TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 7,365
There was a time, even as young as elementary school or so, I remember being in church (not by choice, but parents pushing it when I was younger) and there was talk of reincarnation or it being a 'miracle' or any of the nonsense stuff. I remember during the service, there was a video (which is low quality by today's standards as it was on old TVs, but that was in the late 90s early 2000s and also during that time era, religion seems to have a stronger hold on society than the 2010s or so) of someone dying, but then at some point, could be months or years, later reincarnating and being reborn, essentially coming back to life again after being dead (non-sentient) for some time..
Nevertheless, I'm an atheist before and I still am, but back then the idea of reincarnation even if I didn't fully comprehend it or so, was something that did not sit well with me. Even as a young kid, I knew just enough to discern it from being the dead status to alive status. While I don't remember the exact words I've said and then again, at the time I was full of rage, wasn't like typical kids (yes I was on the spectrum as well, before I even knew what the 'spectrum' was) as I was neurodivergent and all that... I basically stated something along the lines of "if I died and then was reincarnated, I'd get revenge or go after the ones who wronged me, wreck havoc, cause trouble, etc.". Of course, that didn't sit well with people who were responsible for me and try tried to reeducate my stance (before I even knew what 'indoctrination' itself was!), and how many people would be 'grateful' to be alive again and to then make the most of their "2nd chance." I simply didn't see it that way, but just another continuation or reinstatement of torment, but I digress...
In reflection (to put it simply and not getting into all the philosophy, the ethics, logic and rationale, etc.), to me, it made sense because of a few brief (albeit oversimplified) facts:
1. Forcing sentience itself is a serious grave violation and torture of non-sentient beings as it subjects the being to many things that said being would not have experienced had they not been sentient or alive!
2. Identity of previous life to present life (without getting too deep or complex), whether it is the same person or not. The old person A versus the new person A, whether they are old A = new A, etc.
3. The 'social contract' has already been voided due to violating one's bodily autonomy, so any preexisting unwritten (and implicit) social contract is null and void, especially when they already forced sentience or even overridden one's right to not exist (more ethics but keeping it simple).
So in short, I take issue to the idea of reincarnation at least for current sentience, mainly philosophy and personal reasons. This entails that one is not only wronged, but continue to suffer wrongs until they are relieved of such a state of agony. In other words, they are subject to the harms of sentience as long as they are sentient and for most people to think that sentience is great or that reincarnation itself is another 'opportunity' is just distasteful and antithetical towards the pro-choice philosophy. However, as an atheist myself, I don't believe that once death occurs that I become sentient again or take another form of consciousness, but rather just nothingness, the void, and oblivion. I thought I'd share this story to not only show where my stance is with the idea or concept of reincarnation, but also to demonstrate my thought process and philosophy. I'm sure there are others who may have similar stances, or maybe different ones. If so, feel free to share one's thoughts and stories too.
Nevertheless, I'm an atheist before and I still am, but back then the idea of reincarnation even if I didn't fully comprehend it or so, was something that did not sit well with me. Even as a young kid, I knew just enough to discern it from being the dead status to alive status. While I don't remember the exact words I've said and then again, at the time I was full of rage, wasn't like typical kids (yes I was on the spectrum as well, before I even knew what the 'spectrum' was) as I was neurodivergent and all that... I basically stated something along the lines of "if I died and then was reincarnated, I'd get revenge or go after the ones who wronged me, wreck havoc, cause trouble, etc.". Of course, that didn't sit well with people who were responsible for me and try tried to reeducate my stance (before I even knew what 'indoctrination' itself was!), and how many people would be 'grateful' to be alive again and to then make the most of their "2nd chance." I simply didn't see it that way, but just another continuation or reinstatement of torment, but I digress...
In reflection (to put it simply and not getting into all the philosophy, the ethics, logic and rationale, etc.), to me, it made sense because of a few brief (albeit oversimplified) facts:
1. Forcing sentience itself is a serious grave violation and torture of non-sentient beings as it subjects the being to many things that said being would not have experienced had they not been sentient or alive!
2. Identity of previous life to present life (without getting too deep or complex), whether it is the same person or not. The old person A versus the new person A, whether they are old A = new A, etc.
3. The 'social contract' has already been voided due to violating one's bodily autonomy, so any preexisting unwritten (and implicit) social contract is null and void, especially when they already forced sentience or even overridden one's right to not exist (more ethics but keeping it simple).
So in short, I take issue to the idea of reincarnation at least for current sentience, mainly philosophy and personal reasons. This entails that one is not only wronged, but continue to suffer wrongs until they are relieved of such a state of agony. In other words, they are subject to the harms of sentience as long as they are sentient and for most people to think that sentience is great or that reincarnation itself is another 'opportunity' is just distasteful and antithetical towards the pro-choice philosophy. However, as an atheist myself, I don't believe that once death occurs that I become sentient again or take another form of consciousness, but rather just nothingness, the void, and oblivion. I thought I'd share this story to not only show where my stance is with the idea or concept of reincarnation, but also to demonstrate my thought process and philosophy. I'm sure there are others who may have similar stances, or maybe different ones. If so, feel free to share one's thoughts and stories too.