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Thursday, March 30
View Article  How does a philosophy help us understand what life is? Part II of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Thu 30 Mar 2006 01:00 AM EST

How does a philosophy help us understand what life is?

 

Part II of II

...Interestingly enough, these three have come to agreement upon when the essence of the human is no longer present in the body, when the essence of the individual has left the body. They have all come to agreement that this can be identified as the point at which the brain wave of the individual becomes ‘flat lined.’ The body may still function with the aid of technology, but the individual is declared ‘dead,’ not alive.

 

It would seem only logical that they would then agree upon when the essence of the human enters the body.

 

It would logically appear to be the point at which the brain waves begin to function.

 

The time this occurs is approximately ten weeks into the pregnancy. It is a very definitive point in fetal development and is subject to scientific measurement.

 

Do the three, religion, science, and philosophy; agree upon this definition for the beginning of life? No, they do not agree because they have not come to a consensus upon a definition of life.

 

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The definition of life has eluded them because they do not have a unified view regarding what life is.

 

And so we remain in conflict. Society remains in conflict. Conflict over principles remain the major stumbling block we have to developing a long term, stable society capable of leading us into a form of peaceful coexistence with the universe and its life forms. Why all this confusion?

 

Life has not been defined because philosophy has lost track of its primary aim, partly due to itself and partly due to the actions of religion and science to suppress philosophy.

 

End

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Wednesday, March 29
View Article  How does a philosophy help us understand what life is? Part I of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Wed 29 Mar 2006 01:00 AM EST

How does a philosophy help us understand what life is?

 

 

Part I of II:

 

If we have the free will to choose the perception we have of life, we have the free will to choose how we define life – verbalize what we understand life to be.

 

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Many would object to the idea of our defining life. They believe such an action is blasphemous. However, if we look at how we define life presently, we would quickly discover that we do not do so.

 

The most significant aspect of our existence, life, is not defined. You will find characteristics that tend to describe life. You will find generalities about what living things can do, but one will not find a definition of life.

 

Curiously enough, biology, a major branch of science, has devoted itself to the study of life; however, biology doesn’t define this elusive concept. In fact, it does not even understand what it is studying.

 

We haven’t obtained a unified view of life that faith, observation, and reason all embrace.

 

To be continued: Part II of II: Interestingly enough, these three have come to agreement upon when the essence of the human is no longer present in the body, when the essence of the individual has left the body. They have all come to agreement ...
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Tuesday, March 28
View Article  How does omnipresence reinforce the concept of panentheism? Part II of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Tue 28 Mar 2006 12:00 AM EST

How does omnipresence reinforce the concept of panentheism?

 

Part II of II

...In order for these characteristics to be what they imply they are, the Causative Force would have to have abilities we profess She has.

 

We cannot turn around once we have given these characteristics to the Causative Force and then reject logical conclusion to which these characteristics lead us.

 

Either the Causative Force is omnipresent or She isn’t.

 

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As an example, if the Causative Force is omnipresent and if She is “ just” as some say or “all loving” as others say, then how could injustice hatred exist within a perfect Causative Force?

 

We cannot refuse to search an understanding to this problem just because we decide to define the problem out of existence.

 

In other words, we cannot say the Causative Force omnipresent and then turn around and say the universe does not exist in Her.

 

We cannot say the Causative Force is “all present” and then turn around and place human behavior we do not consider to be “moral” somewhere outside the Causative Force.

 

“Somewhere,” in this case, is nowhere, for our religions are based upon the concepts of omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.

 

These contradictions lead to contradictions in human behavior.

 

This creation of a rationale for contradictory characteristics of the Causative Force then becomes part of our very essence. We begin to act in a manner that contradicts what we profess. We open ourselves up to abuse.

End

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Monday, March 27
View Article  How does omnipresence reinforce the concept of panentheism? Part I of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Mon 27 Mar 2006 12:26 AM EST

How does omnipresence reinforce the concept of panentheism?

 

 

Part I of II

 

The direction we as a species have been historically heading regarding a Causative Force has been toward the idea of omnipresence. Omnipresence is another word for panentheism.

 

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Omnipresence means being present everywhere simultaneously. It is simply a characteristic religions apply to the Causative Force. It is not one any person has applied.

 

It is one that has been applied by religions for over 3,500 years or more.

 

There are three related characteristics religions attribute to the Causative Force.

 

Omnipresence, being everywhere, is just one of the three. Omniscience (all knowing) and omnipotence (all powerful) are the other two.

 

 

To be continued: Part II of II: In order for these characteristics to be what they...

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Sunday, March 26
View Article  Boundaries of time only exist within reality: Part VI of VI
by Daniel J. Shepard on Sun 26 Mar 2006 12:00 AM EST

Boundaries of time only exist within reality

 

The Nightmare

Time Is A Limited Commodity

 

The year: 2300 AD

 

Part VI of VI

 

...Awakening and coming back to reality, you open your eyes and see the world as you have always known it. And having dreamed of being God, hav­ing read of the possibility of a new and different perception, being now aware of your two choices, you will have to choose.

 

Are you going to remain immersed in the philosophical perceptions theism and pantheism generate? Are you going to remain immersed in the perception that you have no sig­nificance in reality other than to remain subservient to God because God’s size remains in a state of equilibrium?

 

Or are you going to become immersed in the philosophical perception panentheism generates, that you have a wonderful significance, for you add to the very omniscience of God Itself, thus increasing God’s omnipresence and omnipotence?

 

Imagine having such a magnificent purpose. Imagine being equal to God, being God. With such a perception comes the realization that all others are likewise significant.

 

No one is more significant than another. No one is superior to another. No one has the right to subjugate or interfere with the journey of another. We, in fact, have the obligation to protect the journey of all.

 

However, we scoff at the possibility of improving ourselves through acceptance of such a simple thing as a change in our perception of our sig­nificance in reality.

 

We remain God’s worst nightmare as we bow our head in the act of submission to our Creator and continue to glorify our Master and sing Its praises.

 

 

End

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