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Eternal Consciousness Paperback – 15 May 2012
by John S. Dunne (Author)
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In his new book, John S. Dunne asks: "So what is eternal consciousness? It is, I take it, consciousness of the eternal in us. If time is 'a changing image of eternity,' as Plato says, the changing image of the human being is like The Voyage of Life, four paintings by Thomas Cole, showing childhood, youth, adulthood, and age. The eternal in us is the person going through these phases. It is the vertical dimension of the life, as in the title scene of War and Peace where Prince Andre lay on the battlefield looking up into the peaceful sky, perceiving peace in the midst of war. If the horizontal dimension is time and the vertical dimension is eternity, then eternal consciousness is awareness of the vertical dimension. What is more, the vertical dimension carries through the horizontal, as the person walks through life upright instead of being dragged through in 'quiet desperation.' Willingness and hope, accordingly, is willingness to walk through upright with hope in the face of death and darkness." -from the book
What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope? Dunne explores these questions in his characteristic hermeneutic method, finding the answer in "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). It is the life of the spirit that is the eternal in us, the inner life of knowing and loving, the life of hope and peace and friendship and intelligence. "If there were no eternal consciousness in a man," Kierkegaard says, "what then would life be but despair?" John Dunne adds, if there is eternal consciousness in us, on the other hand, there is hope.
To readers of John Dunne's books, Eternal Consciousness will be the latest installment chronicling his spiritual journey; to readers new to Dunne's oeuvre, it will be a lively introduction to the distinctive voice and thought of an inspiring author.
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As action grows more frantic and voices more shrill in this age of terror, John Dunne's wisdom, born of Eternal Consciousness, shows us and leads us into our true selves--never unloved, never abandoned, willing to walk on with God through life into the very gateway of death itself.--Jon Nilson, Loyola University Chicago
About the Author
John S. Dunne (1930-2013) was the John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and the author of over twenty books, including The Circle Dance of Time, and his memoir, A Journey with God in Time, all published by the University of Notre Dame Press.
Product details
Publisher : University of Notre Dame Press (15 May 2012)
Language : English
Paperback : 152 pages
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5.0 out of 5 stars The Search for ImmortalityReviewed in the United States on 17 January 2014
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John Dunne's book confronts the fundamental question: If I must someday die, how can I satisfy my desire for life. In exploring the human dilemma, the author alludes to how religious systems--Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism--as well as individual philosophers and mystics--Plato, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Kierkegaard, Heiddeger, Sartre, and others--have addressed this existential question. The book is astonishing in its sweep of historical and philosophical knowledge. At the same time, it is Dunne''s deeply personal reflection on his life as a journey, a metaphor he describes as passing over from self to other and back again to self. The question leads to Donne's transformation from living a life of in search of certitude to living in search of meaning.
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https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4490/Eternal-Consciousness.htm
What the Bible says about Eternal Consciousness
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Genesis 3:4
Satan's heresy that "You shall not surely die," when expanded, claims that we are already immortal, so death has no real hold over us. This idea, proposed at the very beginning, has thrived throughout history. Mainstream Christianity calls it the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, while various Eastern religions contain it in beliefs such as reincarnation. Whatever its moniker, the belief that human beings possess a spiritual, eternally conscious, imperishable component is a major tenet of nearly every religion throughout man's history. In our modern culture, books and movies abound with examples of the spirits of the dead hovering around the living characters, giving them comfort, aid, and encouragement. It is taken as given that death is not the end; somehow, one's conscious spirit will live on when the physical body perishes.
The Gnostic belief in the dualism of flesh and spirit—with the flesh being evil and something to be freed from, while the eternal spirit was good—also originated in the lie Satan told Eve. Gnostics, in general, believed that the purpose of human existence was to return to the spiritual realm from whence all originated. Death, then, was seen as liberation of the spirit.
First, consider how this belief affects a person's attitude and way of life. When Satan undermined the death penalty for disobedience, in addition to sowing further distrust in what God says, he also blunted one of the keenest elements of human motivation, continued self-preservation. If life beyond the grave is assured, how this life is lived makes little difference. It is like guaranteeing a college freshman that he will receive a doctorate degree, regardless of whether anything is learned, any work is done, any classes are attended, or any tuition is paid. While the student may indeed expend some effort, the motivation to apply himself wholeheartedly to his education will be substantially weakened. It would be so easy to slack off and postpone catching up to some time next week. After all, if the goal is certain, why worry about the details in the meantime?
