Temporal causality or karmic punishment?

[Deja Q]

Why are we *here* and *now*?

Have you ever wondered why you are here right now and not at any other point in time and space?

For example, why couldn't I have been 38 years earlier, so I could live it instead of drooling over what I missed because of mis-aligned temporal mechanics on the part of the being that hands out the souls?

On the plus side, I'm glad I wasn't born a chicken or dolphin and end up in a tin can for somebody to ingest...

[Critters2]

1. I wonder these things all the time

and since my job is to interpret a religious tradition to people who wonder such things, I also wonder whether my religious tradition is getting it right. Happily, my religious tradition doesn't mind me wondering such things, as some do. Still, a clear answer or two would be helpful.

[Orrex]

2. ...

Why are we *here* and *now*?

Everyone who has ever lived has lived "here" and "now," as far as they're concerned. When else could you live? Don't make me quote Buckaroo Banzai at you.

On the plus side, I'm glad I wasn't born a chicken or dolphin and end up in a tin can for somebody to ingest...

Not yet, anyway...

[deutsey]

3. I can't shake the feeling that I'm not supposed to be here

You know, sort of the reverse of "Heaven Can Wait" in which someone dies before he's supposed to because of some heavenly mix-up.

I think I wasn't supposed to be born when I was but heaven's bureacracy never corrected the mistake and just left me to wander around here on my own until I expire and their mistake conveniently disappears.

[Deep13]

4. If we were not, we could not ask the question.

Any rational being capable of asking that has to live in conditions favorable to that being's existence and in a time where evolution has had time to evolve such beings.

As far as insignificant variations like why not 38 years earlier, it was just chance.

[commander bunnypants]

5. if you run around the sun real fast

about a brazillion kph

See what happens and let us know and say hi to those whales at the museum for us.

CB