Belief in Personal Immortality no Criterion
Belief in Personal Immortality no Criterion is a book by George Bernard Shaw that explores the concept of immortality and its implications for human behavior. The book argues that belief in personal immortality is not a reliable criterion for judging moral actions, as it can lead to selfishness and a disregard for others. Instead, Shaw proposes that morality should be based on the well-being of society as a whole.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1903 · Genre: Philosophical, Religious, Essay · 208 words
First lines
Nor is belief in individual immortality any criterion. Theosophists, rejecting vicarious atonement so sternly that they insist that the smallest of our sins brings its Karma, also insist on individual immortality and metempsychosis in order to provide an unlimited field for Karma to be worked out by the unredeemed sinner. The belief in the prolongation of individual life beyond the grave is far more real and vivid among table-rapping Spiritualists than among conventional Christians. The notion that those who reject the Christian (or any other) scheme of salvation by atonement must reject also belief in personal immortality and in miracles is as baseless as the notion that if a man is an atheist he will steal your watch.
What this Textopian page supports
Belief in Personal Immortality no Criterion is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical, Religious, Essay, Theological, Metaphysical
- Length: 208 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Philosophical — The text explores themes of immortality, belief systems, and intellectual integrity, which are central to philosophical discourse.
- Religious — The discussion of theosophy, spiritualism, and Christian beliefs places the work within the context of religious exploration.
- Essay — The work presents an argumentative and reflective style typical of essays, focusing on the critique of belief systems.
- Theological — The examination of concepts like atonement, salvation, and immortality aligns with theological inquiry.
Tags
philosophy · immortality · belief · existentialism · spirituality · religion · skepticism · humanism · ethics · afterlife · metaphysics · rationalism