Hmmm. I suppose I could look him up if I am bored, lol. I checked out his Wiki entry and wasn't too moved to research him much more.
I personally assume he's a money-hungry con-man who writes a lot of stories that make people feel good and buy his stuff.
But, I'm mentioning it because your beliefs are very, very close to his (except the money-hungry con-man part, I assume
).
I have to stop you there. I adamantly refuse to describe this "something" as being god. You MUST understand that. I don't know what it is. From my perspective it is more akin to
background radiation.
Then if it's not a god, I must ask the question again.
If it's akin to background radiation, then why is it centered and organized around humans? Why does it "care"? For instance, the real background radiation just "is". It's simple.
Cosmologists, biologists, geologists, and so forth, have fairly well-researched explanations for how the universe got from point A to point B, from simplicity to complexity. Do you have a similar explanation for how your metaphysical framework organized itself as such?
The only thing that strikes me, off the top of my head, is that the brain is like a very complex receptacle. If it is damaged in any way, the corresponding filters will not function properly. Think of it like trying to fit a plug into a damaged wall socket. You could well end up blowing a fuse.
No, however I do realize that these sciences are still young and for me that does give some hope. My view is that science is look at the smoke without recognizing the gun. Hopefully that will change, eventually.
And is this idea falsifiable in theory, or no? I've seen this explanation put forth before, and it has some merit, but has no evidence as far as I can see, nor would it be falsifiable even if it was wrong.
Physical things are observed to exist without consciousness (rocks, plastic, a dead person's brain, etc.). Consciousness is not
scientifically observed to exist without physical things (so ghosts and angels may be claimed, but are not verified). Some physical things give rise to consciousness (ie a human brain). If the physical things are damaged, their ability to support consciousness is compromised.
In addition, consciousness, personality, and the ability to think develops along with the physical brain. As the brain makes more connections and acquires memories, consciousness and personality change. If this process is halted, such as through damage, then the development of consciousness, intelligence, personality, and memories can be compromised.
My thinking is that this physical environment is somewhat unique and offers opportunities to flesh out understanding in ways that are quite impossible to otherwise achieve.
You have to appreciate the unpredictable "crap shoot" side to this. To my thinking, an entity can plan till the cows come home, but upon incarnation into the physical, that planning get forced through something like an uncertainty algorithm. There is no way to predict precisely how and where the chips will fall.
Doesn't sound like it's worth the risk, then.
If I existed in such a condition where I could manifest whatever I want about myself, why would I enter a physical body that has all sorts of limitations, and furthermore, that I can't really even control. I could end up being born just to starve to death, or be killed by disease. Or I could make it further and die and suffer of some horrible cause. And even if I am one of the ones that make it through without much suffering, then it seems it would still be significantly less interesting than the aforementioned purely spiritual state. And even if I were to make the decision to enter a physical body, surely I wouldn't do it more than once or a few times.
Perhaps, but even in the agony there are moments, however brief, of sweetness.
If someone was currently being tortured, such as having their arm cut off slowly, or having their knee caps repeatedly drilled through, or having their eyeballs scooped out, do you think they would have brief moments of sweetness in there? Or a person dying in a fire by burning? Or being eaten by a bear? Or having a hurricane strike a house and kill one's children? Or what about that woman who has a tumor on her face which caused her to be blind and unable to taste or smell, and has a painful, bloody eyeball hanging out of her face? She specifically wanted to die.
I don't think I can honestly accept that during these scenarios, they experience moments of sweetness.
I really don't pretend to have all the answers, Penumbra. My understanding is that some entities simply have more dramatic flare than most others. What was the point of her illness? I don't know. Ask her. My guess is that it had something to do with her self-image though. You will have to forgive me though, I don't spend much time thinking about such things. Health and illness are not a large part of my focus.
I'm not expecting you to have all the answers; I'm just studying your belief system (with your help of course
).