Spiritually, the result is the same. If one already has immortality, and is eternally saved, there is no pressing reason to resist the pulls of carnality. Resisting Satan matters little. Devoting one's life to growing and overcoming has no urgency. Sin is no big deal. Why should one study to come to know God and His truth? Believing that one already possesses eternal life removes the urgency to live according to the desires and requirements of the Creator. At best, all that remains is the vague guidance of "just be a good person."
The Bible teaches that there can be life after death through the resurrection from the dead. Eternal life is ours only if God supplies it, and not because we possess an immortal soul:
» God tells us, "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4; emphasis ours throughout). God repeats this in Ezekiel 18:20. Clearly, it is possible for a "soul" to die.
» Paul instructs in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death," not eternal life—not even eternal life in ever-burning hell. As with Ezekiel 18, sin incurs the death penalty. Satan, though, would have us believe that since death is not a real threat, sin is no big deal. It is only because of God's grace that we are not struck down immediately—not because of any inherent immortality within us—as the rest of Romans 6:23 explains: "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eternal life is a gift, not an inborn quality.
» I Timothy 6:16 says that God "alone has immortality"—not any member of the human race, Christians included!
» Romans 2:7 promises "eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality," again proving that eternal life is a gift, not a right, and that immortality must be sought (by "doing good") rather than assumed to have it already.
» Finally, in the "Resurrection Chapter," I Corinthians 15, Paul explains when Christians receive immortality:
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (I Corinthians 15:50-54)
It is not until "the last trumpet," when Jesus Christ returns, that the dead will be resurrected and given immortality (I Thessalonians 4:16). At this time, the saints will be changed and given new spiritual bodies (I Corinthians 15:49; I John 3:2). Clearly, immortality is not given until the resurrection from the dead, which does not take place until Jesus Christ returns.
That God must resurrect a person for him to continue living means that He retains sovereignty. He is not obliged to grant eternal life to anyone who demonstrates, once he has the opportunity to know God, that he is not willing to be subject to His way of life. However, by belittling the truth about the resurrection from the dead, and telling people that they already have immortality, Satan can distract them from a basic reason why they need to listen to God—so that they may be resurrected and continue living!
David C. Grabbe
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Three: Satan's Three Heresies
Related Topics: Death | Death and Hades | Death Penalty | Disobedience | Disobedience, Consequences of | Docetism | Dualism | Eternal Consciousness | Eternal Life | Eternal Life, Conditions for | Eternal Life, Gift of | Eternal Security, Doctrine of | Gnostic Dualism | Gnosticism | Hell | Hell, Eternally Burning | Immortality of the Soul | Last Trumpet | Mortality of the Soul | Resurrection | Resurrection to Immortal Life | Satan's Heresies | Spiritual Body | Student Analogy | Wages of Sin
Colossians 2:8
Colossians 2:8-10 gives another general definition of Gnosticism, as well as how to combat it. Paul is writing about a philosophy like Stoicism, not a specific religion, such as Judaism. This is important to recognize, since in verse 16, Paul mentions the Sabbath and holy days, and it is commonly assumed that Paul condemns their observance. Yet, he does not - he warns against a philosophy that disparaged the feasting and joyous observance of the Sabbath and holy days. This is why Paul tells the Colossians to "let no one judge you" with regard to eating, drinking, or observing the weekly and annual Sabbaths - rather than what is commonly read into Colossians 2:16: "There is no reason to keep the Sabbath or holy days." Christians in Colossae were being pressured by the ascetic society around them, which would have looked down on their feasting.
This is confirmed in the rest of Colossians 2, which deals primarily with asceticism (see especially Colossians 2:21-23). Some branches of Gnosticism adhered to asceticism as a way to free the eternal spirit by living regimented, plain, and insular lives. (Conversely, some Gnostics went to the other extreme - practicing hedonism - believing that what they did with their bodies did not make any difference since only spirit mattered.)
Paul says that this philosophy and its associated doctrines were plausible, but they were not based on solid arguments. He calls them "vain deceit" (KJV) or "empty deceit" (NKJV). They may sound good, depending upon one's inclination, but they endanger church members. The apostle writes that they would be "spoiled" (KJV), which does not necessarily mean being "corrupted," but rather of being "plundered," hence the NKJV's use of "cheated." This empty philosophy would rob or cheat them of their faith, their hope, their understanding of God, their relationship with God, their vision, and the purpose that God is working out. Once introduced, it would begin to steal away all of their true, spiritual riches.
