Rome, Immortality and World Religions

Reading , “Immortality- The Quest to Live Forever and How it Drives Civilization”.  So apropos for this most recent trip visiting  Rome and the nearby seashore of Pratica di Mare. Every tribe and society from Homo Sapiens inception 200,000 years ago has incorporated at least 1 of 4 narratives attempting to reconcile our mortality. These 4 narratives are; 1) finding an elixir to slow or stop aging, 2) Resurrecting our earthly bodies, 3) An eternal spirit that transcends our corporeal bodies, 4) Preserving a historical legacy. Egyptian culture holds the record incorporating all 4 into an intricate tapestry.
The book's author, Stephen Cave, "pulls the thread" on a myriad of details uncovering flaws with each one of these narratives by asking questions I never considered and illuminating what science has found.  For example, if aging and disease are eliminated one scholar estimates the average age (before death by accident) would be 5700 years.  Would certainly make relationships more challenging. What would we (humans) do for 5700, 10,000, or a million years when today we get bored on a rainy Sunday? If we transcend to pure love & happiness and do not become bored, curious, frustrated, conflicted - are we still truly human?  With regards to resurrection what age would the body be?  5?, 20? 50, 200? the age we died?  And if the resurrected bodies were truly our corporeal bodies but not with the same atoms that originally made us up, is it really us or a clone? What if these same atoms were used by multiple humans over time? Who gets them?  If the new bodies are made from different "heavenly material", then what makes that body the "us" we were?
These and many more vexing dilemmas were reasons many culture's religions (Paul, Plato, Buddhists) turned to an eternal spirit narrative, in Christianity called a soul.  But when examined this narrative also has many flaws, If a soul is different and apart from the body, why can't the blind see? why don't unconscious people have awareness?  Where is heaven since from the Copernican revolution, we know its not above the earth as Dante portrayed?  Another galaxy or dimension?
Unlike the western view of soul, where ones memories and personality is retained, eastern "soul" carries much less baggage and this essence redeposits itself into a new body based on your past actions via reincarnation.  But the Buddhist belief that the mind is separate from the brain does not stand up to the latest neuroimaging tools, that show where every thought and decision derives from in the brain - even before that person is aware of it.  And that personality is radically altered by the content/injuries to our brain (rather than an evil heart). The growing evidence suggests ALL aspects of the mind and personality are dependent on the corporeal brain.

So why do these narratives flourish?   Cave's hypothesis. The need for rulers to order and control society and for society to believe there is ultimately "cosmic justice" is a key tenet for immortality narratives.  Fascinating!  YouTube summary here

I pondered all this during my recent trip to Rome (my 2nd).  I was given an enlightening tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums. Breath taking art and opulence from Greek and Roman eras. 

But the violence and oppression painted and sculpted throughout this history and the stories of the church and sights of mummified popes reinforced my growing conviction that Stephen Cave is correct.  None of of these immortality narratives can be the answer...

As Cave writes, "The fact is, we have not evolved to be carefree and joyful;we have evolved to strive to perpetuate ourselves-at the expense of everything else, including our happiness.  The 4 immortality narratives only fuel this striving and its underlying causes..."

A slight digression. So what do Italians really worship today?  The answer from many of my Italian friends is, "Il cibo e la religione Italiana"  Or in other words, FOOD in all its glory is religion!  During a recent progressive dinner in Fossana, Italy at the famous Osteria Gatto Blu located in the mountains overlooking Lago Maggiore, I experienced this fully.  The 40 attending diners were given a progression of foods, each pair with a special beer and wine.  Exquisite and exotic recipes that one can't find easily in states We all had to vote on whether the bira or vino was best for each particular dish.  This is serious business shown by this picture of empty wine glasses and other glasses with undrunk VERY expensive Barollo wine.

Why?  Because as I learned from Marcello at my table it is very important for wine to be tasted in glasses that are properly washed.  If not the glass smell taints the wine.  Surprisingly after smelling the glasses I could tell the difference.  So the next time you are at a restaurant, smell the glasses before allowing the waiter to pour the wine :)

Returning to the important question of immortality. In the final chapter of his book, Cave offers a possible 5th narrative he labels the "Wisdom Narrative".  It culls  wisdom from world's religions and idealogies including Gilgamesh, Buddhism, Islam, Stoicism and Christianity, but importantly incorporates truth from what modern science has revealed ....allowing us to transcend our irrational fear of death and live a joyful and meaningful life.  How? Thru the cultivation of virtue with 3 aspects. 1) Cultivation of selflessness or compassion for others, 2) Living more in the present moment, 3) Cultivating gratitude.

Voila!  This is, "The Road Less Traveled", "The Power of Now",  "The 8 Steps to Happiness" "The Way to Love" and "Sapiens" bundled brilliantly to "live so you will have no regrets if you die tomorrow, but also no regrets if you don't... Refer to my other pages for more of my epiphanies.

Cave finishes by writing, "The Wisdom Narrative is different; instead of dismissing existential anxiety by denying death, it attacks the underlying attitudes that make us think we ought to be afraid of death in the first place. By doing so it aims to cultivate an appreciation of this life and this world, as it is, right now....This is not easy and has to be practiced daily....The Wisdom Narrative balances a positive love of life with managing the fear of our life's end."