nebula Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I listen to the science/philosophy podcast Radiolab before bed sometimes. Tonight's episode was about "black boxes"-- that is, areas of knowledge that are obscured. We see one side, we see the other side, but the part in the middle is a mystery. This particular segment deals with the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, which has long been a symbol of man's transformation after death. Apparently, the mechanics of the transformation are just as mysterious inside the chrysalis as in the coffin. The podcast raises questions like: If I'm transformed into a perfect spiritual being after death, then how much of "me" remains the same? Could I even be called the same person as I was on earth? What carries over? What's left behind? I found it beautiful and thought-provoking. You can stream or download it here for free: http://www.radiolab.org/story/goo-and-you/ 2
CV75 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I listen to the science/philosophy podcast Radiolab before bed sometimes. Tonight's episode was about "black boxes"-- that is, areas of knowledge that are obscured. We see one side, we see the other side, but the part in the middle is a mystery. This particular segment deals with the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, which has long been a symbol of man's transformation after death. Apparently, the mechanics of the transformation are just as mysterious inside the chrysalis as in the coffin. The podcast raises questions like: If I'm transformed into a perfect spiritual being after death, then how much of "me" remains the same? Could I even be called the same person as I was on earth? What carries over? What's left behind? I found it beautiful and thought-provoking. You can stream or download it here for free:http://www.radiolab.org/story/goo-and-you/I didn't listen to the link, but those are all good questions!
nebula Posted January 30, 2014 Author Posted January 30, 2014 Listen if you get a chance. It's only about 20 minutes and it's absolutely worth it.
Nofear Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I listen to the science/philosophy podcast Radiolab before bed sometimes. Tonight's episode was about "black boxes"-- that is, areas of knowledge that are obscured. We see one side, we see the other side, but the part in the middle is a mystery. This particular segment deals with the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, which has long been a symbol of man's transformation after death. Apparently, the mechanics of the transformation are just as mysterious inside the chrysalis as in the coffin. The podcast raises questions like: If I'm transformed into a perfect spiritual being after death, then how much of "me" remains the same? Could I even be called the same person as I was on earth? What carries over? What's left behind? I found it beautiful and thought-provoking. You can stream or download it here for free:http://www.radiolab.org/story/goo-and-you/Interesting. Joseph Smith answers these questions and a whole slew of other questions (Ship of Theseus, transporter paradoxes, etc.) with a single swoop:“There is no fundamental principle belonging to a human system that ever goes into another in this world or in the world to come; I care not what the theories of men are. We have the testimony that God will raise us up, and he has the power to do it. If any one supposes that any part of our bodies, that is, the fundamental parts thereof, ever goes into another body, he is mistaken” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:339). That is to say, what fundamentally constitutes me, myself, and I is not the atoms of my body, the arrangement thereof, my spirit body or the arrangement of that matter. Rather, what fundamentally constitutes me, myself, and I is some stuff, some component of my current arrangement which is intrinsically me (I identify this "part" as intelligence matter). Additionally, this fundamental core component of my identity "was not created nor made" and indeed cannot be. While it answers a lot of questions (e.g. above), there are a whole lot of other questions that it brings with it. But that, perhaps, is a topic for another day.
halconero Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Gread podcast, and very interesting points. I would say that we become a new person, even though we posses the same spirit. The scriptures describe the old earth passing away (our current one), and being resurrected as a new earth and a new heaven. I imagine the same is possible with us.
BCSpace Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I listen to the science/philosophy podcast Radiolab before bed sometimes. Tonight's episode was about "black boxes"-- that is, areas of knowledge that are obscured. We see one side, we see the other side, but the part in the middle is a mystery. This particular segment deals with the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, which has long been a symbol of man's transformation after death. Apparently, the mechanics of the transformation are just as mysterious inside the chrysalis as in the coffin. The podcast raises questions like: If I'm transformed into a perfect spiritual being after death, then how much of "me" remains the same? Could I even be called the same person as I was on earth? What carries over? What's left behind? I found it beautiful and thought-provoking. You can stream or download it here for free: You might appreciate the older work 'Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions' by Abbott. It is all about perspective and dealing with the unknown in relationship to God. 1
Coreyb Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I see our spirits as the Blueprints of our bodies. Our resurrected bodies can be raised up from any of the proper combination of elements there is available. God can turn these stones into children of Abraham, so he can turn this mud into a new Me 1
nebula Posted January 31, 2014 Author Posted January 31, 2014 Are we intended to become 'perfect'? If so, wouldn't that make us uniform? Wouldn't we all be the same person, or are there varieties of perfection?
halconero Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Are we intended to become 'perfect'? If so, wouldn't that make us uniform? Wouldn't we all be the same person, or are there varieties of perfection? I believe there to be variety in perfection. For me, perfection is the magnification of the awesome, lovely, great things about us, even if they are distinct. 1
mfbukowski Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Are we intended to become 'perfect'? If so, wouldn't that make us uniform? Wouldn't we all be the same person, or are there varieties of perfection?It's to fill the measure of YOUR creation and have joy therein. 1
Mystery Meat Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Are we intended to become 'perfect'? If so, wouldn't that make us uniform? Wouldn't we all be the same person, or are there varieties of perfection? I love this question. As I have thought this through over the years I have come to the conclusion that the individuality that we love and cling to here on Earth is a passing thing. I am in no way saying this is doctrine, but I believe in the next we are all more or less the same apart from gender and perhaps in some ways appearance. That may sound boring to a mortal, but I suppose if I am right then it will make perfect sense in the next life.
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