I have never quite understood the obsession with life as suffering - life includes suffering but is not defined by suffering, it’s defined by physical embodiment and consciousness. I don’t really fear death exactly, but do so enjoy being physically embodied and conscious. Have I suffered? Sure, plenty. But not more than I have enjoyed. I don’t at all define or experience my life AS suffering. Joy is louder.
I do think heaven or afterlife would have to involve losing all critical thought and individuality, particularly the Christian heaven, I don’t think most people could be ecstatically happy if they knew others were in hell and they could not do anything to try to help.
It’s about control. Specifically, enabling control of the average people by the religious class - the clergy, the prophetsx the priests, nuns, preachers, anyone who claims to be of a higher authority between a person and whatever gods they might believe in.
Existence is suffering because it’s supposed to be unimportant. It doesn’t really matter. The afterlife matters because it’s all happiness, it’s without suffering, and it lasts forever. Oh and of course you’re only allowed to get to that afterlife if you do exactly what members of said class say.
While I agree that RELIGIONS do that, it is why I point out that I don’t think the original authors (ancient as they may be) had the individual intent to control people, but help them.
Like the Bible as a whole is clearly constructed for control. Same with the Torah, Quran, Vedas, and at LEAST to some extent the Tripitaka.
But, taken individually, understanding the historical context, and understanding the identification of different authors, the patterns arise that there was some good intent.
That good intent is all overshadowed by the manipulative tactics.
“Do these ten things that are basic human morality, or the invisible Man in the sky will be angry and once you’re done suffering in this life, you will spend even more time suffering”
is the message, not “do these ten things because they’re morally right”.
I have never quite understood the obsession with life as suffering - life includes suffering but is not defined by suffering, it’s defined by physical embodiment and consciousness. I don’t really fear death exactly, but do so enjoy being physically embodied and conscious. Have I suffered? Sure, plenty. But not more than I have enjoyed. I don’t at all define or experience my life AS suffering. Joy is louder.
I do think heaven or afterlife would have to involve losing all critical thought and individuality, particularly the Christian heaven, I don’t think most people could be ecstatically happy if they knew others were in hell and they could not do anything to try to help.
Im don’t disagree with that. As you can tell toward the end of my Ted Talk I find joy in life, and death naturally has the absence of suffering.
The idea of Heaven and Hell are concepts for those who can’t grasp that life is complex, and are used to control people.
It’s about control. Specifically, enabling control of the average people by the religious class - the clergy, the prophetsx the priests, nuns, preachers, anyone who claims to be of a higher authority between a person and whatever gods they might believe in.
Existence is suffering because it’s supposed to be unimportant. It doesn’t really matter. The afterlife matters because it’s all happiness, it’s without suffering, and it lasts forever. Oh and of course you’re only allowed to get to that afterlife if you do exactly what members of said class say.
While I agree that RELIGIONS do that, it is why I point out that I don’t think the original authors (ancient as they may be) had the individual intent to control people, but help them.
Like the Bible as a whole is clearly constructed for control. Same with the Torah, Quran, Vedas, and at LEAST to some extent the Tripitaka.
But, taken individually, understanding the historical context, and understanding the identification of different authors, the patterns arise that there was some good intent.
That good intent is all overshadowed by the manipulative tactics.
“Do these ten things that are basic human morality, or the invisible Man in the sky will be angry and once you’re done suffering in this life, you will spend even more time suffering”
is the message, not “do these ten things because they’re morally right”.