Why do we cater to the idea of a soul?

A friend was in a terrible motorcycle accident and nearly died. He said the only thing he recalls from that moment was not some sort of light or anything like that. But he did recall a thought that came to him and the thought was simply “it is”. I asked him to explain. He said: that was it… It just “is”. I know we’ve all heard the phrase “it is what it is.” And that phrase has been used a lot to describe the indescribable. But my friends point was simply life as we know it, and death as we think of it, is simple. It just is what it is. It just “is”.

I guess my point I’m trying to make, regarding the OP, is whether or not there is such a thing as a “soul” or if we have one, doesn’t really matter in the end. It doesn’t matter. It just “is”.

Gravestones cheer the living dear, they’re of no use to the dead.

James Taylor: “The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time”

Henri Amiel: “Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

I say enjoy life. Make others around you joyful. Listen to more James Brown. Get you some Soul.
 
MendotoManteo said:
One other thing I should say, if you notice what seems to work - it's a circle. Another one goes out; another one goes in. The shapes of the planets. When I made my own deep dish pizza in cast iron during the last eclipse, I thought about this a lot. The shape is truly great.

I suspect that the universe must be a circle. Because it's the perfect shape. Constantly expanding, yeah, maybe. But must be a circle.

I don't know what to make of that. If I did, I would be God. And I'm no god. None of us are.

If there's something like a soul, it will work on a circle, I suspect. Infinity seems our case. If so, then, at some point, in a galaxy far, far away, it will come back again. At some point. Consciousness, I mean. If given long enough. Matter and all that bullshit.

Anyhow, my two cents.
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This was more or less the view of Pythagoras. Maybe not the part about the pizza...
 
Centerpiece said:
A friend was in a terrible motorcycle accident and nearly died. He said the only thing he recalls from that moment was not some sort of light or anything like that. But he did recall a thought that came to him and the thought was simply “it is”.
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Those near death experiences are wild. I did a deep dive on them about 10 years or so ago...incredibly interesting.

The most common element in them is just this overwhelming feeling of peace and love...words just fail to describe it, but "it is" comes pretty darn close.

Interestingly, there's some serious overlap between the NDE's and the sorts of curated, therapeutic psychadelic experiences Michael Pollan talks about in his (phenomenal, paradigm-shifting) book "How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence"

ETA: finesse, there's a book recommendation for you...10/10 in my book, and absolutely fascinating. I listened to it on audio...Pollan himself reads, and it's IMO a great way to experience the material.
 
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MendotoManteo said:
Of course you all know just as well as I do about this matter - which is to say: nothing. But I subscribe to Sagan's "cosmic dust."
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Saw this comedian talking about a mission trip to Mexico when she was in Jr high. The preacher said "we are but dust..." and the girl sitting next to her whispered incredulously "We are BUTT DUST?!?!?!?!"
 
TarSpiel said:
Saw this comedian talking about a mission trip to Mexico when she was in Jr high. The preacher said "we are but dust..." and the girl sitting next to her whispered incredulously "We are BUTT DUST?!?!?!?!"
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I think we're not just butt dust. Lol. But it is a very complicated thing, as you surely know.

I imagine that was a good experience. A good memory.
 
hedge said:
This was more or less the view of Pythagoras. Maybe not the part about the pizza...
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I don't know a whole lot about Greek philosophy. I just know how I think and feel. I trust I'm as smart enough as they were, just lacking the stamina to put thoughts into writing.

They didn't know any better than us. If they did, they would have ruled the world to infinity. They didn't.

But I suspect there is something about circles. And spheres. Something about that shape.

And my deep dish pizza was amazing! You would have loved it. Any of us, other than a vegetarian or vegan, would have. They probably would have too.
 
The reports of feeling peace or having vivid visions during near death experiences makes sense when we know the brain floods the body during these traumatic events with chemicals like serotonin, endorphins and possibly things like DMT.
 
Milk and Cookies said:
The reports of feeling peace or having vivid visions during near death experiences makes sense when we know the brain floods the body during these traumatic events with chemicals like serotonin, endorphins and possibly things like DMT.
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Some of it could have to do with one's beliefs and expectations. I saw the rebroadcast of the piece about the assassination attempt on Salman Rushdie on 60 Minutes last night, he certainly had a near death experience, even said he remembered thinking he was probably dying, but that it was very matter of fact (somewhat like the "it is" of Centerpiece's friend's experience) but nothing in the way of white lights or heavenly choirs, etc. He said the only revelation he had was that there are no revelations to be had. I wonder if his atheism had something to do with his experience...
 
MendotoManteo said:
Of course you all know just as well as I do about this matter - which is to say: nothing. But I subscribe to Sagan's "cosmic dust."

I grew up in a very religious household. But after reaching a certain age, and reading lots of things, I could no longer in good faith believe there is anything like a soul or an afterlife, for that matter.
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What could a soul, as described by Christianity, even mean? Many Christians believe that if you're naughty, your soul will be tortured for eternity. If you're good, you spend eternity in Heaven with your family. What is a soul that can be tortured? Does a soul have a brain and nerve endings to feel pain? How will you speak to your grandma in heaven without lungs and vocal cords to create your voice? How would a brainless soul know or experience anything?
 
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Centerpiece said:
A friend was in a terrible motorcycle accident and nearly died. He said the only thing he recalls from that moment was not some sort of light or anything like that. But he did recall a thought that came to him and the thought was simply “it is”. I asked him to explain. He said: that was it… It just “is”. I know we’ve all heard the phrase “it is what it is.” And that phrase has been used a lot to describe the indescribable. But my friends point was simply life as we know it, and death as we think of it, is simple. It just is what it is. It just “is”.

I guess my point I’m trying to make, regarding the OP, is whether or not there is such a thing as a “soul” or if we have one, doesn’t really matter in the end. It doesn’t matter. It just “is”.

Gravestones cheer the living dear, they’re of no use to the dead.

James Taylor: “The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time”

Henri Amiel: “Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

I say enjoy life. Make others around you joyful. Listen to more James Brown. Get you some Soul.
Click to expand...

This will be my philosophy of life with an addendum to also listen to more Sam and Dave :cool:

"I say enjoy life. Make others around you joyful. Listen to more James Brown. Get you some Soul."
 
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