Before I say much about what I think, I'd like to use this as a chance to ask for some feedback...1. What do you all believe, really believe, about death?2. What is it... and, what is it like to go through it?3. What do you really believe happens when we die? What kind of judgment takes place? What is that like? What about heaven/hell/purgatory etc? 4. Does someone like me go straight to hell?Please feel free to be completely honest in responding (but if this is too morbid for some, I understand).
Before I say much about what I think, I'd like to use this as a chance to ask for some feedback...1. What do you all believe, really believe, about death?2. What is it... and, what is it like to go through it?3. What do you really believe happens when we die? What kind of judgment takes place? What is that like? What about heaven/hell/purgatory etc? 4. Does someone like me go straight to hell?Please feel free to be completely honest in responding (but if this is too morbid for some, I understand).
I've got this life to be focused on. If there is something beyond the infinity of the universe, than this life lived will dictate has some play in to what is in store. If nothing is beyond the infinity of the universe, than this life is meant for this life and one should live it abundantly.
That's about all I can say on the matter. Another reason why I can't say more is...I'm still alive.
__________________ “I've eaten things that didn't complain this much.”-Denis Leary
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense."-Edward Blake-The Comedian in The Watchmen
It's weird, but I've always believed that this is it. When we did...we cease, completely...no soul, no afterlife. I've been comforted by that belief...comforted in thinking that this life is such a gift that I am to enjoy it fully....love fully, laugh fully, play fully and contribute to others fully. I have never feared death...and I have lived a fun full life with no regrets.
However....a few years ago I had the most amazing dream. I can't even describe how I felt after this dream. I thought...I need to write this down..but I didn't. The next night....same dream...same details....and if I believed in the supernatural I would certainly call it a vision but it is unlike anything I ever experienced. After the 2nd night of the dream, I wrote it down believing that if I didn't, I would have the dream yet again. The dream was about the afterlife and I have to say that I'm a bit haunted by the notion that the dream might reflect a reality. Not that the dream was bad....there was no hell (for anyone) but it basically pointed to eternal life.....and frankly, there is no appeal in that for me.
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Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God
The last temptation that's the greatest treason, is to do the right deed for the wrong reason. T.S. Eliot
I'm praying for you. You've always been a good friend~
Originally Posted by paxi1334
Before I say much about what I think, I'd like to use this as a chance to ask for some feedback...1. What do you all believe, really believe, about death?
I believe that death of the mortal body is a gateway to my spirit joining with the Holy Spirit. I will meld with it.
2. What is it... and, what is it like to go through it?
The experience will be based on my outlook. If I fear death, I will die in fear. If I look forward to the passing, I will be calm. I think the human brain will make this journey as simple as possible when the time comes.
3. What do you really believe happens when we die? What kind of judgment takes place? What is that like? What about heaven/hell/purgatory etc?
I believe that I will skip judgement and be delivered directly to God's hands. I can only imagine the warmth and hope He will grant me. I've sinned. I have been sorry and repented. I try to love God and my neighbors. I try to let this love channel my actions. God will cleanse me of my baggage and usher me into His house.
4. Does someone like me go straight to hell?Please feel free to be completely honest in responding (but if this is too morbid for some, I understand).[/quote]
There is no hell for people who love God. They may call God different names, or feel differently about the quantity of gods, or worship differently, but God hears all prayers and loves all of His children.
God loves you, Paxi.
I'm not sure we ever really had the same views, but I'm sure that He will love you for many reasons. You stood up for the persecuted. You spoke against hatred. You broke barriers that many still wrestle with.
God won't grade anyone for having the perfect faith.
But he does reward those who try their best to be good and kind and loving.
And you have always been all those things.
__________________ I removed my "Christian" icon, as it serves no purpose here.
James 2: 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
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If you believe what the word of God says about Death.....then you have nothing to worry about, because you will not know your dead.
On ressurection day, the theif who died on the Cross next to Jesus, will still think it is crucifixtion day.....because as the word of God says.
The living know they shall die, but the dead know NOTHING !
I was reading a rather interesting Christian news letter in recent times where one of the articles covered how the Apostle Paul named teachers of false Doctrine, I cannot remember theirs names off hand from scripture, but Paul named these two guys and how they where not to be listened too....
They where teaching that the ressurection has already happened....not the ressurection of Jesus, but the ressurection of anybody else who has died apart from Jesus.....Paul was quite clear about ignoring such teaching.
People tend to believe all sorts of silly things, apart from the word of God, when all they need to do is...heed...the word of God.
I tell you this today you will be with me in paradise..... note that the comma is missing because there is no comma for the original Language the NT was written in, the comma is unique to the English language.
There was no comma in the original language, so there is no comma to be allowed in translation.
