I'd like to explore the origin of the self for a moment. By self, I
mean soul, or presence, or whatever makes you conscious of being you.

If you believe that whatever this "energy" is that powers your
existence also exists in these 3 dimensions, then (since energy is
neither created nor destroyed and we live in a universe with a finite
amount of energy), it too must have been born at the big bang,
although maybe not in it's present configuration, making each of us
10-20 billion years old. This seems more reasonable to me than asking,
"Why am I 23 years old, and where was I 24 years ago?"

On the other hand, if you believe that our conscious selfs have a
source of energy outside of our 3 dimensions, and you smoke a joint or
do some other activity that affects the mind, you can sense a change
in your perceptions, and so somehow the chemicals in your blood are
having an effect on your brain, your brain processes its signals
differently and you can experience and be aware of those effects. Then
there must be some link between our brain in this world and our
awarenesses in the other.

So is it right to assume that either we are 15 billion years old and
our "souls" have been floating around ever since the big bang, or that
our brains have some method of inter-dimensional communication?

Dear Todd Smith:

"Todd Smith" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to explore the origin of the self for a moment. By self, I
mean soul, or presence, or whatever makes you conscious of being you.

Notice the word "relativity" in the title of this newsgroup? You need to
look for a newsgroup that has "philosophy" in its name. Or religion.

David A. Smith

"Todd Smith" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to explore the origin of the self for a moment. By self, I
mean soul, or presence, or whatever makes you conscious of being you.


You are in the wrong group.

"Todd Smith" wrote in message
om...
I'd like to explore the origin of the self for a moment. By self, I
mean soul, or presence, or whatever makes you conscious of being you.

If you believe that whatever this "energy" is that powers your
existence also exists in these 3 dimensions, then (since energy is
neither created nor destroyed and we live in a universe with a finite
amount of energy), it too must have been born at the big bang,
although maybe not in it's present configuration, making each of us
10-20 billion years old. This seems more reasonable to me than asking,
"Why am I 23 years old, and where was I 24 years ago?"

In this context it is wise to actually understand what energy is - see
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/noether.html.


On the other hand, if you believe that our conscious selfs have a
source of energy outside of our 3 dimensions, and you smoke a joint or
do some other activity that affects the mind, you can sense a change
in your perceptions, and so somehow the chemicals in your blood are
having an effect on your brain, your brain processes its signals
differently and you can experience and be aware of those effects. Then
there must be some link between our brain in this world and our
awarenesses in the other.

So is it right to assume that either we are 15 billion years old and
our "souls" have been floating around ever since the big bang, or that
our brains have some method of inter-dimensional communication?

We have no evidence either view is correct.

Thanks
Bill

"Todd Smith" wrote in message
om...
| I'd like to explore the origin of the self for a moment. By self, I
| mean soul, or presence, or whatever makes you conscious of being you.

"Self-aware"


|
| If you believe that whatever this "energy" is that powers your
| existence

I think my computer is "powered" by electricity, it doesn't work when I pull
the plug.

also exists in these 3 dimensions,

Yep, it's three dimensional alright.


| then (since energy is
| neither created nor destroyed and we live in a universe with a finite
| amount of energy), it too must have been born at the big bang,

My computer was born at the big bang?

| although maybe not in it's present configuration, making each of us
| 10-20 billion years old.

Dang, I thought mine was just a year old. I'll ask for a refund.

This seems more reasonable to me than asking,
| "Why am I 23 years old, and where was I 24 years ago?"

Why anything?


| On the other hand, if you believe that our conscious selfs have a
| source of energy outside of our 3 dimensions,

selves, not selfs. Yeah, I eat food. That provides the energy.

| and you smoke a joint
ah, now I see where you are coming from...

or
| do some other activity that affects the mind, you can sense a change
| in your perceptions, and so somehow the chemicals in your blood are
| having an effect on your brain, your brain processes its signals
| differently and you can experience and be aware of those effects.

That is known as "hallucination".

| Then
| there must be some link between our brain in this world and our
| awarenesses in the other.

Yep. Hallucination alright.

| So is it right to assume that either we are 15 billion years old and
| our "souls" have been floating around ever since the big bang, or that
| our brains have some method of inter-dimensional communication?


Definitely hallucination. Too much wacky baccy, mate.

Androcles.