more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 6709

[filed under theme 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality ]

Full Idea

For Western minds, religion entails the belief and hope that we will be saved from death and live forever, but the belief of Eastern religions is that we do live forever, and it is from this dreadful fate that we must look to spirituality to save us.

Gist of Idea

Western religion saves us from death; Eastern religion saves us from immortality

Source

Gordon Graham (Eight Theories of Ethics [2004], Ch.9)

Book Ref

Graham,Gordon: 'Eight Theories of Ethics' [Routledge 2004], p.198

A Reaction

Nice. I have certainly come to prefer the Eastern view, simply on the grounds that human beings have a limited capacity. I quite fancy three hundred years of healthy life, but after that I am sure that any potential I have will be used up.

The 14 ideas from 'Eight Theories of Ethics'

6685 'Subjectivism' is an extension of relativism from the social group to the individual [Graham]
6691 It is more plausible to say people can choose between values, than that they can create them [Graham]
6688 Life is only absurd if you expected an explanation and none turns up [Graham]
6690 A standard problem for existentialism is the 'sincere Nazi' [Graham]
6689 The key to existentialism: the way you make choices is more important than what you choose [Graham]
6693 'What if everybody did that?' rather misses the point as an objection to cheating [Graham]
6701 Rescue operations need spontaneous benevolence, not careful thought [Graham]
6699 The chain of consequences may not be the same as the chain of responsibility [Graham]
6698 Negative consequences are very hard (and possibly impossible) to assess [Graham]
6700 We can't criticise people because of unforeseeable consequences [Graham]
6704 Egoism submits to desires, but cannot help form them [Graham]
6705 Existentialism may transcend our nature, unlike eudaimonism [Graham]
6706 The great religions are much more concerned with the religious life than with ethics [Graham]
6709 Western religion saves us from death; Eastern religion saves us from immortality [Graham]