Archive for April, 2008

Separable Soul

Published on April 20, 2008 in consciousness and meaning of life. 0 Comments

In the last few years I’ve been realising that there is very little of what makes me ‘me’ that cannot be traced back to a part of my physical brain. In fact I can’t find anything that is unique to myself as an individual that doesn’t have a biological basis.

So recently when I read in my psychology textbook the maxim “Everything psychological is simultaneously biological” I think it finally sunk in that I was still harbouring the possibility of a separable soul. The (albeit small) possibility that my soul, being the essence of me, could survive death and persist in afterlife. It was at that point I finally accepted that my soul is material. Everything that makes me ‘me’ will cease to exist at the end of my life.

I’m still agnostic in regards to consciousness though. The essence of my consciousness may or may not be persist after life. My consciousness is not ‘me’ though. If my consciousness persists it wont have my memories, personality or temperament. As a matter of fact, my search for the origin and behaviour of consciousness has reduced in importance. I was using it as the basis for my ’self’. Now I am viewing it as just another aspect of the being that I am.

This experience to me was almost equivalent to me finally realising that the bible couldn’t possibly be literal when I was around 18 years old (John Selby Spong, my hero). It’s like someone switched a light on and all of a sudden I am in a new reality.

It’s colder here but I can see more clearly.

Long time no post!

Published on April 20, 2008 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

It’s been a while since I have posted but I have not given up on the blog. I’ve been busy with study and haven’t been able to devote much time to more abstract thinking.

So far there hasn’t been much Neuroscience in my course. My first and second semester units are in Mathematics, Chemistry, Human Biology and Psychology. Some of this (Maths and H.Biol) I have done before but since it’s been over ten years since my last time at university I have to do them again.

While I initially thought that the Psychology course would be the most interesting I’ve found it to be the most frustrating course of the four. It has been extremely slow and the content has been erratic. We have multiple lecturers with many unknowingly covering content already covered in previous lectures. I have a friend at uni who did the Psych major four years ago and tells me that it picks up in second year. I hold some hope.

I am really enjoying the study. I’m learning new things every day and feel like I am building a new perspective on life. I’m looking forward to the next few years.