doubt they were consciously aiming to reach a higher spiritual level but I suppose you can achieve something without consciously working towards it. Like honorary degrees I suppose.
I just find it kind of interesting. Like- I think as humans, we can observe animals and learn from them. We can revere certain qualities they have. I guess we'll either know or never know whether they did reach a higher spiritual plane when we die.
Personally, I lean towards atheism now and there being nothing. Still, it always puzzles me how people of most faiths reconcile certain things.