What is the critical essence of being a human being? Consciousness? Memory? One problem is that I suspect that some animals have a degree of both of these. Another problem with consciousness and memory is that they vary constantly with age - a baby becomes a professor and then gets dementia. When was the human being's critical essence? At which age/level of responsibility does the person enter heaven/hell if you believe in this?

There is no critical essence ? - only a life lived, sometimes joyfully and sometimes sorrowfully or indeed cut short by suicide.

If there is an essence, then what is it? Even assuming an afterlife what is the point of a consciousness existing even into eternity, especially given that each consciousness varies enormously throughout life?

What about the aborted foetus? What about the sperm which fails to make it to the egg? What about the endless trillions of potential humans that could have existed given billions of woumbs (uteruses) to incorporate the sperm?

What about underage sex to increase the number of essences? Remember the Catholic Church in the 1950's and so on? Increase the number of babies regardless of consequences. God needs more souls.

An almost infinity of souls have never been born due to biological restrictions.

If God wants more souls why not just make them?

The argument that if I was not here i would not be able to ask the question is not sufficient at all.

These questions need answers. Answers on a postcard please to box number - only joking - blog response is okay!