Paul also provides two possible sources of this unsteady philosophy: "the traditions of men" and the "rudiments of the world." Examining the "rudiments of the world" first will help to explain the traditions of men. Other translations call them the "elements of the world," the "basic principles of the world," or "the powers of the world." In using this term, Paul is referring to the demonic powers that make this world, this cosmos,what it is. The source of this philosophy of salvation through special knowledge is Satan and the demons.
This explains why, when we read the histories of various religions and their branches, the same patterns arise time and again. Man does not have it within himself to pass along accurately and dependably ideas that go back to the very beginning. With an incessant drumming, the powers of the world keep prompting men and women in the same vain deceits that directly contradict the truth about God and His purpose for mankind.
Humans certainly play a role in handing down these traditions. Sunday school teachers and theologians perpetuate the Gnostic myths of the immortality of the soul, of eternal consciousness, of progressive revelation, of each person having a spark of goodness within that just needs to be fanned into a flame, and of each soul or spirit existing before in heaven and returning there upon death. Men pass these traditions on to other men, but the powers of the spirit world keep these messengers on their track and blinded to the truth.
The last phrase in Colossians 2:8 - "not according to Christ" - is a simple one, but it encapsulates what this is all about. Not a single branch of Gnosticism had the truth about Jesus Christ. That knowledge can be found only in God's Word.
David C. Grabbe
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism
Related Topics: Asceticism | Colossians | Cosmos | Demons | Divine Spark | Elements of the World | Eternal Consciousness | Gnosticism | Hedonism | Immortality of the Soul | Philosophy | Rudiments of the World | Traditions of Men
===
Neuroscience
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Is Consciousness Eternal?
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Ragesh Nair
Answered Aug 15, 2019
No.
Existence of consciousness is dependent on knowing. When there is no knowing there is nothing to be conscious about.
Eternal is beyond limits of time , there consciousness has no existence.
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Kevin Bar, Director of Biami Earth and Human unity services.
Answered Apr 4, 2019
Infinite Intelligence, love, light and consciousness are as eternal as the universe is. There is new creation happening all of the time and new consciousness energy is flowing with the force of mind and the all pervasive reflective, luminating attributes of light.
As a human being on earth we have a linear time continuum of around 100 years to experience and learn from. When we die our consciousness continues and we keep learning and reincarnate in another time and body. Each life we develop consciousness into higher understanding.
Earth is now a fourth density consciousness planet and some huma… (more)
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Bryce Timothy, Ex: Hindu Christian Atheist Scientologist Spiritual
Answered Dec 12, 2020
Definitely
Bryce Timothy's answer to What is the universal truth? And does one exist?
The eternal crushes the finite instantly.
The truth of you still witnessing your own existence literally in all probability proves you'll always be.
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Does the human soul equal consciousness? If so, is consciousness eternal? Would that also mean my thoughts are eternal?
What's the point of being born if once dead we will be dead for all eternity?
If death brings an eternity of not existing, why would we have any concern for the blip of our existence?
Justin Fandango, Studied psychology and philosophy at Keele University
Answered Aug 17, 2019
Is Consciousness Eternal?
No. My consciousness is not eternal. It won’t survive the night without a break. It didn’t stay up to witness the operation I had when I was 25 either.
On the other hand, in all observed situations, all observed moments, there is (necessarily) an observer. There might be ‘real’ objectively existing situations that don’t have an observer, there might be an infinity of entirely unobserved universes - but these seem to be untestable hypotheses and arguably are irrelevant. All living experience is observed.
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Vincent Salmon, I have also raised a family and have grand children.
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Yes, most certainly, consciousness is eternal. Certainly there is a vast array of perceptions of consciousness as a result of the genetic hybridisation that is compelled upon humanity by the imposition of intellectual specialisation by academic scholars.
The greater perception of consciousness is that it is the information experience of the electromagnetic spectrum from which all things are constructed.
All human beings who have not become hybridised by intellectual specialisation still have the innate capacity to experience the universal information from which we have all been constructed out of.
Nothing would exist without the consciousness.
