Folks –
Thanks for your responses.
Beo/Jon –
You have a similar theme, and since it involves the crux of my point, let me focus on it.
Jon - Humans aren't the cause of evolution. Humans are the cause of the social identity.
Beo - I don't think Richard said the evolutionary process of blind nature was the fault of humans. From the quotes you gave, all he said is that humans created a "separate humanity."Yes, but
“why” did humans create or enhance the social identity/separtive humanity? Why did the need to do this even exist? Because the instincts (soul) that is genetically passed on via evolution. In essence, we are born flawed, so we’ve done the best we can to overcome that. The proof of this is the fact that a mutation is required to fix the very state I was born into? Why? If the universe wants me to experience the perfection of it and it to experience itself through me, why not just make me born that way? Am I really to believe the infinite, eternal, essentially all powerful universe couldn’t figure out a way better than 2.4 million years of evolution that kept humans locked out of perfection to experience itself?
Why does this matter? Because I think it’s simply impossible to know what anyone’s purpose is. There are no
facts that support this being my purpose in life nor that the universe wants to experience itself through me. Without facts, it’s a belief. Given the nature of AF, I can’t not investigate this and try and take it on a new belief. I’ll reserve some possibility a PCE will help prove this but clearly many people seem to have had PCE’s that not pursuing AF nor would agree on what the purpose in life is. For me this investigation is similar (although I truly do hope it will be with a different outcome) to my attempt to absorb the need to end the cycle of rebirth, samsara, as my prior purpose in life. Despite all the
proof of reincarnation, I just couldn’t jump on board.
With all this said, do I “believe” AF is a profound way of living that I am working to make a fact, yes. Does is seem like something that could positively change my (not “my”) life, those around me and possibly fundamentally alter life on earth in a good way, yes. In short, is it worth pursuing, yes! If I don’t’ get new information that changes my mind, can I get over what I consider the attempt to make a belief a fact? Probably and here is why.
I specifically saved this till now so as to not stunt the response to the question. If I think it’s unknowable to understand the purpose of life, why should I care what Richard says it is? First, I’m obviously not sure it’s unknowable as you can’t prove something can’t happen. So I can’t help but try and evaluate whether the facts presented seem to support the claim. But it’s more. Do “I” just want to try and prove him wrong for various selfish reasons, to argue? Maybe. Am “I” somewhat offended when people (Christians, Muslims, Buddhists etc..) tell me they know what my purpose is? Yes to a large degree. But that’s not why this specifically bothers me with this issue, AF and Richard. It’s because I feel like he is taking away “my” right to be resentful for being here in a situation that I didn’t create and that requires a mutation that actually eliminates “me” so that this body can experience perfection. What the F***!!??? That’s kind of raw deal for “me” right? “I” don’t even get to enjoy the final state of perfection. Thanks for being here Ed, now get out so "this body" can enjoy itself!!!

This is what I need to work through as it is noted over and over the resentment of being will keep one trapped here. While I recognize this and am working through it, it DOESN’T seem to change the facts regarding the unknown purpose in life nor the contradiction I’ve mentioned so I still wanted to ask about it specifically.
When I look back at my notes from last month I realize just how much I keep learning. So this issue is not a dead one for me, rather it felt like something the crowd might help clear up, or not…
Best to all, thanks,
Ed