Our body hosts more bacteria than the human cells it contains

[silverysky]

Here:

discovermagazine.com/galleries/zen-photo/m/microbiome

I find this mind blowing. I thought I'd post this here to see if anyone has any philosophical or religious takes on this. To me it seems to really underline how blurred the boundaries are between self and the rest of the universe when everything works in harmony.

Not really getting any philosophical or religious angle to this info.
We got lots of bacteria on our body, isn't evolution great... and?

I just think there are ramifications in terms of sense of self. Where do 'I' end? The biome can affect all sorts about me, my health, digestive function etc. Which can impact on my mental state too. My biome can affect other people if there is transference, too.

When you speak of evolution it doesn't mean we cannot view that philosophically or religiously. Our genes transferring to our children and our children's children means a little bit of ourselves lives on, physically after our deaths.

Not sure I get this either.

Is this something you have just discovered?

And trying to understand a little- you think your colonies of microbes have an impact on your "self"?

Have you been taking drugs today?

Sigh...no need for the antagonism. No, I haven't taken anything. Just musing. If it doesn't interest you, you are not forced to comment.

I am deeply interested- and sorry if I came across as antagonistic. Apologies
It was a rude comment

It is not that unusual to think things similar to this, either. Gaia principle etc have certainly fuelled people's imaginations and linked with various traditions beliefs.

Sorry x-post, speakout. Apology accepted.

Yes, I’ve read that the bione in our gut influences our brain amd a lot of mental illnesses have the soutce in the gut. Dr Mark Hyman definitely saus so and I think Dr Robert Lustig too.

Yes, it is something I find quite fascinating, Drink. One of the reasons why I think this affects sense of sense. Added to this the quantity of cells which are bacteria on our bodies as opposed to our own (genetic material). Yet, we interact and our bodily processes can manage them to some extent.

Sorry I mean sense of self not sense of sense.

But who we are is a product of our consciousness not our body. Theoretically you could cut off any part of your body and still be yourself. Bacteria is just something that keeps our body functioning so it can host and transport what we call our 'self'.

The day might come when we can transfer ourselves into another body or even a machine. Do we consider we our losing part of ourselves when we shed billions of skin cells every day?

Our bodies come from stardust and will return to stardust. Who we are might be affected by bacteria but they are not what I would consider anything to do with 'me'.

It shows again there's no absolute free will as our bodies and health all affect our mind.

Poo transfers is another weird one when looking at losing/gaining weight. Also it's the reason breast milk is deemed best IF you can/want as they found it helps babies gut bacteria. I find all these things interesting but don't know it has any religious ramifications.

I find it fascinating, OP. Particularly the idea of the gut as being like a 'second brain' and the effect of the gut biome on mental health. I see what you mean about it feeling like a self/not self thing, as we contain all these organisms that are not human. Kind of fits in with buddhist ideas in some ways, I guess.

Walking
But who we are is a product of our consciousness not our body. Theoretically you could cut off any part of your body and still be yourself. Bacteria is just something that keeps our body functioning so it can host and transport what we call our 'self'.

Interesting idea to question, though. There is constant bio feedback. Which can affect our thinking.

The day might come when we can transfer ourselves into another body or even a machine. Do we consider we our losing part of ourselves when we shed billions of skin cells every day?

Again, interesting and thought provoking exercise to question this. Would we be human or machine if we transferred our consciousness to a machine? Or would transferring ourselves into another body affect the way we think? Regarding losing cells when they are dead, maybe the death of them stops them from affecting (and interacting with) us.

It shows again there's no absolute free will as our bodies and health all affect our mind.

Melody, again an interesting thing to consider. However, I think the role of the brain/our minds in managing all our body systems and bacteria may well allow us to maintain free will.

Eolian
Particularly the idea of the gut as being like a 'second brain' and the effect of the gut biome on mental health.

Yes, I agree.

Kind of fits in with buddhist ideas in some ways, I guess.

I'll have to look that up. Sounds interesting.

. I find all these things interesting but don't know it has any religious ramifications.

I think it does, melody. Ideas of free will which you have mentioned are certainly considered within religion. Equally interactions with others in this world, healing, positive and negative energies are common themes within religions/other belief systems.

There is constant bio feedback. Which can affect our thinking
You could say the same about oxygen, food, drugs, sex, hormones etc. Why have you picked on bacteria?

interactions with others in this world, healing, positive and negative energies

What is positive/negative energy?

Why have you picked on bacteria?

Because it is a separate living organism. It amazes me that our body hosts more of these organisms than we have cells. And we have an interactive relationship with these bacteria.

What is positive/negative energy?

A force (action) which can affect matter positively or negatively in terms of life/vitality was the what I meant by the term.

Because it is a separate living organism
Symbiotic organisms are quite common in nature, are you surprised because you have just found out about them or because bacteria are so small and therefore numerous?

What about them do you find 'amazing'?

Walking, where did I say I was surprised? I said I was amazed. I can still be amazed concerning things which are common and generally known. I find it amazing that the bacteria we host outnumber our own human cells. Our bodies contain more host bacteria than our own cells. Yet we, generally, consider ourselves singular human beings. I find it quite empowering to be supporting so much life.

Are you not amazed by anything, Walking?

Added to this I do find symbiotic relationships between species quite fascinating, generally. Biological trades and chemical communication networks is an area which I can really lose myself in.

If that blows your mind then read up on mitochondria