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Todd Jacobucci, lives in Ambridge, PA (2008-present)
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Probably not. I hope it is cuz I want to live forever but all I have is hope. There is no proof, no science behind it (consciousness being eternal), so that is all you can do - hope
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Chandra K, God blessed me the knowledge of enlightenment and Advaita
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Yes. It is the only element that is eternal and the rest of all is an object within that consciousness.
Consciousness is the subject and universe is the object within that consciousness. Consciousness is eternal and universe is temporary in nature.
Relation between your individual consciousness and your dream is same as the relation between the consciousness and universe.
Dream and universe are virtual whereas consciousness is the absolute.
The stuff with which dream is made of is the same stuff that universe is made of. They both are objects within the realm of consciousness.
In the context of consciousness, dream and universe do not have any absolute meaning.
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Don Larsen, works at Self-Employment
Updated Apr 5, 2019
Consciousness arises in awareness. Possible to be aware but not conscious - like under anesthesia. You exist, of course, but there is no experience of phenomenon, awareness of nothing. When waking from that, if the body was not a reference, could it be known whether the operation lasted 4 hours or 10,000 years?
That which is PRIOR to consciousness is eternal.
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John Hartford, former BEE From NYU 1962
Answered Apr 3, 2019
No. I fear that it's extreamly brief. A candle flame can look like it lasts for hours (until the candle is all used up) but in fact it only lasts microseconds — while the chemical reaction with O2 is occurring. It is then replaced by a brand new flame, that's why a flame flickers.
Consciousness is a mind state and so its duration is probably longer, perhaps as long as a second (or a large fraction of one), but it still has only a transient reality. Its long duration is an illusion. An inportant illusion, for if you ACTUALLY knew that the ‘you’ that started reading this note was dead and gone ans been replaced with a “new" you — well just think what that would do to your behavior patterns.
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Suzy McKee Charnas, studied Economic History at Barnard College
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Consciousness as in universe’s consciousness of itself, yes, I think that’s probably eternal, transforming through existence as one universe into existence as a subsequent universe and so on ad infinitum.
If you mean the consciousness of the individual soul, I think that’s like energy — it can’t be destroyed, only transformed, which is what happens when the soul matures and completes its cycles of incarnation on the physical plane and does whatever sort of merging of souls happens on the metaphysical planes.
If you mean, is my personal self-awareness of me as I am now eternal, I’d say no, my current version of me is a set of roles I’ve developed in and for this particular span of time in the history of humanity on this planet. Next time around, I’ll embark with a different set of basic qualities, goals, and plans tailored to the way the world is in the middle of this century rather than the way it was when I was born this time, in back 1939. I-then won’t remember me-now (most likely).
But the consciousness of my individual soul, most active in the astral interval between lifetimes, will endure until that individuality is no longer a useful tool for “my” spiritual evolution. That’s my view of the issue.
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John Bailey, Follow:Damasio,Dehaene,Graziano, Barr, Minsky, Tononi, Koch
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Cutting directly to the chase, “Is there an immortal soul?” and “Is consciousness an aspect of the soul?”
John Locke on Personal Identity
John Locke speaks of personal identity and survival of consciousness after death. A criterion of personal identity through time is given. Such a criterion specifies, insofar as that is possible, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the survival of persons. John Locke holds that personal identity is a matter of psychological continuity. He considered personal identity (or the self) to be founded on consciousness (viz. memory), and not on the substance of either the soul or the body.
Quora Q&A: What does John Locke mean when he expressed that personal identity (the self) "depends on consciousness, not on substance"? provides additional points of view on this subject.
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Marceli Firlej, Design Engineer (2014-present)
Answered Aug 25, 2019
Consciousness can be Eternal after death in one condition to be copied into Universe dimensions fields. It must be sort of physical entanglement which carry information to other places. Consciousness might then experience going through tunnel with the light on the end. Effect is called teleportation but is it possible?
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Peter Jevin
Updated Oct 17
When the physical reality gets erased from our mind and the mind is gone too, our consciousness switches into the state of “eternity”. (meditation, yoga, etc.)
If it didn’t work this way, there would be no spiritualism or religion in this world.
So, our consciousness has at least the capability to be in such a state.
Is that eternity a product of the brain? Or, is it something that can go beyond our death?
Difficult to say.
But if our brain knew that concept and could imagine that “eternity”, we all would be able to regularly “rest in peace of eternity” while still being alive.
