15 Questions for all

[maladroit]

1- What happens to you after you die?
2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
3- Describe God.
4- How does one obtain true peace?
5- When is war justifiable?
6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
8- Why are so many people depressed?
9- What is the meaning of life?
10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
11- What are we all so afraid of?
12- What is your one wish for the world?
13- What is our greatest distraction?
14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

1. you get what you chose in life, either an eternity with god or an eternity without

2. well, most of it is because of human stupidity, but as you have pointed out, there is a lot of pain and suffering on "good people". the bible never said there wouldn't be... some of the "best" people in the bible suffered horribly. however, anything can happen in god's plan... for myself, in a particularily painful point in my life i started to question god (i had been a religious christain most of my life) and i did some soul searching and some research and i soon discovered that i had been missing a big chunk in my life and i finally found god. after this was done, i still had large painful periods in my life, but i remain the abnoxious optimist, knowing that His plan hasn't failed yet.

3. wow, that one is surprisingly difficult to me, probably because there are so many complexities of god's nature. i'll go with the cliche: love

4. peace of mind? when you find god. total peace? not til you reach heaven

5. hmm... i'm a pretty strict pacifist, but i do see some times where violence is necessary. if your country is attacked, attack the group that attacked you (the war in iraq does not meet within this category). but only do this after long negotiations. each situation is different, so i really can't give final rules.

6. a place totally surrounded and filled with god. you get there like you get on a guest list to a party: know and befriend the host.

7. a need for god

8. we have been blessed with emotions and we realize often that the world is not a good place so we grieve

9. to search for god

10. to love one's neighbor (or terrorist) as ourselves. this does not mean without punishment, if you have done something wrong (as cs lewis says) the christain thing would be to turn yourself in and recieve punishment, so you should treat your enemies likewise.

11. the truth

12. stricter penalties for parole violators, stan

13. pride. the original and messiest sin.

14. from what i've learned, it isn't too logical... maybe you could explain it better...?

15. no, one book can not disclose his entire plan. i am certain that he has never disclosed his entire plan to humans. the several books that make up the bible sum up pretty much what we humans need to know for this lifetime (and i'm sure a handful other books that either didn't make the cut or we haven't found or we don't fully understand etc... but even then, they wouldn't be vital to our salvation)

 

[Eudaimonist]

1- What happens to you after you die?

There is no "you" after you die.

Where death is, we are not. -- Epicurus

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?

Both wealth and wisdom must be produced by thinking persons. Neither are given to us without the effort of thought and action.

3- Describe God.

Nonexistent.

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.

Heaven is happiness in this life; the means is wisdom.

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?

Rationality.

9- What is the meaning of life?

The pursuit of chosen long-range goals that matter to one's flourishing.

12- What is your one wish for the world?

A greater appreciation for nontheistic philosophies as a potential source of meaning in life.

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?

We are all individuals. We are also all human beings. We need to remember both.

 

[maladroit]

Namaste Rahul,
basically, meditation. in particular, removing the veils of ignorance that obscure our perceptions of reality allowing the mind to enter the Jhanas.
~v

interesting... in my life i've discovered just the oppisite: that ignorence is bliss and more peaceful than most reality

 

[pensive]

1- What happens to you after you die?

I die. My body decomposes. That essence which collectively makes up my "soul" returns to the gods for "rest" before being poured out into new life.

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?

Poverty is due to human selfishness. "Suffering" is a much more complex topic. A great deal of it is caused by the tendency of humans to be cruel and insensitive towards one another. Then there is just that fact that stuff happens. Tornado's, hurricanes, and other natural disasters happen. They're a part of the natural cycle. Unfortunately, the natural cycle occasionally results in suffering.

3- Describe God.

God, as in the Almighty and Infinite, is indescribable. Any attempt to describe God would result in a description of something which is less than God.

4- How does one obtain true peace?

I'm not convinced that such a thing is obtainable. I'm also not convinced that it's all that desirable. A moment of peace is obtainable and desirable. But continuous, unending peace? Sounds too much like permanent death to me.

5- When is war justifiable?

