Wow, this series is sure to spark thought. And it is a hefty undertaking.
" if God is loving and benevolent, why would He/She/It create a world where everything eats everything else, and the beings living here exist for such a short time and often die in horrible ways? Why is there disease, and natural disasters? And why are there some people who enjoy doing evil?"
I think the Gnostics had the best questions. The Christian answer (I think) would be that God didn't create the world this way. We live in the fallen world. The world with evil in it is the world we get when we fall out of alignment with the highest good.
I have put some thought into gnosticism's claims and I can't say I am studied enough to debate them. But I have experienced that beliefs are a relationship as opposed to being something like congealed thoughts as the end result of thinking things through. Beliefs can be causative. And I have found the more I adopt the perspective of the gnostics, the less healthy I become.
Whether reality is a simulation or not... that is above my paygrade. Reality simply is. What to do about it though, that is within my purview. And the gnostics seem to say reality is a dead thing one must shed (see The Matrix, Truman Show). Christ seems to say that reality is to be embodied completely. Life may be suffering. Christ seems to say simply. Yes it is.
The story that keeps coming back for me is when Pilate asks Christ "what is truth?" Christ says nothing except that he gets on with the business of suffering and dying. I think that was his answer. Truth is to bear life. The whole life.
I guess at the end of the day for me, whether simulation theory is true or not, I know what to do. Which is to face and bear it.
The idea of free will is contrary to Christian believe, because God knows our every thought and action. We just think we are choosing, when what we are doing is acting out the script that has been predetermined and chosen for us. Reincarnation is for people who are afraid of death.
Looking back on my life I can see patterns that I have repeated and the results, though they may appear to be different, are the same. The people change (or do they?) and the outcomes are similar.
I can track where I went off the rail and how it affected all my decisions from that moment on. Each time I made a choice, if I had paid attention, I would have seen what the outcome would have been. Not in detail, but in effect. One of the advantages of age is the possibility of looking back and seeing the patterns and how to change the outlook in whatever future is left in this present life.
I'm not familiar with the movies that you referenced but 60 yrs. ago I read a book titled, Accelerate Your Evolution. The last line in the book says. "The final answer to everything must be yes."
That's what Joseph Campbell said: you must answer 'yes' to everything, because that is what Life is about. Stand by for a future article where we explore Free Will vs Determinism, surely the principle philosophical argument of the Ages!
I remember sharing that concept with my son's nursery school teacher and she got very angry with the concept. After that, I kept things like that to myself. Australia 1966 wasn't a hotbed of intellectual activity or, at least, not the people that I knew.
I will be patient for more, Su. I loved this on so many levels. You took so many topics with which I am familiar, and wove them together quite brilliantly. I am especially delighted to hear that you will write more, and that there will be a series. I am familiar with Carlos Castaneda's The Eagle's Gift, and Larry and I spent a lot of our time "recapitulating" and still do, but it is easier now. I had some confusion regarding Near Death Experiencers' life reviews and don Juan's (and others') perspective. Your perspective helped lift my own, and I want to explore this more. Free will vs no free will vs partial free will has been off and on of interest, too. In this mind, we are some sort of simulation to be sure. Whether a dream, a play, or game, who knows? The Universe is a mighty big place. I can't wait to see what comes next on Substack from you, Su. Thanks so much.
Wow, this series is sure to spark thought. And it is a hefty undertaking.
" if God is loving and benevolent, why would He/She/It create a world where everything eats everything else, and the beings living here exist for such a short time and often die in horrible ways? Why is there disease, and natural disasters? And why are there some people who enjoy doing evil?"
I think the Gnostics had the best questions. The Christian answer (I think) would be that God didn't create the world this way. We live in the fallen world. The world with evil in it is the world we get when we fall out of alignment with the highest good.
I have put some thought into gnosticism's claims and I can't say I am studied enough to debate them. But I have experienced that beliefs are a relationship as opposed to being something like congealed thoughts as the end result of thinking things through. Beliefs can be causative. And I have found the more I adopt the perspective of the gnostics, the less healthy I become.
Whether reality is a simulation or not... that is above my paygrade. Reality simply is. What to do about it though, that is within my purview. And the gnostics seem to say reality is a dead thing one must shed (see The Matrix, Truman Show). Christ seems to say that reality is to be embodied completely. Life may be suffering. Christ seems to say simply. Yes it is.
The story that keeps coming back for me is when Pilate asks Christ "what is truth?" Christ says nothing except that he gets on with the business of suffering and dying. I think that was his answer. Truth is to bear life. The whole life.
I guess at the end of the day for me, whether simulation theory is true or not, I know what to do. Which is to face and bear it.
Ulysses thanks for your thoughtful perspective, this helps me formulate future installments.
The idea of free will is contrary to Christian believe, because God knows our every thought and action. We just think we are choosing, when what we are doing is acting out the script that has been predetermined and chosen for us. Reincarnation is for people who are afraid of death.
Looking back on my life I can see patterns that I have repeated and the results, though they may appear to be different, are the same. The people change (or do they?) and the outcomes are similar.
I can track where I went off the rail and how it affected all my decisions from that moment on. Each time I made a choice, if I had paid attention, I would have seen what the outcome would have been. Not in detail, but in effect. One of the advantages of age is the possibility of looking back and seeing the patterns and how to change the outlook in whatever future is left in this present life.
I'm not familiar with the movies that you referenced but 60 yrs. ago I read a book titled, Accelerate Your Evolution. The last line in the book says. "The final answer to everything must be yes."
That's what Joseph Campbell said: you must answer 'yes' to everything, because that is what Life is about. Stand by for a future article where we explore Free Will vs Determinism, surely the principle philosophical argument of the Ages!
I remember sharing that concept with my son's nursery school teacher and she got very angry with the concept. After that, I kept things like that to myself. Australia 1966 wasn't a hotbed of intellectual activity or, at least, not the people that I knew.
Yes, sometimes it's difficult to know who you can speak frankly with. Usually not too many.
I will be patient for more, Su. I loved this on so many levels. You took so many topics with which I am familiar, and wove them together quite brilliantly. I am especially delighted to hear that you will write more, and that there will be a series. I am familiar with Carlos Castaneda's The Eagle's Gift, and Larry and I spent a lot of our time "recapitulating" and still do, but it is easier now. I had some confusion regarding Near Death Experiencers' life reviews and don Juan's (and others') perspective. Your perspective helped lift my own, and I want to explore this more. Free will vs no free will vs partial free will has been off and on of interest, too. In this mind, we are some sort of simulation to be sure. Whether a dream, a play, or game, who knows? The Universe is a mighty big place. I can't wait to see what comes next on Substack from you, Su. Thanks so much.
Thanks Kaye....your comments are helpful for me to know how to tailor future segments!