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Jeffrey Werbock, musician, lecturer
Updated Apr 4, 2019
People have been stretching the definition of that word “consciousness” for many years now. The word is nearly useless as we can no longer arrive at a consensus of meaning. Originally (and still is in my mind) consciousness meant (referred to) the vigilant sentinel in our heads, an attentive lookout on behalf of the body with the brain that produces this cognitive function.
Consciousness is a form of energy - electrical impulses conducted via chemical in and between brain cells - and as such is temporary like all forms of energy. The instant the body dies, it no longer needs to have any conscio… (more)
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Alexander Serdyukov
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Well, in my book — consciousness is a peculiar pattern of interactions. Hit the same pattern — get the same consciousness. In this particular sense — consciousness is eternal. Kind of like mathematics is eternal.
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Radjindrababou Ramassamy, lives in France (2003-present)
Answered Jul 27, 2019
A consciousness is a spirit. Some people believe that the spirits are eternal. But from the information what I have received from the spirits I think that they are not eternal but their lifetime is long.
Spirits are separate elements. A human being doesn't have a spiritual body. A human being during his/her lifetime is living with many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. They are knowledge, skills, feelings, emotions, interests and everything. Even thoughts are not your own. For example, when you want to take a decision on a subject, one after another the spirits think and you jus… (more)
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Sabri Shahin, Senior SAP ERP Consultant at HP Enterprise Business (2006-present)
Answered Apr 3, 2019
God does not need consciousness, rituals, prayers, spirituality, or meditations; God needs our obedience and good deeds to prove our faith.
consciousness, Meditations, rituals, prayers, or faith without works are useless if there are no fruits of good deeds.
Prayers and spirituality will not be accepted without good deeds.
Proverbs 21:13 teaches that whoever does not answer the poor, God will not answer him:
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”
James 2:14 and 2:17 teach that faith without works is dead
Micah 3:4 also explains the reasons for not ans… (more)
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Does the human soul equal consciousness? If so, is consciousness eternal? Would that also mean my thoughts are eternal?
What's the point of being born if once dead we will be dead for all eternity?
If death brings an eternity of not existing, why would we have any concern for the blip of our existence?
Why does dying and remaining dead for eternity not scare you?
Don't you fear eternal oblivion after death?
Considering the fact that the universe is vast and an amount of different beings who lived or will live is probably enormous, how come that I am exactly me and not someone else? Why do I even exist and why now and not in the future or in the past?
I am an atheist but I don't believe in eternal oblivion. Am I in denial?
Do you believe that there is just oblivion after death?
Is no consciousness and eternal oblivion possible after death?
Were we already dead for an eternity before we were born?
How probable is eternal oblivion after death?
If there's no soul and no god, where do we come from? Where are we going to?
Why can’t science explain consciousness?
How do we know if the universe still exists after we die?
Which is better to have, eternal life or eternal death?
Neuroscience
+1
Is Consciousness Eternal?
Answer
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·
2
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1
17 Answers
Ragesh Nair
Answered Aug 15, 2019
No.
Existence of consciousness is dependent on knowing. When there is no knowing there is nothing to be conscious about.
Eternal is beyond limits of time , there consciousness has no existence.
285 views
View 3 upvotes
3
Add Comment
Kevin Bar, Director of Biami Earth and Human unity services.
Answered Apr 4, 2019
Infinite Intelligence, love, light and consciousness are as eternal as the universe is. There is new creation happening all of the time and new consciousness energy is flowing with the force of mind and the all pervasive reflective, luminating attributes of light.
As a human being on earth we have a linear time continuum of around 100 years to experience and learn from. When we die our consciousness continues and we keep learning and reincarnate in another time and body. Each life we develop consciousness into higher understanding.
Earth is now a fourth density consciousness planet and some huma… (more)
3
Add Comment
Bryce Timothy, Ex: Hindu Christian Atheist Scientologist Spiritual
Answered Dec 12, 2020
Definitely
Bryce Timothy's answer to What is the universal truth? And does one exist?
The eternal crushes the finite instantly.
The truth of you still witnessing your own existence literally in all probability proves you'll always be.
105 views
View 1 upvote
1
Add Comment
Related questions
More answers below
Does the human soul equal consciousness? If so, is consciousness eternal? Would that also mean my thoughts are eternal?
What's the point of being born if once dead we will be dead for all eternity?
If death brings an eternity of not existing, why would we have any concern for the blip of our existence?
