(April 16, 2014 at 4:18 am)smax Wrote: Oh, I know, the mysterious higher power will transform our consciousness to an eternally blissful state which is completely mechanical and no longer held back by autonomy, right?
I happen to think that notion is not only unappealing, but fairly ridiculous. But, for argument sake, let's say it's possible. Wouldn't such a transformation be the same as dying? I mean, if you are no longer you, and your ability to decide has been taken from you, aren't you really dead?
That's one of the reasons I can't buy the whole "this is a test" answer to the problem of evil/suffering. It basically takes the form of "you will be tested, and if you pass, someone who's not you will get an eternal reward!".
