Belief can be strong. But what does it have to do with reality? Reincarnation requires some sort of soul.
Well, this began with me mentioning several possibilities with dying. The reality is neither of us knows whether there is an afterlife so I simply stated my feelings about it along with a couple other comments on dying. <>
The "soul" can just be the spirit of the universe (far fetched ,perhaps). Individuals can be seen as parasites on this spirit. If reincarnation (or reactivation) occured then it would be according to the universal laws. For what it is worth I do believe something along those lines is in play. We think we are an individual but really are just facets of a larger conscience. So we are all sadly connected to that shithead Trump and must learn to pity him(feel it ,feel itPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ) I think my "belief" is so vague as to have no practical consequences . As we are "reactivated" we can have no memory of any previous existence and so death is entirely final and there is nothing we can or should do to affect our "future" existence (no "evolution" vie "reincarnation"). But I balk at accepting that the universe stops when I die or that I will cease to have a "ticket to ride" in one form or another. Actually it is our species' knowledge and hopefully acceptance of its own demise that makes it potentially a noteworthy civilization -figures like Socrates inspire respect.
I have come to conclude that phenomena that 1] are unevidenced, and 2] would make us feel better if true should be regarded with extreme skepticism. The risk of wishful thinking and self-delusion are just too high.
I cannot argue with that. Point #2 seems quite telling and point #1 ,absolutely. Even so ,one of the major philosophies is,I think hedonism and perhaps pleasing delusions (or imaginings) might be classed by them as therapeutic if not indulged to excess. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I think 2 is the #1 influence on most people. I don't get extreme skepticism. I don't think there are degrees or levels of skepticism. <>
I am skeptical of cold fusion. I am extremely skeptical of pyramid power. I am skeptical of life elsewhere in the Solar System. I am extremely skeptical of life on the Moon.
The same level of skepticism can result in different degrees of certainty if "skepticism" can be used subjectively and "certainty" objectively. So ,in that event one level of "skepticism" will do. Fingers crossedPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Direct to dead only, not the potentially drawn-out process of dying. The former is absence of all the instincts, feelings, needs, stories, and reasons for why one wanted to remain alive in the first place. No time for those "nag-screens" to rear their heads with the immediacy of "direct to dead".
I would not want someone to think I am only as dubious of life on the Moon as I am of life elsewhere in the SS. The English language has adverbs for good reason - more meaning, more clarity. Have you never read 1984? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! "Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten."
So you believe the odds of life somewhere else in our system is greater than the odds of life on Luna. I do not know what the odds are of either & have no belief on it. Either way, I see skeptical as simply yes or no. Like saying someone is very much alive seems senseless to me. They are either alive or not. Very much does not add anything. It is not like being more hot or less cold or very hungry or extremely strong. Language has adverbs & adjectives for good reason. People often use them for no good reason tho, not adding meaning or clarity. Superfluousness. When they don't add clarity, they do the opposite. I read it several times. <>