Justin Fandango, Studied psychology and philosophy at Keele University
Answered Aug 17, 2019
Is Consciousness Eternal?
No. My consciousness is not eternal. It won’t survive the night without a break. It didn’t stay up to witness the operation I had when I was 25 either.
On the other hand, in all observed situations, all observed moments, there is (necessarily) an observer. There might be ‘real’ objectively existing situations that don’t have an observer, there might be an infinity of entirely unobserved universes - but these seem to be untestable hypotheses and arguably are irrelevant. All living experience is observed.
283 views
View 2 upvotes
2
2
2 comments from
Papo Popi and more
Vincent Salmon, I have also raised a family and have grand children.
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Yes, most certainly, consciousness is eternal. Certainly there is a vast array of perceptions of consciousness as a result of the genetic hybridisation that is compelled upon humanity by the imposition of intellectual specialisation by academic scholars.
The greater perception of consciousness is that it is the information experience of the electromagnetic spectrum from which all things are constructed.
All human beings who have not become hybridised by intellectual specialisation still have the innate capacity to experience the universal information from which we have all been constructed out of.
Nothing would exist without the consciousness.
339 views
View 1 upvote
1
Add Comment
Todd Jacobucci, lives in Ambridge, PA (2008-present)
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Probably not. I hope it is cuz I want to live forever but all I have is hope. There is no proof, no science behind it (consciousness being eternal), so that is all you can do - hope
54 views
View 2 upvotes
2
Add Comment
Chandra K, God blessed me the knowledge of enlightenment and Advaita
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Yes. It is the only element that is eternal and the rest of all is an object within that consciousness.
Consciousness is the subject and universe is the object within that consciousness. Consciousness is eternal and universe is temporary in nature.
Relation between your individual consciousness and your dream is same as the relation between the consciousness and universe.
Dream and universe are virtual whereas consciousness is the absolute.
The stuff with which dream is made of is the same stuff that universe is made of. They both are objects within the realm of consciousness.
In the context of consciousness, dream and universe do not have any absolute meaning.
415 views
View 2 upvotesAnswer requested by
Jared Wright
2
Add Comment
Don Larsen, works at Self-Employment
Updated Apr 5, 2019
Consciousness arises in awareness. Possible to be aware but not conscious - like under anesthesia. You exist, of course, but there is no experience of phenomenon, awareness of nothing. When waking from that, if the body was not a reference, could it be known whether the operation lasted 4 hours or 10,000 years?
That which is PRIOR to consciousness is eternal.
246 views
View 1 upvote
1
Add Comment
John Hartford, former BEE From NYU 1962
Answered Apr 3, 2019
No. I fear that it's extreamly brief. A candle flame can look like it lasts for hours (until the candle is all used up) but in fact it only lasts microseconds — while the chemical reaction with O2 is occurring. It is then replaced by a brand new flame, that's why a flame flickers.
Consciousness is a mind state and so its duration is probably longer, perhaps as long as a second (or a large fraction of one), but it still has only a transient reality. Its long duration is an illusion. An inportant illusion, for if you ACTUALLY knew that the ‘you’ that started reading this note was dead and gone ans been replaced with a “new" you — well just think what that would do to your behavior patterns.
330 views
View 1 upvote
1
Add Comment
Suzy McKee Charnas, studied Economic History at Barnard College
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Consciousness as in universe’s consciousness of itself, yes, I think that’s probably eternal, transforming through existence as one universe into existence as a subsequent universe and so on ad infinitum.
If you mean the consciousness of the individual soul, I think that’s like energy — it can’t be destroyed, only transformed, which is what happens when the soul matures and completes its cycles of incarnation on the physical plane and does whatever sort of merging of souls happens on the metaphysical planes.
If you mean, is my personal self-awareness of me as I am now eternal, I’d say no, my current version of me is a set of roles I’ve developed in and for this particular span of time in the history of humanity on this planet. Next time around, I’ll embark with a different set of basic qualities, goals, and plans tailored to the way the world is in the middle of this century rather than the way it was when I was born this time, in back 1939. I-then won’t remember me-now (most likely).
But the consciousness of my individual soul, most active in the astral interval between lifetimes, will endure until that individuality is no longer a useful tool for “my” spiritual evolution. That’s my view of the issue.
514 views
Add Comment
John Bailey, Follow:Damasio,Dehaene,Graziano, Barr, Minsky, Tononi, Koch
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Cutting directly to the chase, “Is there an immortal soul?” and “Is consciousness an aspect of the soul?”
