Spirituality or just emotion...?

[_emilysmith]

Neurobiologists all over the world might disagree with you.

[_DrW]

What if the self is really the evolved ability to predict behavior and emotions in others turned inward?

Hi emilysmith!

This is part of the true self - being able to discern energy and prophesy what that energy will manifest in the future. These are the more subtle aspects of our emotional and mental bodies, which require purification of our outer consciousness, so that it stills, is silent, allowing us to perceive with our subtle senses, our spiritual senses.

Peace be within you.

Sheryl

Sheryl,

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Do you just decide to believe what sort of sounds right to you at any given time, or in what you heard last, and not bother to check for supporting evidence - ever?

[_sheryl]

Sheryl,

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Do you just decide to believe what sort of sounds right to you at any given time, or in what you heard last, and not bother to check for supporting evidence - ever?

No, DrW, I do not make this stuff up. It is the same that is taught in many Wisdom Traditions. The one which I am a part of dates back to the time of Jesus, but had to go underground when the archons took over Christianity. Only recently have we become public. Thus I am sharing here for those like you who know nothing of spirituality other than the churches of the masses.

Shalom!

Sheryl

PS. My daughter wants to know if you are a Dr. Who fan. DrW...Dr. Who...is there a correlation?

[_Franktalk]

What if the self is really the evolved ability to predict behavior and emotions in others turned inward?

One has to believe that evolution made all logic and reason in our thoughts or we imagine these things and they hold no value. If evolution made logic and reason how did evolution do it and for what reason? If you believe that logic and reason is a byproduct of some other flesh system you have to make the case that it is possible and reasonable. Just lay all of your beliefs out before you and really look deep into them. I don't think you have done so.

[_emilysmith]

One has to believe that evolution made all logic and reason in our thoughts or we imagine these things and they hold no value. If evolution made logic and reason how did evolution do it and for what reason? If you believe that logic and reason is a byproduct of some other flesh system you have to make the case that it is possible and reasonable. Just lay all of your beliefs out before you and really look deep into them. I don't think you have done so.

I actually explained it in one sentence a few posts back. As primates evolved the ability to predict emotions and behavior in others, they were able to create conceptual constructs of other individuals. This ability, turned inward, is what creates the concept of self. The ability to know the intent of other individuals is a huge evolutionary advantage, as it allows a progressively larger group of individuals to work together as the ability evolves. The more people that work together, the more resources they are able to control. Combine this with the ability to plan ahead, and you start to evolve the ability to reason.

The parts of our brain that are involved in these more complex tasks are at the front of the brain, which was gradually being added to in primate evolution. The smaller this part of the brain, the further you go back in primate evolution.

Additionally, we have evolved larger quantities of mirror neurons, which are integral in processes that allow us to have empathy for other individuals. The only species with mirror neurons are the great apes and humans. Humans have, by far, the most mirror neurons.

Do you still think I have not given it any thought?

[_DrW]

Sheryl,

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Do you just decide to believe what sort of sounds right to you at any given time, or in what you heard last, and not bother to check for supporting evidence - ever?

No, DrW, I do not make this stuff up. It is the same that is taught in many Wisdom Traditions. The one which I am a part of dates back to the time of Jesus, but had to go underground when the archons took over Christianity. Only recently have we become public. Thus I am sharing here for those like you who know nothing of spirituality other than the churches of the masses.

Shalom!

Sheryl

PS. My daughter wants to know if you are a Dr. Who fan. DrW...Dr. Who...is there a correlation?

Sheryl,

Please thank your daughter for asking. The 1970's Dr. Who, the one who had unkempt hair, operated out of the genuine red British telephone booth and battled the Daleks, was my favorite (campy and low budget) shows on TV when we lived in England.

However, the "W" in my screen name is the first letter of my last name and has no connection to Dr. Who.
_____________________

Getting back to the subject of the OP, my views of the issue at hand parallel very closely those of emilysmith.

And I think you will find that the points she raises are solidly backed by the relevant science. When one has access to objective relevant facts and evidence regarding an issue, why not accept and employ them to help develop some real understanding instead of reverting to old myth and superstition?

[_harmony]

When one has access to objective relevant facts and evidence regarding an issue, why not accept and employ them to help develop some real understanding instead of reverting to old myth and superstition?

Underneath most myths lies some fact. Myths aren't built out of nothing.

[_sheryl]

Sheryl,

Please thank your daughter for asking. The 1970's Dr. Who, the one who had unkempt hair, operated out of the genuine red British telephone booth and battled the Daleks, was my favorite (campy and low budget) shows on TV when we lived in England.

However, the "W" in my screen name is the first letter of my last name and has no connection to Dr. Who.
_____________________

Getting back to the subject of the OP, my views of the issue at hand parallel very closely those of emilysmith.

And I think you will find that the points she raises are solidly backed by the relevant science. When one has access to objective relevant facts and evidence regarding an issue, why not accept and employ them to help develop some real understanding instead of reverting to old myth and superstition?

Ah, yes I have heard of the original show! After a visit to London, my daughter has been inspired to watch all episodes of the current running. I have caught a few with her. We are enjoying the time together and the creativity of this show.

I do not criticize or 'blame' anyone who has a view such as the one you and emily are sharing. There was a time in my life when I looked at religion objectively, took classes in college on the origins of religion etc. Presently where this world is in its evolution, it is expected that many among us will claim not to believe in God, for all the paradigms they have been presented with just don't make sense. And for the benefit of humanity, it is not necessary that all believe in something beyond the physical, at least at this point. Only a few souls at a time find salvation.

However, I will offer for your consideration that it is just as blind and ignorant to deny spirituality as it is blind and ignorant to deny science. Those of us who adamantly reject anything that we have not personally experienced as true, are putting ourselves into a box and the more we dig in the harder it will be for Truth to find its way in. This goes for both sides, both polarities - those rejecting science and those rejecting spirituality. Both one might say are ignorant.

What I have been sharing is not myth, it is something that myself and others experience on a daily basis. We are involved in ceremony for the dead, for example, where we invite or even awaken the souls of the dead, guide them into remembering so that they might ascend into the higher heavens. The spirits encountered, the higher heavens, these are things we experience, we see, just the same as we witness the sun rising in the sky in the early morning.

Our spiritual senses have been awakened so that we can see beyond the material. You see, there really is no empty space. What the mundane senses perceive as empty space, the spiritual senses can see into, and see beings upon beings, worlds upon worlds within that empty space, in and between the molecules of matter.

So, the choice to all of us is to remain in our ignorance, to even argue and defend our ignorance, or to become open to let God reveal to us, show us, things beyond our imaginations!

Peace be within you.

Sheryl

[_Franktalk]

Sheryl,

I am not sure why it is but my discernment of the spiritual world by far leads my experience. I have been asking to have my eyes opened but as yet they are not open to all things. But I still have gifts that keep me on a spiritual plane even though I don't feel the spirit world. Not sure if that makes sense or not.

I do feel that very few people will bridge over to the spirit world at any time. This must be so in order to maintain the overriding command to come to God through faith. Many encounters with spirits and miracles happen but not enough to tip the balance. These rules apply to the whole world so no church will be like the Gospel period. Maybe more correct doctrine and maybe more fellowship but the true power of the spirit world can not be available to all. At least not until one makes the journey of faith.

Frank

[_Drifting]

Many encounters with spirits and miracles happen but not enough to tip the balance.

Please can you go through some recent examples?