Unit 4 Immortality Flashcards
What is a soul
The spiritual rather than physical part of humans
What is resurrection
Rising from the dead or returning to life (applied to souls after death)
What is a legacy
Something handed down from an ancestor, a way to be remembered after death
What is heaven
The state of eternal happiness in the preacher of God that Christians believe will be granted to the faithful after this life
What is hell
The state of eternal separation form God seen as a punishment for sin
What is reincarnation
Being born again in another form
What is karma
The law of cause and effect (Hinduism)
What is rebirth
Being born again after death
What is scripture
The sacred writings of a religion
What is channeling
Communicating with the death through a medium
What is a near death experience
When people are close to death or in an intense operation situation claim to have has a sense of leaving their bodies and seeing what exists beyond this life
What is dualism
The idea humans had two basic natures, the physical and the spiritual
What is immortality
Endless life or existence, life after death
What is the traditional opinion about immortality
In religions such as Christianity, Islam or Judaism they believe after death we go to heaven or hell o spend eternity with God Allah or Yahweh
How is memory a form of immortality
Survive in the memory of those left behind either through memories or items. They can be in psychological memories of loved ones or left behind in artefacts like diaries. Problem is will your immortality die when the person who remembered you dies as well
How is immortality obtained through legacy
William Shakespeare for examples his work is read and studies hundreds of years after his death. Anyone who remembers him personally has died but we still rmemeber him for who he is and what he achieved
Who believes in resurrection
Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Christianity on resurrection
Jesus resurrected and proves to Christina’s that there is both a spiritual and physical afterlife. People will be resurrected after death to be judged by God and they will be physically resurrected to be judged ( judgement day)
“My fathers house has many rooms” - everyone has a place in heaven
Judaism on resurrection
It is not a physical resurrection but a spiritual one. They have sheol which is where souls are resurrected and judged by God and the awareness of our sins will help cleanse our souls and the soul will be resurrected to one of the seven layers of hell with God at the top one
Dualism expanded
It is the belief that here are two parts to a human being the mind (soul) and the body. It is considered the body is a shell which is the non essential part to this and that the mind is the part that ocntinues after death
René descartes
He Argues we must have a mind because we are capable of thoughts “I think therefore I am”. We can’t see the soul with our eyes (eg a doctor performing surgery) but we have the ability to have individual thoughts so we have a soul
Materialism
Materialism believes the soul and body are completely inseparable and it is not possible for the soul to carry on in the afterlife as the body is needed for survival. We need a heart lungs brain in order to survive so once these stop life ends
The impact of dualism
Agrees with the spiritual resurrection and reincarnation it also brings the question of where the physical resurrection in Christianity features if body must remain on earth after death. Some other religions believe God didn’t intend for the desperation of his creation and they must stay as an inseparable unit
What does Reincarnation argue
The souls are reborn from one body to another which could insinuate the soul might require a body but could be an issue for the people who believe the souls are reunited with bodies after resurrection in heaven as it is unclear when the body reaches heaven
Who believe in reincarnation
Hindus, Sikhism
What does reincarnation teach
The soul is transmigrated into another new living body after death of previous body. Traditionally it is relived that karma determines the life that the soul inherits (better karma = better life)
Hindus on reincarnation
They have a final destination of achieving moksha (the ending of reincarnation) and the unification with Brahman. But to achieve this they need good karma which is done by living a dutiful life. Good act in this life the next life will be a good one and consequently and actions will equal life full of suffering and hardship in the next
Sikhs on reincarnation
They have an aim in life to be reunited with God called Mukti and they believe they need good karma to do this they will perform selfless services (sewa)
What is rebirth
Rebirth is like reincarnation however there is no soul
Who believe in rebirth
Buddhists
Buddhists on rebirth
They don’t believe in the soul so they don’t believe in reincarnation but instead rebirth which is the idea of the continuation of an ever changing state which exists in humans. This state isn’t connected to the body but is like flames on candles - they are all made of the same essence but are equally as different and will burn at different rates and emit different lights
Supernatural
Belief n ghosts requires a belief in the afterlife and the ability for he dead to return. There have been various sightings of ghosts which is used as proof eg Burley Rectory
What is a medium
People who believe they can talk to ghosts and can channel the ghost so it allows a link between the living and the dead
Argument against ghosts
By definition ghosts should my be able to interact with he human world so examples such as poltergeists should not be possible
Three categories of near death experience
1 - out of body experience occurs when people claim they were drawn out of their body and able to see themselves as if they had been seperated
2- some people say they experience being drawn down a tunnel into a bright light
3 - experience a sense of wonder and perfection which has been said to be a heavenly experience (could of seen Jesus)
Problems with resurrection
If physical resurrection requires a body then what happens to a decayed body as we have scientific proof of decomposition of bodies and have even had some people cremated. This means no body for resurrection.
Problems with reincarnation and rebirth
There are accounts of people having past memories but not everyone who is reincarnated remembers. If there are different experiences how do we know which one is correct
Problems with supernatural and near death experiences
- Lack of proof
- they rely on human experience so proof comes from them
- no physical evidence me so the argument for immortality is too weak
- some could say they only have these experienced because they wish they were able to communicated with deceased loved ones or hope there is an afterlife
- NDE happen near death or under strong medication so experiences could be hallucinations rather than reality
Problems with scriptures
Religious believers say proof for immortality comes from scriptures but scientists argue that because all of the scriptures often conflict with each other how it is possvile to know which is correct - if we don’t know how do we know immortality exists
Buddhism on immortality
Believe in rebirth because of the ancient scriptures such as Tripitaka which says the life of the Buddha. Buddha taught them to follow the eightfold paths and five moral precepts and gain good karma for a good next life
Christianity on immortality
Bible teaches Christians about resurrection through the resurrection of Jesus - various convos between Jesus and criminals and disciples teaching about the afterlife.
Hinduism on immortality
Believe in reincarnation and The Bhagavad Gita offers advice to Hindus on how to obtain good karma and reach Moksha
Scientific argument against immortality
According to evolution there can be no souls, no souls means no purpose and no after life. Only possvile way for immortality is through an individual’s DNA but it can’t be a direct form of immortality as is it always different. could also be frozen after death which could become a type of immortality but this means freezing after death and therefore means there is no immortality as soul has already passed. We are continually searching space and have found no heaven.
Atheism argument against immortality
There should be a focus on humanism so rather than being obsessed with life after death we should be thinking about life now and the aspects of or lives