Jesus did not lie to the theif on the Cross....who ever translated your bible into English, lied to you....got the picture yet.
You see to be ressurected, you have to be ressurected from somthing, and that somthing is...DEATH!
Dead as a door nail no conciouse thought at all, not even aware that you are dead, in fact you will not know that you have died until you are ressurected.
So any time spent being afraid of death was wasted time....stop worrying about death ok!
You cannot stop it, your time for death is comming, and you will not know your dead or that you have died until you are ressurected.
1. What do you all believe, really believe, about death?
I believe that death is both entirely natural and a great mystery. I do not believe that death is to be feared.
Originally Posted by paxi1334
2. What is it... and, what is it like to go through it?
I don't know what it is like to go through death. I have seen others die. It brings an end to visible suffering and pain.
Originally Posted by paxi1334
3. What do you really believe happens when we die? What kind of judgment takes place? What is that like? What about heaven/hell/purgatory etc?
I believe that whatever happens to us after death is up to God. I also believe that God is merciful. Heaven, hell, purgatory etc. are ways that we humans have found to talk about things that we really cannot know, but for now we see in a mirror dimly.
Originally Posted by paxi1334
4. Does someone like me go straight to hell?
A God who would send someone like you straight to hell is not a God worthy of worship. I believe that God is much better than any of us can know.
1. What do you all believe, really believe, about death?
I really, honestly, truly believe that I have no clue.
2. What is it... and, what is it like to go through it?
Don't know, don't care... life's too short to concentrate on death.
3. What do you really believe happens when we die?
I think it will be an encounter with God that will be a unique experience for everyone.
What kind of judgment takes place?
I don't believe that God's ultimate purpose of creating our life and letting us live it for.. 70, 80, 90 years .. was not to, at the end of all this, say "Wow you really messed that up didn't you?". I honestly believe there won't be so much judgment as most people think.
What about heaven/hell/purgatory etc?
I believe there is an afterlife. I think it will be a lot like our lives now, except with less pain and suffering. I think we'll have tasks and jobs and what not.. like a society of souls.
4. Does someone like me go straight to hell?
A God who would allow someone to Hell is not worthy of my praise. And if He couldn't stop it from happening, then He would also not be worthy of my praise.
I don't believe God intervenes in everyday life like a lot of people believe -- for instance, when people say "God saved me from dying in that plane crash," I basically scoff. I think people survive a plane crash because they were darn lucky. Anyway, God gave us free-will to make choices, even bad ones; plus, the world is a very random place full of coincidence. It was created like this, and God is perfect, therefor this must be exactly how He wanted things.. therefor I believe intervention in our earthly lives is a violation of the very free will that He gave us, and thus He really doesn't do it. At least not in the way most people attribute to Him.
... but ... when it comes to the afterlife? That's God's domain. So if He can't or won't stop someone from going to Hell? He's really not that great of a God in my book.
It's not that I think God reaches out and plucks people from going to Hell mind you.. it's that I believe people still have a choice to choose God once they die. It makes no sense to limit knowledge of something infinite to a finite life. "Figure it out in 80 years, or be damned for all eternity". Frankly, some people will never grasp it. Some people will reject God for their entire lives.
But when you die, and you finally meet Him... and you're standing around saying "... heh.. oops," I don't think God wags a finger at you and sends you on your merry way to burn for eternity. I think you still have a choice. Whomever makes the choice away from a God standing right infront of them, really chooses their own personal Hell IMO. What that is though, I have no idea. But it was their own choice.
Anyway... At the end of the day, I don't believe anyone goes straight to Hell.
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"... that scripture possessed a literal and historical meaning,
but that this interpretation was only for 'simple believers of simple mind,'
those whose spiritual maturity could not grasp the Word's deeper dimensions."
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Last edited by BeyondAshes; 22nd October 2009 at 07:14 PM.
I'm not certain where I'll go when I die, if I go anywhere. I believe that's why I should try and live this life to the fullest. Death is a scary thing for anybody, no matter your faith.
As to whether you go to Heaven or Hell when you die, I really hope nobody does go to Hell and God is loving and merciful. But the bottom line is that it is not up to us to decide. It's up to God to decide.
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I'm almost certain that there is nothing after death. The process, as I understand it, will be like losing consciousness or falling asleep and knowing nothing ever again.
Dying itself? It seems some suffer and others don't. If there is anything I fear it is the moment leading up to death.
Paxi,
I wish for you that your final moments will be painless and surrounded by those that love you. I wish that you will be filled with peace and courage about it all.
I wish for you that your final moments will be painless and surrounded by those that love you. I wish that you will be filled with peace and courage about it all.
Love,
Tinker
Amen!
__________________ I removed my "Christian" icon, as it serves no purpose here.
James 2: 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
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