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I have been thinking about reincarnation a lot lately (yeah, I know, 'again' ... blame Erin, it's her fault!), and a few Discordian theories have crept into my thinking that I thought I would explore.
In the last few fantasy novels I've read, the concept of belief shaping reality has popped up. And while I know to be wary of pulling theology from fiction, I have also noticed similar concepts in mythology and folklore ... most notably in stories that deal with faeries.
This lead me to thinking of the Erisian Apostle whose name translates from Sanskrit to: All affirmations are true in some sense, false in some sense, meaningless in some sense, true and false in some sense, true and meaningless in some sense, false and meaningless in some sense, and true and false and meaningless in some sense.
I have been toying with the idea that the Otherworld (Heaven, Summerlands, etc) will appear to people how they expect it to. For me it fits with the notion that all paths lead to the same destination, and also how so many religions feel that the afterlife is reserved souly for them. They would both be right ... and both would be wrong.
Now, I don't think that this necessarily has to mean that the afterlife is separated into areas (like countries), nor do I think that this has to mean that if you have a loved one who is of another faith that you will not see them on the other side. It seems perfectly plausible to me that you would see them in the context of your choosing, and they would see you in the context of their choosing. It also seems plausible that you might travel to other areas of the Otherworld, and see things that are outside of your own beliefs ... if you were open to it.
As to the point of it all ... maybe there isn't one. Or maybe there is and it just isn't something that everyone need participate in ... maybe it is different for everyone ... maybe it is all of these things ... or maybe none of them.
I still believe in the evolution of the soul ... but perhaps that is the course I have chosen. Perhaps because I believe it, it is possible for me ... perhaps it isn't. I figure that I will find out one way or another when I get there (or maybe I won't ... perhaps the otherside isn't any easier than this side is).
--Phae
In the last few fantasy novels I've read, the concept of belief shaping reality has popped up. And while I know to be wary of pulling theology from fiction, I have also noticed similar concepts in mythology and folklore ... most notably in stories that deal with faeries.
This lead me to thinking of the Erisian Apostle whose name translates from Sanskrit to: All affirmations are true in some sense, false in some sense, meaningless in some sense, true and false in some sense, true and meaningless in some sense, false and meaningless in some sense, and true and false and meaningless in some sense.
I have been toying with the idea that the Otherworld (Heaven, Summerlands, etc) will appear to people how they expect it to. For me it fits with the notion that all paths lead to the same destination, and also how so many religions feel that the afterlife is reserved souly for them. They would both be right ... and both would be wrong.
Now, I don't think that this necessarily has to mean that the afterlife is separated into areas (like countries), nor do I think that this has to mean that if you have a loved one who is of another faith that you will not see them on the other side. It seems perfectly plausible to me that you would see them in the context of your choosing, and they would see you in the context of their choosing. It also seems plausible that you might travel to other areas of the Otherworld, and see things that are outside of your own beliefs ... if you were open to it.
As to the point of it all ... maybe there isn't one. Or maybe there is and it just isn't something that everyone need participate in ... maybe it is different for everyone ... maybe it is all of these things ... or maybe none of them.
I still believe in the evolution of the soul ... but perhaps that is the course I have chosen. Perhaps because I believe it, it is possible for me ... perhaps it isn't. I figure that I will find out one way or another when I get there (or maybe I won't ... perhaps the otherside isn't any easier than this side is).
--Phae
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 07:20 am (UTC)off topic....
what is that little "tag" thing????
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 07:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 05:16 pm (UTC)--Phae
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 06:50 pm (UTC)I always get wary of people who say things are easier than they really are :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 01:17 pm (UTC)>>>It seems perfectly plausible to me that you would see them in the context of your choosing, and they would see you in the context of their choosing. It also seems plausible that you might travel to other areas of the Otherworld, and see things that are outside of your own beliefs ... if you were open to it.<<<
See how that fits with my idea that the paths are different? If you can travel to a different reality, then it is different - unless you point is all is illusion anyway.
>>> I have been toying with the idea that the Otherworld (Heaven, Summerlands, etc) will appear to people how they expect it to. <<<
This I've believed since childhood and is a large part of why I wasn't a good fit for the Methodist theology.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 04:28 pm (UTC)The whole thing is very convoluted in my mind, and only when I let that whole, 'well, ok' attitude (like you have in dreams when the most bizarre things happen) take over to I even start to understand it ~_^ I still don't think I do.
--Phae
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 04:35 pm (UTC)But both people are right, and wrong, and both sides *are* different, not the same, even if part of a whole.
Eh, maybe we're saying the same thing, but differently. :P~
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 05:14 pm (UTC)--Phae
(no subject)
Date: 2005-06-30 07:22 pm (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2005-06-30 11:36 pm (UTC)Except you explained it much better than I could have. A few years ago when I was still at school, I was trying to explain it to my friends, but I don't think I was very clear.
Thanks Phae :)
Re: Yay!
Date: 2005-07-02 07:31 pm (UTC)--Phae