Comments on: Envisioning the Afterlife

By: Robert Sinclaire » Blog Archive » Possibilians and the Afterlives

Robert Sinclaire » Blog Archive » Possibilians and the Afterlives — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:12:39 +0000

[...] book’s author [and neuroscience] David Eagleman on a segment of NPR’s On Point called Envisioning the Afterlife. The book is a blast; it’s a fun and thought-provoking exploration of the possibilities of [...]

By: Abbey

Abbey — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:44:29 +0000

I want to thank Mr. Eagleman for the word “possibilian.” His view of religion and the world is, almost word for word, the same philosophy of mine that I’ve been slowly figuring out over the past year. I can call myself a possibilian now with absolute confidence, and I’m so happy that there are other people out there who understand how I see things. The majority of my friends are Christian, and I just don’t think they would understand my wish to leave my belief open to whatever eventually presents itself as reality. But it’s comforting to hear that there are people out there who get it.

By: Eric Grace

Eric Grace — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:50:30 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I just found another great article to reference here on Death and Science from EnlightenNext’s current issue. There is an article on Closet Mystics of Esalen that speaks about how rare science explores death and the afterlife. There is a book called ‘Irreducible Mind’ that offers scientific evidence, from CTR at Esalen, of paranormal phenomena and life after death.

I would love to see/hear of more shows about sexuality(alternative relationships to it than current mainstream forms – like The One Taste community for instance, David Deida, Satisfaction by Kim Cantrell, and Peace Between the Sheets by Maria Robinson). Other great topics to explore: emotional maturity, mysticism within current religions and outside of them, and new money/currency exchange systems (webspiritcommunity.com and http://unmoney.wik.is/ and Catherine Austin Fitts Solari Action Network – http://solari.com/) that are being explored and those of the past.

By: Ed Helmrich

Ed Helmrich — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:45:09 +0000

Mr. Eagleman correctly states that science can’t say anything about the afterlife: it doesn’t have the tools. I disagree with his agreement with the evil Mr. Dawkins: religious traditions differ on details, but those who believe in God see the afterlife as union with God and human happiness and fulfillment. Still, it’s interesting to explore the idea in terms of possibilities.
As a Catholic, I can say that God has told us a lot about the after-life: we have a record of Jesus after He rose from the dead: He was recognizable, He had His personality and identity, He ate food, He spoke, moved, etc.
We believe that the Catholic Church is holy, one consequence is that it teaches the truth, and it teaches us:

“This perfect union with the Most Holy Trinity – this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed – is called ‘heaven’. Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1024.
and
“This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has in store for those who love Him.” 1Cor 2:19, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1027.

By: jeffe

jeffe — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:21:24 +0000

“Religion gives you a set view of the afterlife to be simpleminded. I suppose there are some religious beliefs that do but beyond being a place of unity with god my christian faith gives me no conception of what the afterlife will be. The bible deals primarily with the problems and issues of human existence it only talks about the afterlife as being a sort of culmination of the events of this life.”

The bible also talks about stoning adulterers and countless other bronze age punishments.
It has talking snakes, burning bushes and a man living in a whale. It also has Moses parting a sea, Jesus walking on water and angels. It’s a fantasy world, with great stories and characters, if one chooses to believe in myths and thinking as a bronze age person that’s fine with me, I just hope one can separate the myths from the facts of reality.

By: william davidson

william davidson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:44:32 +0000

Hi,
Thanks for the Vonnegut – always appreciated. It strikes me as fun, great, and sad that so many took this show with such utter seriousness. This is one of the best possible topics for human brains to unwind and let loose about. What’s off limits? After he tells us 3 times these aren’t serious suppositions, we’re still defensive? This guy has noticed that he has an imagination, that he is capable of conception and even extrapolation . He also seems to enjoy it. These little imaginings can imply their own commentary, but not necessarily on the afterlife.
Woa! What’s he on – how dare he!
Great show, by the way. Thank you Tom.

By: Charlie Mc

Charlie Mc — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:19:45 +0000

To conceive of something requires a previous sensible experience. I can conceive of a “horse” because I’ve “seen” one before, and of a “sonic boom” because I’ve heard one before. I can even conceive of a “green winged donkey” even though I’ve never sensed one before, but have experienced “green”, “wings” and “donkey” before, and can synthesize conceptually.
Both Astrophysicists and Theologians agree that as far as we know, at the “Big Bang”, Space and Time came into existence along with the evolving Cosmos. There was no prior sensible reality so one can only conclude that God, and “heaven” is “not sensible” and consequently absolutely inconceivable, i.e., “no thing”.
The closest we can come would be the evidence of those who have returned from an “after life experience” such as those related in Dr. Raymond Moody’s book, “Life After Life”. Other than that might be Paul’s “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, What God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

By: Sam E.