I don't think this can be answered with a simple answer. For the most part, I think it's best kept to defensive purposes. When someone attacks you or someone else, you defend yourself. Are there other instances? Maybe. But they'd have to be carefully considered on a case by case scenario.

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.

The only Heaven I believe in is the "place of rest" the "soul" goes between reincarnations. Getting there is mainly a matter of dying. Though some rites may provide a way of getting a more restful "time of rest."

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?

Their ability to choose. Without that, everything else would be meaningless.

8- Why are so many people depressed?

Because they're waiting for someone or something else to "make things better" for them. Or because they have a chemical imbalance in their brains. And probably both, in some cases.

9- What is the meaning of life?

Life is meant to be lived, embraced, and cherished.

10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?

I have no opinion on this.

11- What are we all so afraid of?

In a lot of case, I think we're afraid of ourselves.

12- What is your one wish for the world?

That I choose each day to be the kind of person that touches others' lives.

13- What is our greatest distraction?

Hrm...I'll have to think about that one.

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?

I think it's true on some level. I also think it's one of the most overused and least understood statements, though.

15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

I'll leave this one to the consciences of those who believe in such religions.

 

[looking4wisdom]

1- What happens to you after you die?
2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
3- Describe God.
4- How does one obtain true peace?
5- When is war justifiable?
6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
8- Why are so many people depressed?
9- What is the meaning of life?
10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
11- What are we all so afraid of?
12- What is your one wish for the world?
13- What is our greatest distraction?
14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

1)Heavan or hell
2)Greedy men and harsh weather
3)Merciful, mysterious, perfect, and many more I cannot name
4)Depends on the person-for some, yoga, for some Jesus, for me, I dont know
5)When one leader causes damage to his own people, and poses a threat to the world
6)Heavan is a mystery until you die, and I have no clue how to get there
7)Forgiveness
8)They don't have physical problems, therefore they foucs too much on the self...For example, in America very few people have to worry about their next meal...They have the ability to not worry about the outside, therefor they worry about the inside
9)Life is to be lived to the fullest...Idleness is a sin in my opinion
10)Different gods expect different things---I personally think all people have a right to defend themselves from terrorist, whether it be hindus fighting the muslims, or America fighting the muslims
11)I think deep down most are deeply afraid of the "what ifs"...What if Islam is correct and Jesus isn't god?...What if I really shouldn't eat beef?...What if I am on the wrong side
12)I wish the world could be rid of terrorism, religious and political
13)Our greatest distraction to fighting the good fight is money and politics.
14)We are not all one...We are all different...These differences cause many disputes...Whether it be skin color vs. skin color, or religion vs. religion
15)One way mentality is hard to accept for me...I have a hard time believing that a very good person, be him a muslim, christian, or hindu, cannot get into heaven simply because they followed the wrong god. I deffinately believ that no human can fully understand God, but it is very important that we try.


Nice thread!

 

[lilithrising]

1- What happens to you after you die?
2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
3- Describe God.
4- How does one obtain true peace?
5- When is war justifiable?
6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
8- Why are so many people depressed?
9- What is the meaning of life?
10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
11- What are we all so afraid of?
12- What is your one wish for the world?
13- What is our greatest distraction?
14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

OK, I'll bite,

1. Who knows. Mabie the consciousness/spirit survives and we are later reborn to yet live again
2. Life is suffering
3. Who says there is a god?
4. Accepting one's choices and/or lot in life
5. War is not acceptable if it's politically motivated. Defending oneself from personal danger/harm is.
6. Heaven is not a place. It's a state of being, it's within us.
7. Compassion and the ability to act on it
8. Unrealistic expectations
9. To live!
10. That's an assumption. It's not about how a god would want us to respond, but how and why WE choose to respond.
11. Death
12. The end of the desire for domination and control over another human being.
13. Distraction from what?
14. Sounds quite appropiate to me
15. There is no god who wrote anything about himself, only men with the grandious idea of power motivated by their own 'divine' plans.

lilithrising

 

[Achichem]

15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ?
No, I find the possibly that I am wrong quite logical.

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
Life is as a circle, we began as one and we will end as one; yet as we are, we are not one, we are many.

