by John Traveler

Created on: March 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 14, 2010

Imagine for a moment, that we could go back in time to the episode when human brains first conceived the cognitive state that defines our uniqueness in the animal kingdom. In my own mind, a scenario like the following, might have taken place:

"A member of an ancient clan of our species, stops by a cool clear stream one day, and reaches to pull a drink from it. He, or just as likely she, sees the reflection of another being looking back at them, and ponders inquisitively what it must be. No big deal, this has probably happened millions of times before, but this time something is different. Suddenly, this individual, perhaps do to some anomalous mental state resulting from a genetic variant, ponders the reflection for a minute, and then realizes that the being in the refection is his or her self. It is a profoundly human realization, one not common to any other species, and it represents a facet of intelligence, a cognitive state, that is uniquely human." "WE KNOW WHO WE ARE". *

It is likely, that from this point of awareness forward, or at least something like it, human intelligence has evolved; driven by an innate sense of animal curiosity, and a very human cognitive capacity to deduce and rationalize, to question and to learn. The questions we ask, become the foundation of our cognitive being. How have we and the universe around us come to be, and why?

Perhaps it was in the same generation or a later one, that ancient humans through their newfound cognitive state, would realize another aspect of self; that being mortality. All species of life on planet Earth spring forth as a new entity, but then some day come to the end of their existence. Humans are different however, in that we are the only species with a forbearing knowledge of our coming doom, we don't just experience death, we contemplate its coming, and we fear it intensely. It is a psychological quandary, which torments our poor brains like no other.

It could actually turn out, that human awareness and knowledge of mortality, was an underlying factor in the evolution of our intellect. The resourcefulness of the human cognitive state, had been beneficial with respect to the over all fitness of the species to survive. Why not then, if we put our minds to it, could we not survive death? When we look at the mythological beliefs of ancient humanity, we can observe cultural paradigms of relatively isolated civilizations which develop similar themes. The concept of an afterlife, and of deities which possessed supernatural powers, and had already transcended into a blissful immortal state of reality, is common to almost every ancient culture. * And, our devotion, through belief and faithful practice, the price of our admission to the eternal state, that exists in the spiritual realm, free of the hindrances of the mortal existence.

This then, is the purpose of existence and meaning of being; an interim step between the mortal reality we are so keenly aware of, and the immortal existence of a spiritual realm to which we aspire. The mortal life is therefore trivialized beyond its necessity with respect to our preparation for a mortal one. What other reason can there be for our very finite existence and secluded perspective. Surely, a greater omnipotent intelligence, has orchestrated all that is, and that we can perceive. If not, then what?

* David L. Hildebrandt, "Forbidden Fruit -The Evolution of Human Intelligence," QM Publishing, Hat Creek, 2008

* William G. Doty, World Mythology, Barnes and Noble Books, 2002

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