Sam E. — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:33:13 +0000

I sort of have a love-hate relationship with Dr. Eagleman on one hand I very much enjoy his visions of the afterlife. However on the other hand I find his underlying that message that

1. Technologyically inferior cultures are also morally and spiritually inferior to be repugnant

2. Religion gives you a set view of the afterlife to be simpleminded. I suppose there are some religious beliefs that do but beyond being a place of unity with god my christian faith gives me no conception of what the afterlife will be. The bible deals primarily with the problems and issues of human existence it only talks about the afterlife as being a sort of culmination of the events of this life.

By: Eric Grace

Eric Grace — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:06:46 +0000

Thank you so much for this show topic, please bring on more that go into spirituality, religion, sustainability, emotional maturity, new forms of education.

I wanted to share how I just heard about the research is being done on Children that is scientifically documented to remember past lives, which then have been researched and found to be accurate. You can read up on it at:http://www.amazon.com/Old-Souls-Compelling-Evidence-Children/dp/0684851938

I loved the ending of this show with celebrating what we don’t know… Celebrate the Mystery. And keep on living the questions. Anyone remember the movie Contact?

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:52:57 +0000

Great program! It really made me sit and think about what I believe and why I do.I love the opportunity to consider my own beliefs. My only comment is that of all the 2000 different religions most if not all have a relational aspect with a higher being, creator, God. That relational aspect is key to what I believe. To say that there is so many beliefs so I don’t believe in any of them seems to limit the way I relate to my God. In other words “You gotta believe in something”(Bob Dylan). My relationship with my God has made me who I am. It is how I live my life.

By: Tom Dreogan

Tom Dreogan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:54:53 +0000

I am disappointed that having such a topic to discuss you didnt have any spiritual speakers specially from Eastern spiritual wisdom, which is so much prominent in our society these days and so better answers. I would loved to have someone like Deepak, Wayne or Sri Sri etc. You cant explain basic things in life through science how can you convincingly answer such difficult questions through science. I didnt expect you to have such bad selection.

By: mike

mike — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:30:51 +0000

i recommend checking out Dan Dennett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTepA-WV_oE&feature=channel

By: Non-me

Non-me — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:18:02 +0000

If we remove the word “is” from all discussions of belief, we arrive at a place where we won’t kill each other (or resent each other, or be forced to contrive the essentially non-existant/impossible concept of “religious tolerance”), i.e., a discussion of the mechanics of belief, and a celebration of humanity, i.e. a celebration of WONDER.

S.R.K.

By: jeffe

jeffe — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:12:48 +0000

The Huron tribe believed that the world around them was an illusion and that what they dream was the reality.

The Jesuits tried for years to convert them to Christianity, and they resisted thinking that their enemies the Iroquois would deem them weak by worshiping the White mans God and destroy them. They were right, only a few years after converting the Iroquois destroyed the Huron commonwealth

By: Frederic C.

Frederic C. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:26:15 +0000

IMAGINE

Consciousness is an illusion.

What if god is nothingness?

And your soul exists only so far as you impress yourself upon the senses of the living.

The measure of one’s afterlife is directly proportional neurological changes you make in people while you are alive. I.e. Memories. Like the corners of my mind. Misty water colored memories…..da da (da.)

By: Karla P.

Karla P. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:06:31 +0000

Great episode! I love the way it started with listeners thinking that a leading neuroscientist was going to make some proclamation about the afterlife (the way religious people do) — but then the tide turns and we realize that Eagleman is highlighting (with humor and poignancy) our deep ignorance about what we cannot see and the deep human desire to make up stories and tell them with certainty. As Natalia points out above, these stories really have nothing to do with the afterlife: they are literary vignettes about the human condition. And they’re scientifically artsy. Or artfully scientific. I don’t know. But I do know we need many more voices like his from the scientific community!

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:21:40 +0000

Absolutely fabulous show. What a great mind David Eagleman has and a great way of explaining the limits of science but also how those limits are part of what makes scientific inquiry so useful in exploring these kinds of marginalized ideas.

I can’t wait to listen again on my iPod, this show is worth burning a CD of.

By: Sam Gale Rosen

Sam Gale Rosen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:10:31 +0000

Hey Greg, that was “Hell,” by the Squirrel Nut Zippers, from the album “Hot.”

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:46:43 +0000

The hopping music with horns about “the afterlife” about 40 minutes into the 2nd hour was great, anyone know the artist?

By: chris

chris — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:36:18 +0000

What a great change from talk of the economy and political rancor. I missed the first part of the show but as one person pointed out, it’s not that we’ve had anyone return with information. I’ve often wondered what the terrorists thought when they found no virgins waiting for them afterall. Too bad that information couldn’t be forwarded. For me personally, I hope it’s Monty Python’s vision and good dumplings on the side.