The trouble of this scenario, I should like to point out, is that kind of hereafter being envisioned is as good as none. For in absence of old memories, new bodies or brains, incorruptible or otherwise, would not be able to know who they were or suppose to replace. That renders empty hope of reuniting with friends and kin. It goes without saying therefore that this Pauline scenario is not very palatable for most. Thus, for purpose of making hereafter more marketable, some later theoreticians were again to suggest that these incorruptible bodies would in fact be reunited with old souls and memories that have been kept waiting in purgatory. But trouble of this move is that it is taking everything sort of back to square one. I said ‘sort of’ because end result might be worse rather than better. Let me explain. Since new incorruptible bodies and old souls with depraved memories are now both destruction-proof, who is to say what new complications might eventually ensue? Many new dramas of Eden and their aftermath could now be played into eternity. This is why I said that Apostle Paul was clear-headed about this one. At least, what he envisioned was that in complete passing away of all that which is old, a new game would be set for incorruptible brains and new memories. That, I suppose, is only way to erase permanently quilt of a tormenting soul (for terrible Roman cruelties he had once personally inflict or helped to inflict on Christians for instance). Some people, you see, would rather completely forget than to carry their past for an eternity. As you can see therefore, a materialist theory of mind is actually of no real threat to certain religious scenarios when some of their finer prints are taken into account.

For those who are not religiously in know, let me also point out that this scenario is in fact consistent with Biblical pronouncements (in book of Genesis) that “from dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return”, and that to die is to return to “the place of one’s ancestors” – a polite label for ancient family graveyard. For those who are religiously in know, let me also say that anyone that takes these pronouncements seriously should also accept what they literally entail. It is that there will not be any personal hereafter, and that this is what is meant to be a human creature. What comes into being, in other words, must in course of time also peters away. The laments of King Solomon (in book of Ecclesiastics) on futility of human existence, if I may also point out, are lamentations about this very fundamental fact. Unfortunately, for reason of our human desire for more personal time in a personal hereafter, this basic truth has remained difficult for many to accept. It is distinctive of human nature not to take literally what it does not like. As always, neighborhood of truth is always less comfortable than familiar circle of falsehood. This may also explain why religious dualism is still able to attract and ‘hypnotize’ immortality crowd.

Author: Peter M.K. Chan http://www.geocities.com/themysteryofmind

The strange neighborhood of truth is always less comfortable than familiar circle of falsehood -- PMKC.

The Christian occupation of Palestine began after sermon which pope Urban second delivered in 1095 CE, when he incited Christians to rescue Holy Sepulcher from hands of Muslims. The Holy Land fell after a month of siege. The Crusades entered it in 1099 CE and massacred its residents not sparing infants or elderly, and number killed went over seventy thousand. Then Crusaders established a Latin kingdom. During occupation, massacres and great injustices were committed against Muslim, Jewish and native Christian residents of area.

Finally, in 1187 CE, Palestine was liberated by Muslims under leadership of Salatuddin Ayyubi, who brought back Islamic law to area. Peace and justice once again ruled Palestine, and everyone, regardless of their religion, was allowed to live there peacefully.

The Founding of Israel and Palestine Today

The first serious plan for establishment of country of Israel was in Bale conference in Switzerland in 1897 CE. The conference succeeded and was attended by 204 of those invited, where they decreed establishment of a nation for Jews in Palestine.

After Bale conference, Jewish movement became active which led Sultan Abdul Hameed (the then Khalifah) to deliver his famous decree in 1900 to stop Jewish pilgrims from residing in Palestine for longer than three months. Sultan Abdul Hameed knew very well designs and plans of Jews. Contact with Sultan was commenced by Jews in 1882 when Friends of Zion society put up a request to Ottoman council in Russia for residence in Palestine. The Sultan responded: "The Ottoman government hereby decrees to all Jews who desire to migrate to Turkey that they will not be permitted to reside in Palestine."

The Jews were angered and began to send delegation after delegation each of which returned with a response more severe than one preceding it. Then in 1901, Sultan Abdul Hameed passed a law forbidding sale of any land in Palestine to Jews.

In 1902, Herzl formed another delegation to meet with Sultan a second time after he attempted to convince him in 1896. The Sultan refused to meet with him, so they went to Prime Minister Tahsin Basha with their suggestions. They offered repayment of entire debt of Ottoman government which were to extent of twenty three million gold English pounds, and to build a fleet for he protection of empire costing two hundred and thirty million gold franc, and to offer an interest free loan to value of thirty five million gold lira to revive treasury. All these offers were in return for permission by Sultan to Jews to establish a Jewish nation in Palestine; that is to sell lives and livelihood of Palestinian people and holy land for these offers. Sultan Abdul Hameed rejected all these offers.

After defeat of Ottoman Empire in First World War, Britain and France signed Sykes-Picot Agreement, which divided Arab region into zones of influence. Palestine submitted to British occupation and at same time ratios of Jewish migration began to increase with support from non-Muslim countries.

Balfour Declaration

In 1917 CE British government made promises to Arab leaders for an independent Arab state that would include Palestine (the Hussain-McMahon correspondence). Simultaneously, and secretly, it issued Balfour Declaration, which declared Palestine to be a homeland for Jews. At that time Jews made up approximately 8% of population of Palestine and owned approximately 2.5% of land.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were forced out of Palestine by Jewish terrorist groups such as Irgun, Levi, and Haganot. In 1918 British and their Arab nationalist allies defeated Ottomans. The British dismembered Ottoman Empire and occupied Palestine. The British immediately began a campaign of immigrating European Jews to Palestine. By 1947, number of Jews in Palestine had reached approximately six hundred and fifty thousand (31% of total population). They began to establish organizations, which were trained in organized terrorism. From these a large number were trained in and participated in Second World War in order to gain experience and skills to go to battle in Palestine in next stage. So when United Nations decreed division of Palestine, Jews had seventy five thousand armed and trained members.

Jewish Terrorism

In 1948 Jews claimed establishment of a state for themselves over land of Palestine and called it Israel. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were forced out of Palestine under military pressure of Jewish terrorist groups such as Irgun, Levi, and Haganot, which were financed and armed by British army as well as US Jewry. In 1967 Israel attacked Egypt, Jordan and Syria and occupied more land including for first time Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. Since that time Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa has been target of several attempts by Jews to destroy or burn it, including attempts to collapse it through underground excavations.

In December 1987, Palestinians began an uprising (Intifada) in West Bank and Gaza Strip against continued Jewish occupation. On September 28, 2000, Ariel Sharon broke into Masjid Al-Aqsa with 3000 Zionist soldiers profaning Masjid Al-Aqsa to provoke Palestinians. Palestinians protested and second intifada began. Since then thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli army, and there is no end in sight.