Why do people act so oblivious to the fact that we are all immortal?

Answer 1

It is a belief that is expressed in nearly every religious tradition. In both Western and Eastern religions, the spirit is an energy or force that transcends the mortal shell, and returns to either the heavens or the cycle of life, directly or indirectly depending on the tradition. Below we consider the perspective of some of the world's most popular religions on spiritual immortality.

Buddhists believe that there is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and that the process is according to the qualities of their actions. This constant process of becoming ceases at the fruition of enlightenment (Bodhi) at which a being is no longer subject to causation (karma) but enters into a state that the Buddha called amata (deathlessness). However, in Buddhism there is no belief in an eternal soul (anatta), and some sects also believe in rather a collection of habits and memories in a dynamic process of constant change. At enlightenment the kammic seeds (sankharas or sanskaras) for all future becoming and rebirth are exhausted. After biological death an arhat or buddha enters into what is called parinibbana.

Christians believe that every person will be resurrected; the Bible teaches that the resurrection body will be both physical (a renewed physical body) and spiritual (a changed, "spiritual" body). After Judgement, those saved will live forever in the presence of God, and the lost will be abandoned to never-ending consciousness of guilt, separation from God, and punishment for sin. Eternal damnation is depicted in the Bible as a realm of constant physical and spiritual anguish in a lake of fire, and a realm of darkness away from God. Some suggest that the fires of Hell are a theological metaphor, standing for the inescapable presence of God endured in absence of love for God; others suggest that Hell represents complete destruction of both the physical body and of spiritual existence (annihilation). Roman Catholic theology also teaches that there is a realm called Purgatory where souls who have accepted Jesus are purged of their sins before they are admitted into Heaven. Some sects also believe in a third realm called Limbo (Latin: border), which is the final destination of souls who have not been baptised, but who have been innocent of mortal sin. Souls in Limbo include unbaptised infants and those who lived virtuously but were never exposed to Christianity in their lifetimes.

Hindus believe in an immortal soul which is reincarnated after death. According to Hinduism, people repeat a cycle of life, death, and rebirth (a cycle called samsara). If they live their life well, their Karma increases and their station in the next life will be higher, and conversely lower if they live their life poorly. Eventually after many life times of perfecting one's karma, the soul is freed from the cycle and lives in perpetual bliss. There is no never-ending Hell in Hinduism, although if a soul consistently lives very evil lives, they could work their way down to the very bottom of the cycle.

Jews claim that the righteous dead will be resurrected in the "messianic age" with the coming of the messiah. They will then be granted immortality in a perfect world. The wicked dead, on the other hand, will not be resurrected at all. This is in contrast to Christianity where the wicked dead are still immortal and exist forever in Hell. This is not the only Jewish belief about the afterlife. Others do believe in some version of Hell. The Tanakh is not specific about the afterlife, so there are wide differences in views and explanations among believers.

Muslims believe that everyone has an immortal soul that will live on after death. A soul undergoes correction in Hell if it has led an evil life, but once this correction is over, the soul is admitted to Heaven. Souls that commit unforgivable evil will never leave hell; for example, killing someone, infidelity, and disobeying parents. Some souls will therefore never taste Hell.

Shintoists claim that except for those who choose or are dispatched to the underground world of Yomi, every living and non-living beings may lose their body but not their Tamashii (soul) and they live together with mortal souls as an immortal being called Kami. Unlike the previously mentioned religions, Shinto allows anything to attain Kami status regardless of its existence before becoming Kami. Therefore, even those that do not believe in Shinto may choose to become Kami, as well as things like a rock, a tree, or even a robot. Some may be reincarnated for various reasons. Shinto has no version of Hell or a judgement day.

Zoroastrians believe that on the fourth day after death, the human soul leaves the body and the body remains as an empty shell. The souls would go to heaven or hell. The concept of Heaven and Hell in Zoroastrism may have influenced Abrahamic religions, but some scholars believe the opposite and that Judiasm in fact may have influenced Zoroastrianism. Neither belief can be proven.

Answer 2

This is just a guess but I'd say it was because they ARE oblivious? :P

Count how many people there are in the world and that will give you a rough idea of how many different sets of (human) belief systems there are in existence. As true as your beliefs feel to you, that's how other people feel about their own beliefs. There is no point in arguing. Just live, and teach by example.

Answer 3

Nonsense. Religious fanatics are in need of mental health assessments and medications.

Remind me never to call an ambulance for you. You're immortal, right?

Answer 4

I agree 100%. We are immortal, but you don't sound like one who's experienced it for himself, otherwise I think you'd show some understanding and sympathy for those who have yet to glimpse it.
(Have YOU dined on 'Honeydew' and drank the 'Milk of Paradise'?)
I'm curious how you came to your conclusons. You would have had to grasp certain key insights concerning the nature of the self in time. Can you tell me what they were? (e-mail me if you like)
If it's obvious, then maybe you could explain the difference between your immortal nature, your infinite nature, and your eternal nature.
It takes one to know one.

Peace!

Answer 5

It was we who popularised, publicised "seeing is believing" !
So, people see through just the sense organs, and in a hurry believe.
Only the persistent ones try to deepen the perception further and 'see' beyond the sensory levels that what you said is more true !

Answer 6

Yes,thats true,because,energy can't be lost!It just people's beliefs,and fear of death,that get in the way!

Answer 7

I suspect it is because they have not yet tasted their own essence.

Once found, it is never forgotten, you never lose sight of it.
But until it is cognized by the self, they are simply words.

Answer 8

Maybe you don't shoot yourself enough?