Philosophy and religion -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- United States
I also said my chief objection to all these cults was that they insisted
too often on physical health as the aim of life. Virginia said: “But
just think, if we had not to be concerned about our bodies any more, if
we were perfectly well, how much we could do!”
“Yes,” I answered, “that is true; but still it is not an end, but only a
means.”
This was all before the meeting. Alfred had come very early, as usual,
and told me he “thought” he believed as I did concerning immortality.
I opened the meeting by reading Marian’s paper:
“On Sunday, November 15th, the Seekers held a regular meeting. Our
discussion was on Immortality. Most of us agreed that our self, our real
or inner self, is immortal. In the first place, if this self in us and
in every one should die there would be nothing left, because that is the
real, the life-giving power. Moreover, if we were not immortal, what
would be the use of life? Some people argue that we leave part of
ourselves and the impressions of our characters to other generations,
and so on. However, science has (almost) proved that the race is not
immortal, and at least, it is harder to believe that it is, than to
believe in the immortality of the real self. Personally, I feel that my
real self is immortal, and that I will go on being. We do not attempt to
picture any future state. This discussion is the only one in which we
did not all agree.”
Next I read Henry’s paper:
“To-day we continued our talk on Immortality. Immortality is entirely a
matter of faith, but the different ideas concerning it have influenced
the fates of nations.
“The mind realizes so much that it does not accomplish, that it seems as
though there must be a continuance of spiritual action after what we
call death. If the spirit did not continue to exist, what would be the
purpose of our life? Some say our purpose is to pave the walk of life
for our descendants. Indeed, we do want those who come after us to find
life pleasant and worth while living, but that alone would not be a
sufficient purpose, for why need there be descendants? Why was there
anybody in the beginning? And besides this, we have more reason to
believe in the mortality of the race than for any of our beliefs in
regard to the soul. Science teaches us that certain of the planets,
which were once habitable, are now no longer so. This may some day
happen to our planet, and then the race for which we have worked will
cease to be. Although we do live for the race, we live more for the
spirit. We have already said that we are part of one great union. If
this is true there must be immortality, for when part of the spirit
ceased to be, there would no longer be a great, perfect union.”
I said to Henry: “Your papers never begin as if they were going to be
right, but they end especially well. You always keep the best for the
last.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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