Did we exist before we were born?

[sserafim]

We probably had past lives if you believe in reincarnation

Why did we have to be brought into this life though? What's the point of being a human being when we could've been like gods? I agree that the world is a game, it's a cruel, absurd game. It honestly feels like a simulation. I hate the fact that I was forced to play the game of life against my will.

Also, what's the point of having to experience pain and suffering?

 

[DEATH IS FREEDOM]

No, death is the same state as before birth. There is no evidence otherwise.

 

[Lys_C15H25N3O_d3]

Having those, how do ya say "Near Death Experiences" messed everything up. I think right now i am in a "Near Life Experience" even scarier.

Reincarnation? that's another scary thing. hopefully if "logic stands for what's supposed to" IF the "planet is overpopulated" then where are "these souls coming from?" as a matter of fact. we "could have existed" from a hypothetical view (parents planning , reading books choosing names, buying baby stuff) until EVENTUALLY after x-ray screening "biological activity is detected" therefore yes, even after birth we "exist" =\

Also, what's the point of having to experience pain and suffering?

you said it right there.. to experience pain and suffering, who benefits from it? not us. therefore the conclusion is : If , by any reason, some ancient sumerian fairytale went through several re-makes ending up on Abrahamic/Christian religions, WHATS the point in suffering if the "the earth is great and a couple of dumb retards ate a damn "apple" they weren't supposed to, just because "a talking snake" said so... ?


well, if humanity enjoys this and take as a meaning, they're not only suicidal but also sadomasochists yeah the type that loves to inflict and feel pain Conclusion? you nailed down right at the beginning . "whats the point?" if being alive is a terrifying experience for many, whats the point of being afraid of dying and facing "eternal punishment in lakes of fire or being poked and tortured by horned-smiley-evil-demons who apparently have nothing better to do either??" punishment " for opting to exit and refuse "paying for the sins" of mythical characters a bunch of books written by different people who span off an even older version of a similar sad story carved in clay tablets some 6000 years ago?


See? thats the problem right there... overthinking, not-thinking.. being/not being


MEANINGLESSS just as "my" opinion (is it mine?) nope.

 

[Aim]

Hmmm I actually have a blurry memory of coming out of the milky way as a baby among the stars

 

[doneforlife]

@neoyokio sent me this really interesting article a while back: https://www.newscientist.com/articl...ow-your-brain-conjures-up-your-sense-of-self/

The way I see it is- we're only able to contemplate the fact that we are alive because we have a highly developed sense of self awareness- consciousness. I think- partly because we don't understand it and partly because as a race- we have such enormous egos- we tend to think that part of us is magical- even immortal.

At the end of the day- it's personal belief because there isn't definitive proof either way. I myself do also have a spiritual bent- so- I do understand the appeal.

Still- after reading that article- it could well be that this sense of self/consciousness has merely developed as a by product to the way the brain works! Either way- I don't really see it as being separate from the brain. I'm not convinced it can exist without a living brain- either before birth or after death.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'Did we exist before we were born?' Exactly what part of us are you talking about? Biologically- yes- the female egg we came from was created when our mothers were. The father's sperm probably got created a little later.

I'm guessing you mean spirit though- spark/consciousness/sense of self. Does that exist beyond- before and after our mortal lives? I think we tend to have this idea of a fully formed person's character when we think like this. But babies aren't born like that surely. They're surely living mostly on instinct at that age. We don't even remember the first couple of years of life!

I think it's said that children start showing signs of self awareness aged 15 to 18 months. Doesn't that suggest that it is something that develops as the brain develops? We almost learn it perhaps? If we were born with it- surely, we'd have memories from earlier on in life?

I often hear the argument from reincarnation fans about energy- that it can't be destroyed- only transfered. But our 'energy' IS transfered when we are born and when we die. The biological bits of us- egg and sperm were created from our parents- because they ate food = energy. When we die- we rot and feed the insects or- fuel the flames in cremation. I guess thoughts/awareness/consciousness are energy- electrical impulses in the brain or whatever but again- surely the brain needs energy (food) to function? It then transfers that consumed energy- calories into thought. Without food- it will die along with the rest of us. I can't see how thoughts survive beyond the brain and surely- thought is all we're talking about when we talk about 'us'.

True. Thoughts and memories are all we are. There have been days where I go deep into thoughts, thinking why am I ...me. it's a little bit difficult to put in words. But just think about it , all the cognitive learning, all the experiences , all the knowledge have been the input to create "me". If another new life is subjected to the exact same set of experiences , would it finally result in creating "me" again ? There is an unique sense to "me" . And I don't think I will ever be recreated , even if subjected to the exact same things.

Having those, how do ya say "Near Death Experiences" messed everything up. I think right now i am in a "Near Life Experience" even scarier.

Reincarnation? that's another scary thing. hopefully if "logic stands for what's supposed to" IF the "planet is overpopulated" then where are "these souls coming from?" as a matter of fact. we "could have existed" from a hypothetical view (parents planning , reading books choosing names, buying baby stuff) until EVENTUALLY after x-ray screening "biological activity is detected" therefore yes, even after birth we "exist" =\

you said it right there.. to experience pain and suffering, who benefits from it? not us. therefore the conclusion is : If , by any reason, some ancient sumerian fairytale went through several re-makes ending up on Abrahamic/Christian religions, WHATS the point in suffering if the "the earth is great and a couple of dumb retards ate a damn "apple" they weren't supposed to, just because "a talking snake" said so... ?


well, if humanity enjoys this and take as a meaning, they're not only suicidal but also sadomasochists yeah the type that loves to inflict and feel pain Conclusion? you nailed down right at the beginning . "whats the point?" if being alive is a terrifying experience for many, whats the point of being afraid of dying and facing "eternal punishment in lakes of fire or being poked and tortured by horned-smiley-evil-demons who apparently have nothing better to do either??" punishment " for opting to exit and refuse "paying for the sins" of mythical characters a bunch of books written by different people who span off an even older version of a similar sad story carved in clay tablets some 6000 years ago?


See? thats the problem right there... overthinking, not-thinking.. being/not being


MEANINGLESSS just as "my" opinion (is it mine?) nope.

There are different philosophies and also religions and spiritual takes on life. Not everyone believes in the "apple" eating sin. But at the end of the day everything is a "belief" system with no evidence. Here's what another philosophy states :

We are all souls , part of a greater soul ..think of it as drop in ocean. Is the drop different from ocean ? No. We were always there , never created. Life is eternal. You can't differentiate a drop from the ocean. They are one and the same. Hence we were all one and same, merged with God , the supreme soul, the ocean. We are here in this plane of existence because we desired materialistic pleasure. Once this desire is over , we go back. But once we are here , while pursuing our desires , we hurt others. That is when , we are not taken back. We get trapped. In order to get back and be "one" with the ocean , we should not be desiring anything (it is not the same as abstinence from pleasures , it is like the desire itself wouldn't be there ) . If there is still desire left , you get recycled into another womb. It's your own desire ...why you are here . The monks get rid of all worldly pleasures. They do the bare minimum for survival.

 

[real person]

its hard to imagine isn't it

 

[leavingthesoultrap]

As a child I often pondered about this. I kept asking myself. Why am I me? Why am I not a fox or something else? I believe that soul cant die it gets reborn. It jumps from one body to another without any memories of previous lifes. I think it is possible to escape this fate but its certainly not easy