Anil Seth writes in response to a request from Gardian contributor James Baily: “We do not usually worry much about the oblivion that preceded our birth, so why should we worry about the equivalent oblivion that will follow our death? Oblivion isn’t the experience of absence, it is the absence of experience. As the novelist Julian Barnes put it, in his meditation on mortality, there is ‘nothing to be frightened of.’ ".
That is an interesting concept: “. . . equivalent oblivion that will follow our death . . .”. I agree that, for us, there is an oblivion before our birth since the sperm and egg have not yet knit together, we do not yet exist. But to say there is oblivion after death is a faith statement, an assertion made on presumption. Between those assumed oblivions there exists a life, a life of experience and the build up of skills and knowledge. Dr. Seth lives a life in his own experience. He has attained the status of a Neural Scientist. He has acquired this status through work and interactions with others, including the recorded experiences of other historical humans. Apparently all this will result in oblivion.
Or we can believe there is more to life than our own experience. Heb 11:6 says: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists . . ." Since God exists, there is no, nor has ever been, oblivion in the sense of nonexistence. God exists, and we exist. We exist because we were created by him. Yet some, for whatever reason, would prefer to think there is no God. We all from the time we were born have lives that will never end. Sadly some will forever wish there was oblivion.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Saturday, March 1, 2025
CHOOSING OUR EXPERIENCE
Our involvement in the experience of living as a human can lean or be pushed toward either of two extremes: that of the "World of Device", of the "World of Real Experiences".
The "World of Device" is lived in our phones, our tablets, our computers or the TV and radio. The "World of Real Experience" takes place by being with actual people, or at actual events, or of being in actual nature.
The degree of involvement and participation in either of these Worlds depends on which we lean more towards, on which we spend more time at. In the "World of Devices" we talk on a phone but we only hear a voice. We may do a Video call, but we only hear a voice and see an image. Neither are the actual person, just an electronic representation. The computer gives us only the written word. It can also provide an audio and visual representation of a person or group of people, but none of these is the real person, or group of persons. The TV or radio further separates us by time. What we are seeing or hearing may have taken place at an earlier time than we are experiencing it. The electronic signal we are experiencing may have been edited or otherwise manipulated. Overall, the "World of Devices" can be easier and require less of the expense of our involvement.
In the "World of Real Experience" we: spend more time and money doing it. We may have to travel to other people, or host the other person or people. Once with them we directly use our senses; our sight, our hearing, our smell, our touch, and our taste (whoever experienced the taste of a Zoom dinner or Zoom pot-luck?) We cannot relive the experience except by artificial means like audio or video recording. During the experience we cannot pre-edit what we say, it rarely comes out perfectly. If we write a letter, or a card there is no spellcheck or syntax checking, or grammar suggestions. The "World of Real Experience" requires our direct, immediate involvement.
We can choose our involvement in the experience of living as a human. Do we prefer to draw toward the "World of Device", or the "World of Real Experiences"?
The "World of Device" is lived in our phones, our tablets, our computers or the TV and radio. The "World of Real Experience" takes place by being with actual people, or at actual events, or of being in actual nature.
The degree of involvement and participation in either of these Worlds depends on which we lean more towards, on which we spend more time at. In the "World of Devices" we talk on a phone but we only hear a voice. We may do a Video call, but we only hear a voice and see an image. Neither are the actual person, just an electronic representation. The computer gives us only the written word. It can also provide an audio and visual representation of a person or group of people, but none of these is the real person, or group of persons. The TV or radio further separates us by time. What we are seeing or hearing may have taken place at an earlier time than we are experiencing it. The electronic signal we are experiencing may have been edited or otherwise manipulated. Overall, the "World of Devices" can be easier and require less of the expense of our involvement.
In the "World of Real Experience" we: spend more time and money doing it. We may have to travel to other people, or host the other person or people. Once with them we directly use our senses; our sight, our hearing, our smell, our touch, and our taste (whoever experienced the taste of a Zoom dinner or Zoom pot-luck?) We cannot relive the experience except by artificial means like audio or video recording. During the experience we cannot pre-edit what we say, it rarely comes out perfectly. If we write a letter, or a card there is no spellcheck or syntax checking, or grammar suggestions. The "World of Real Experience" requires our direct, immediate involvement.
We can choose our involvement in the experience of living as a human. Do we prefer to draw toward the "World of Device", or the "World of Real Experiences"?
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
WISDOM AND A HOUSE
Among other things Proverbs 24 says: “(3) By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; (4) by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
Therefore a man should seek wisdom because: through wisdom a house is built. by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.
I once read a message a woman put out celebrating the gaining of women's suffrage. At the end of the piece she said, “these foolish reactionary attitudes [about surpressing women] from 100 years ago still exist today".
I wonder. I think much of that superior attitude cannot be found in today’s men. Yet I still feel that in a family there should be one to produce the income and one to manage the household. I do not think this type of thinking is out-modded. In Genesis 1:1,2 it says: “(1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (2) MALE AND FEMALE he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man.” (Emphasis added)
But I will not worry how someone would label my thinking. I know God made man “male and female”. It is important for me to know what my thinking is, and to develop it. I must seek God's thoughts. What other people think of them does not really matter much. Unless they have a better handle on what God thinks than I do it would be very unwise for me to change. I do not see how another can be more connected to the truth if he does not consider what God says.
Both the household principal people must grasp the wisdom God provides. Then they, together, can build the house, establish it, and fill it with precious and pleasant riches.
Therefore a man should seek wisdom because: through wisdom a house is built. by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.
I once read a message a woman put out celebrating the gaining of women's suffrage. At the end of the piece she said, “these foolish reactionary attitudes [about surpressing women] from 100 years ago still exist today".
I wonder. I think much of that superior attitude cannot be found in today’s men. Yet I still feel that in a family there should be one to produce the income and one to manage the household. I do not think this type of thinking is out-modded. In Genesis 1:1,2 it says: “(1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (2) MALE AND FEMALE he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man.” (Emphasis added)
But I will not worry how someone would label my thinking. I know God made man “male and female”. It is important for me to know what my thinking is, and to develop it. I must seek God's thoughts. What other people think of them does not really matter much. Unless they have a better handle on what God thinks than I do it would be very unwise for me to change. I do not see how another can be more connected to the truth if he does not consider what God says.
Both the household principal people must grasp the wisdom God provides. Then they, together, can build the house, establish it, and fill it with precious and pleasant riches.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)