[drigel]

great post davem! I admire your writing and thinking abilities.

It's all a very personal subject, and I don't expect anyone else to make sense of my perspective.

Both the Gnostics & the Cathars were considered heretics precisely because they denied the flesh & considered it to be evil, a prison holding the 'pure' spirit.

Considered heretics by those who of course are convinced that only their way is the true way. This is why I am not a big fan of organized religion.

But this still puts Earth second, sees it as a separate thing, because one is required to reject it in order to possess it in the end.

I agree. As to that quote - are we not seperate as well? Seperate from both good and evil? We are both, never entirely one, or the other.

My own feeling is that 'this' is me, this limited, confused, struggling, insignificant human being. If some aspect of my being continues after physical death it will not be me, therefore 'I' will not continue after my body dies. This is all 'I' get

I respect that view. I have that view at times, but I always eventually become aware, or reminded of, the idea that I have always had: that inside us is a spark, an inheritance of a divine, inviolate, indomitable flame that does have meaning, and that is the reason we are what we are, and not swinging from trees or being eaten by hyienas. From that spiritual awareness, I have the foundation to the tower of my beliefs.