13- What is our greatest distraction?
Distraction , I call life itself the distraction, and I for one am glad to be distracted.

12- What is your one wish for the world?
Only that She will allow me to continue to be a part of Her.

11- What are we all so afraid of?
The nine fears of the human condition: We are fearful
1. Of being corrupt,evil, or defective
2. Of being unwanted, or unworthy of being loved.
3. Of being worthless
4. Of having no identity or personal significance
5. Of being useless, helpless, or incapable
6. Of being without support or guidance
7. Of being deprived and in pain
8. Of being harmed or controlled by others
9. Of loss and separation

10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
I am not here to speak for any God; so I say let His actions speak for themselves

My action against such is to be swift and direct in my resolve

9- What is the meaning of life?
You mean you don’t know?

8- Why are so many people depressed?
I cannot speak from where I was, only where I am, yet I can remember that when I was thirsty I truly believed that a drink quenched my thirst. When I filled my holes, I truly thought that the space was gone. And when I journeyed far I truly thought that I only had a little ways to go.

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
The same quality which is least greatest

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
It is a wonderful place for wonderful people with an awesome God and loving hearts; you get there by walking.

5- When is war justifiable?
War is apart of what we were and what we are, it is a part of us, and not something to be afraid of, but to be based on the highest law of man and council; it is justified much, yet more important is that it is done without the idea of reward and gain, but in knowledge of sacrifice and loss.

4- How does one obtain true peace?
They lose everything, so that only purity can remain.

3- Describe God.
He is who He is

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
Divine order, to some much material is given, to some much happiness is given, to some much power is given, to yet others much wisdom is given; together we are, a council divided.

1- What happens to you after you die?
The current flows, the seasons change, and tomorrow dawns a new.

 

[Cian]

1- What happens to you after you die?
2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
3- Describe God.
4- How does one obtain true peace?
5- When is war justifiable?
6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
8- Why are so many people depressed?
9- What is the meaning of life?
10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
11- What are we all so afraid of?
12- What is your one wish for the world?
13- What is our greatest distraction?
14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

1. I will know when the time comes.
2. Poverty is due to selfishness, suffering due to cruelty.
3. God appears to be a concept created by humans as an explanation for deep questions such as how the universe began, how life emerged, or to explain what the natural world could not.
4. True peace is obtained differently for each individual, for me it is through meditation.
5. War is never jusitified.
6. Heaven appears to be a concept created by humans in order to comfort them by reinforcing the believe that there is something better for them after death.
7. Empathy and respect.
8. Chemical imbalance in the brain.
9. It appears that I will only have one life, I must live it to the fullest.
10. If God exists its motives can not be interpreted by humans.
11. I do not know, some fear death, some fear darkness, fear is subjective so "we" fear many things.
12. Peace.
13. Entertainment (T.V., movies, cell phones, video game, etc.)
14. I have a profound believe in the unity of all things in nature and the universe.
15. If God did indeed exist then no single book could disclose it's plan.

 

[Osiris]

1- What happens to you after you die?

You start to decompose.

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?

Circumstance.

3- Describe God.

Most likely non-existant.

4- How does one obtain true peace?

There is no such thing as true peace, but subjective peace.

5- When is war justifiable?

When there isn't any other option.
e.g. Hitler invading other countries for no apparent reason.

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.

It doesn't exist, or should I say that anything outside the earths atmosphere is the heavens?

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?

Intellect

8- Why are so many people depressed?

That's circumstantial.

9- What is the meaning of life?

42

10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?

He wouldn't.

11- What are we all so afraid of?

I would say death.

12- What is your one wish for the world?

Progress.

13- What is our greatest distraction?

Religion.

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?

We all make up the human family.
We all make up to what is life.
We all make up with solar system.
We are all part of the universe.

15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

God doesn't have to exist. (I don't know what w.r.t meant w.r.t????)

