Post by alissacm on Jul 29, 2016 4:07:00 GMT
1. Why is Faqir Chand's experiences important in understanding the projective nature of religious visions and miracles?
Faqir Chand’s experiences show us that our consciousness is more personalized than we may realize, while still maintaining his awe and respect for the natural world. In the book The Unknowing Sage, Chand explains his quest to see God and how his religious convictions were so strong that he sometimes saw apparitions of holy figures. After years of meditation and sadhana yoga, he began to question the nature of his visions, and saw that the driving purpose of his religion was no different from that of others. He goes on to say that our different religious distinctions only further separate humanity from “the Truth.” These ideals support the individualistic nature of images seen during near death experiences, as described in the film Near Death Experiences. During moments of extreme bodily trauma, our minds can project images of religious figures that are meaningful to us as a way of encouraging us to keep living. Chand’s ability to experience this moment between life and anticipated death allowed him to see how much his own life influenced what he saw during that moment.
2. What is meant by the phrase, "philosophy done well is science; philosophy done poorly remains philosophy."
In the book Einstein’s Wastebasket, it is mentioned that many people look negatively at philosophy. Many people form misconceptions about philosophy, and think of it as an area of study that is more so about wishful thinking than making solid conclusions. The negative light that can be shone on philosophy makes it evident that many people just do not understand what Philosophy is about. While it is true that philosophy approaches grand topics and asks very open-ended questions, the key to this field of study lies in physical evidence. For every question there is an answer, but what makes the answer good or valid is the evidence supporting it. That is where the science comes in; physics, chemistry, and biology are all filled with empirical data that can be used to make philosophical arguments. Philosophy is more than just asking grandiose questions; it is an open-ended discussion about everything that pertains to our lives.
Faqir Chand’s experiences show us that our consciousness is more personalized than we may realize, while still maintaining his awe and respect for the natural world. In the book The Unknowing Sage, Chand explains his quest to see God and how his religious convictions were so strong that he sometimes saw apparitions of holy figures. After years of meditation and sadhana yoga, he began to question the nature of his visions, and saw that the driving purpose of his religion was no different from that of others. He goes on to say that our different religious distinctions only further separate humanity from “the Truth.” These ideals support the individualistic nature of images seen during near death experiences, as described in the film Near Death Experiences. During moments of extreme bodily trauma, our minds can project images of religious figures that are meaningful to us as a way of encouraging us to keep living. Chand’s ability to experience this moment between life and anticipated death allowed him to see how much his own life influenced what he saw during that moment.
2. What is meant by the phrase, "philosophy done well is science; philosophy done poorly remains philosophy."
In the book Einstein’s Wastebasket, it is mentioned that many people look negatively at philosophy. Many people form misconceptions about philosophy, and think of it as an area of study that is more so about wishful thinking than making solid conclusions. The negative light that can be shone on philosophy makes it evident that many people just do not understand what Philosophy is about. While it is true that philosophy approaches grand topics and asks very open-ended questions, the key to this field of study lies in physical evidence. For every question there is an answer, but what makes the answer good or valid is the evidence supporting it. That is where the science comes in; physics, chemistry, and biology are all filled with empirical data that can be used to make philosophical arguments. Philosophy is more than just asking grandiose questions; it is an open-ended discussion about everything that pertains to our lives.