John Locke on Personal Identity
John Locke speaks of personal identity and survival of consciousness after death. A criterion of personal identity through time is given. Such a criterion specifies, insofar as that is possible, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the survival of persons. John Locke holds that personal identity is a matter of psychological continuity. He considered personal identity (or the self) to be founded on consciousness (viz. memory), and not on the substance of either the soul or the body.
Quora Q&A: What does John Locke mean when he expressed that personal identity (the self) "depends on consciousness, not on substance"? provides additional points of view on this subject.
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Jared Wright
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Marceli Firlej, Design Engineer (2014-present)
Answered Aug 25, 2019
Consciousness can be Eternal after death in one condition to be copied into Universe dimensions fields. It must be sort of physical entanglement which carry information to other places. Consciousness might then experience going through tunnel with the light on the end. Effect is called teleportation but is it possible?
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Peter Jevin
Updated Oct 17
When the physical reality gets erased from our mind and the mind is gone too, our consciousness switches into the state of “eternity”. (meditation, yoga, etc.)
If it didn’t work this way, there would be no spiritualism or religion in this world.
So, our consciousness has at least the capability to be in such a state.
Is that eternity a product of the brain? Or, is it something that can go beyond our death?
Difficult to say.
But if our brain knew that concept and could imagine that “eternity”, we all would be able to regularly “rest in peace of eternity” while still being alive.
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Jeffrey Werbock, musician, lecturer
Updated Apr 4, 2019
People have been stretching the definition of that word “consciousness” for many years now. The word is nearly useless as we can no longer arrive at a consensus of meaning. Originally (and still is in my mind) consciousness meant (referred to) the vigilant sentinel in our heads, an attentive lookout on behalf of the body with the brain that produces this cognitive function.
Consciousness is a form of energy - electrical impulses conducted via chemical in and between brain cells - and as such is temporary like all forms of energy. The instant the body dies, it no longer needs to have any conscio… (more)
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Alexander Serdyukov
Answered Apr 3, 2019
Well, in my book — consciousness is a peculiar pattern of interactions. Hit the same pattern — get the same consciousness. In this particular sense — consciousness is eternal. Kind of like mathematics is eternal.
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Radjindrababou Ramassamy, lives in France (2003-present)
Answered Jul 27, 2019
A consciousness is a spirit. Some people believe that the spirits are eternal. But from the information what I have received from the spirits I think that they are not eternal but their lifetime is long.
Spirits are separate elements. A human being doesn't have a spiritual body. A human being during his/her lifetime is living with many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. They are knowledge, skills, feelings, emotions, interests and everything. Even thoughts are not your own. For example, when you want to take a decision on a subject, one after another the spirits think and you jus… (more)
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Sabri Shahin, Senior SAP ERP Consultant at HP Enterprise Business (2006-present)
Answered Apr 3, 2019
God does not need consciousness, rituals, prayers, spirituality, or meditations; God needs our obedience and good deeds to prove our faith.
consciousness, Meditations, rituals, prayers, or faith without works are useless if there are no fruits of good deeds.
Prayers and spirituality will not be accepted without good deeds.
Proverbs 21:13 teaches that whoever does not answer the poor, God will not answer him:
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”
James 2:14 and 2:17 teach that faith without works is dead
Micah 3:4 also explains the reasons for not ans… (more)
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Related questions
Does the human soul equal consciousness? If so, is consciousness eternal? Would that also mean my thoughts are eternal?
What's the point of being born if once dead we will be dead for all eternity?
If death brings an eternity of not existing, why would we have any concern for the blip of our existence?
Why does dying and remaining dead for eternity not scare you?
Don't you fear eternal oblivion after death?
Considering the fact that the universe is vast and an amount of different beings who lived or will live is probably enormous, how come that I am exactly me and not someone else? Why do I even exist and why now and not in the future or in the past?
I am an atheist but I don't believe in eternal oblivion. Am I in denial?
Do you believe that there is just oblivion after death?
Is no consciousness and eternal oblivion possible after death?
Were we already dead for an eternity before we were born?
How probable is eternal oblivion after death?
If there's no soul and no god, where do we come from? Where are we going to?
Why can’t science explain consciousness?
How do we know if the universe still exists after we die?
Which is better to have, eternal life or eternal death?
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