 

[marianservant]

1- What happens to you after you die?
Immediate judgement and placement based on actions, seperation from the divine for an evil and selfish life, purging and eventually heaven for the faithful, and paradise for the selfless and saintly. At the end of the ages, the temporary places of hell and "heaven" will be forgone for permanent locations (lake of fire (symbolic IMO) for the "hellions" and New Jerusalem/Paradisical Earth for the blessed)

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
Mankind has an intrinsic selfishness which leads to the wanting to harm/rob/belittle/etc. fellow humans in the name of greed or envy

3- Describe God.
Incorporeal, but still knowable. Love, the abscense of hate and intolerance, and supreme being lord of all.

4- How does one obtain true peace?
Love and kindness among one another, and the renunciation of UNbridled greed and hate

5- When is war justifiable?
When one is directly attacked, or has COMPLETE knowledge that an attack is imminent

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.
Closeness to God attained through selfless love for him and for one another.

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?
Loyalty (just my personal opinion)

8- Why are so many people depressed?
The darkness of the world

9- What is the meaning of life?
To serve God by serving one another, by loving and tolerating all of God's creation and preaching the Gospel through actions and love, not hatred, stupid belligerence and war.

10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
First with an attempt to reconcile via non-agression, if that proves ultimately unattainable than it is justifiable (IMO) to defend oneself. NOTE: DEFEND, not attack for the sake of attacking and revenge.

11- What are we all so afraid of?
IMO, insignificance

12- What is your one wish for the world?
A more peaceful existence (World Peace, will never happen lol)

13- What is our greatest distraction?
Greed

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?
I don't like it....it is our differences that make us so wonderful.

15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?
Only God knows this so I cannot answer it, I will say that I do NOT believe in relativism or universalism, but also don't believe in religious bigotry.


Just my opinions, God Bless

 

[rahul_sharma]

Thanks all for the responses.

What else needs to be provided? Does God have to assign medical conditions according to hindu theology? A Mother with AIDS will give birth to a child with AIDS, it's a scientific fact. .

Yes , i know Christians can't think more deep than this. What is the fault of this soul because of which he got a body with AIDS. chance? So, God is partial. He has punished this soul without any fault??


Where is the justice in punishing us for Adam's sin? The Bible itself says that children will not be punished for the parents' sins (Deuteronomy 24:16).
Furthermore, if God really created Adam not knowing either good or evil(Genesis 3:22), how could such a harsh and enduring punishment as death for Adam and all his descendants possibly be just? So, our secular courts are more just than God when they show mercy on people who cannot distinguish between right and wrong, such as children and the mentally handicapped ??

And why isn't this doctrine of original sin found anywhere in the Bible except in Paul's writings (if i am right?)?

Some would consider such a situation to be a blessing. Luke 6:19-26

Some will get this blessing. Why not all? so , God is definately partial. Isn't he?

Why not? Perhaps the experience of such hardship would draw the person closer to God than had that person not not had that expereince? I

This is not a logical reply. Just a random guess in dark.

The fact is that you can chose, so what is the problem? If one dies in invincible ignorance they can still be saved, theoretically. It is up to God

Why 5 billion souls have to choose and search for truth? What is the greatness of those souls who were born in Christian families. Don't you think its so much easier for them to understand so called only true religion.

 

[psychedelicist]

1- What happens to you after you die?

You return to the universe you came out of, I assume.

2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?

Because there is. There's no reason.

3- Describe God.

Hmm. I'm not so sure if I believe there is a god. The closest there would come is some kind of pervading force behind the universe- the Tao, Bhraman, whatever you wanted to call it.

4- How does one obtain true peace?

I think the only true, full peace that can be achieved is in death.

5- When is war justifiable?

I'm not sure. I don't think violence is intrinsically wrong, but then, nothing is really solved by going to war most of the time.

6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there.

Not sure this one applies. If you mean heaven as a state of mind, I would try buddhist or hindu or yogic meditations.

7- What is the greatest quality humans possess?

The mechanism of creativity. We are at our most godlike when we are in the act of creation.

8- Why are so many people depressed?

The reasons are as varied as the people themselves. To try and stuff it all in a box, I would say as a result of the conflicting nature of our existence and the suffering it entails.

9- What is the meaning of life?

To live, love, suffer, and die, and hopefully achieve your dreams somewhere in there.

10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?

Realize that it is essentially a waste of time and effort.

