Philosophy Now Forum

I've lead a rather tumultuous life, only occasionally having an opportunity to delve
into the civilised interpretations of what makes a person, so please forgive me if
I don't express the breadth of knowledge you might be familiar with.

I'm aware of some of the ideas of Bertrand Russell, Emanuel Kant, Schopenhauer and a few others;
I haven't read any of these in great depth.

At the moment I'm pondering the origins of Western religious thought and what might be the common,
though obscured, theme throughout these.
I suggest, that the very core of religious belief centres around the [ unattainable ? ] quest for physical
immortality, and that most everything else that has transpired since the times of the Epic of Gilgamesh,
is a chronicle of this questing and failing. I also posit that this extends into Western philosophy, " the
abyss" was very much on the minds of some philosophers.

So, this isn't a particularly new state of affairs, the question is , " how do we move beyond the traditional limitations" .
How do we instil the correct mindset within the populace so that significant recognition and progress can be made
in this crucial area, is this even possible.