Genealogy of Religion

Exploring the Origins, History and Future of Religion

Entries Tagged as 'immortality'

Neolithic Death & Paleolithic Life

September 14th, 2011 · 6 Comments · Axial Age, Hunter-Gatherers, Neolithic

It is well known that the modern world religions which trace their origins to the Axial Age are centrally concerned with death. Some might call this concern an obsession. Of these world religions, only Hinduism does not have Axial roots. This is not to say that “Hinduism” (which is neither singular nor unified) was unaffected [...]

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The Sacred Scandal and Denial of Death

September 12th, 2010 · No Comments · Cognition, Emotions

One of the acute paradoxes afflicting conscious human life is the awareness of death.  The paradox reaches crisis when one fully realizes that death cannot be experienced — it occurs outside of experience, and we therefore lack any frame of reference for it.
The intense weirdness of death has of course captivated many great thinkers and [...]

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Christopher Hitchens’ Humish Interview

August 8th, 2010 · No Comments · Atheism, History, Philosophy

As many know, Christopher Hitchens (the cheeky British gadfly of God) has esophageal cancer.  Although he announced this and took a break to undergo treatment, I noticed last week he had resumed writing some columns.  Yesterday, I found this recent video interview over at The Atlantic; it is simultaneously heart-wrenching and moving.
It is heart-wrenching because [...]

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