11- What are we all so afraid of?

Ourselves, it seems like. Our inner beings, so often ignored, to the point where it seems we are almost afraid to be alone with ourselves, and try and fill their time with all sorts of things just so we don't have to be alone with our thoughts.

12- What is your one wish for the world?

For humans to stop being such idiots.

13- What is our greatest distraction?

The ego.

14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this?

I agree, but I don't think it should be simplified so much. Yes, we are all a part of this universe, and any line drawn between "self" and "other" are just mental linguistics, a trick of our sophisticated mind. But we should also not forget the self, the subjectivity which defines our individual existence, and the mechanism of our creativity.

15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan ?

Of course not. If there is a god I doubt anything could explain his existence to us, especially not language.

 

[Abiel]

1- What happens to you after you die? I go to live with my saviour
2- Why is there poverty and suffering in the world? Because the world is full of sinners
3- Describe God. Cant
4- How does one obtain true peace? By following Jesus
5- When is war justifiable? Hmm. Dont know
6- Describe Heaven; and how do you get there. Cant. By following Jesus
7- What is the greatest quality humans possess? Love
8- Why are so many people depressed? Because they feel unloved
9- What is the meaning of life? To glorify God and live with HIm forever
10- How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism? with love
11- What are we all so afraid of? loneliness
12- What is your one wish for the world? end to abject poverty
13- What is our greatest distraction? money
14- "We are all one." What are your thoughts on this? we are certainly in it together
15- "One way mentality of some religions". Don't you think it is Illogical w.r.t to God ? If God is infinite, do you think one book with some verses can disclose his divine plan

I'm sure He hasnt told us everything there is to know, but I am pretty sure He has told us all we need to know at the moment.

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste maladroit,

thank you for the post.

interesting... in my life i've discovered just the oppisite: that ignorence is bliss and more peaceful than most reality

i apologize for confusing you.

when Dharma adherents speak of ignorance, we are speaking of a special sort of ignorance about a very particular sort of thing.

general lack of knowledge is not what we are on about.

understand that, by and large, the difference between the Dharma traditions and the Semetic traditions is that our traditions are mainly psychologically oriented whereas your tradition is historically oriented. thus, the ignorance in our tradition obscures the essential aspects of reality which allow a being to be liberated.

metta,

~v

 

[vajradhara]

hehe...


don't squeeze the Rahul Sharma!



oh the punny wit... ow..

metta,

~v

 

[arunma]

Yes , i know Christians can't think more deep than this.

Tell me Rahul, do you make off topic insults about Christians because you can't create a decent argument, or do you do it by accident? Either way, please don't make these statements again; they violate the rules of common courtesy.

 

[rahul_sharma]

Tell me Rahul, do you make off topic insults about Christians because you can't create a decent argument, or do you do it by accident? Either way, please don't make these statements again; they violate the rules of common courtesy.

Arunma do you believe Hindu God is false?
Yes, i do believe Christians can't think deeply and logically because there scriptuers (paul) can't answer logically.

Simple, Isn't it?

 

[arunma]

Arunma do you believe Hindu God is false?
Yes, i do believe Christians can't think deeply and logically because there scriptuers (paul) can't answer logically.

I've attacked your religion, which is a legitimate act on this forum. You, however, have attacked individual people, and that is not appropriate.

Why do you defend your right to insult people? Just stop doing it.

 

[satay]

3- Describe God.
I believe in one supreme Divine, Netjer. Netjer is too big and complex for humans to fully understand. However, Netjer wants to have personal relationships with its creation, and so created many names (or forms) that we may come to know more personally. Each seperate beings in themselves, but yet still part of the one Divine.

I believe the name of the Lord is krsna or Krishna but you may call him Netjer!

satay

 

[satay]

I've attacked your religion, which is a legitimate act on this forum. You, however, have attacked individual people, and that is not appropriate.

Why do you defend your right to insult people? Just stop doing it.

No, he is not attacking individual people...he is attacking christianity.

Christianity is spiritualess dogma and can not give logical answers to even the basic logical questions of a simple man.

circular logic jindabhad!

Satay