Afterlife?

[V_For_Vendetta]

I'm confused on this whole "Heaven thing"

Let's say the Christian religion is true. What happens if you go to Heaven, and your mom's not there? Can you still enjoy it? Would God place a soulless doppleganger of your mom in Heaven to trick you into thinking she's not burning in **** for eternity while you're living it up? Or would you become "enlightened" to the point that you realize that your mom's in the right place because she committed some "sin" as a mortal, imperfect human.

The concept of an afterlife where we are judged based on actions done while imperfect that are almost always manipulated by circumstances beyond our control (ex. You stole food because you were hungry as a child and your parents couldn't feed you). just seems remarkably foolish and archaic.

Am I missing something?

 

[Krucifier]

My Step-Father is a real religious fanatic.

I asked him your question.

His reply was "In Heaven you will have no knowledge of, or need for your earthly family. It will just be your spirit, the spirits of all other believers, and God, living in perfection, forever."

So go figure. Turns out we're just living this life in preperation for the next... No wonder my Step-Father doesn't really accomplish anything... =S

 

[V_For_Vendetta]

My Step-Father is a real religious fanatic.

I asked him your question.

His reply was "In Heaven you will have no knowledge of, or need for your earthly family. It will just be your spirit, the spirits of all other believers, and God, living in perfection, forever."

So go figure. Turns out we're just living this life in preperation for the next... No wonder my Step-Father doesn't really accomplish anything... =S

So we lose everything that makes us Human? I'd sooner go to ****....

And I agree, the basis of Christian teachings seem to be preparing your life for dying and going to the next one. Seems fine to believe when you are older, but teaching this to young children is just... sickening.

 

[Crosplat]

So we lose everything that makes us Human? I'd sooner go to ****....

And I agree, the basis of Christian teachings seem to be preparing your life for dying and going to the next one. Seems fine to believe when you are older, but teaching this to young children is just... sickening.

Before I really respond to your question, I have one of my own. Do you believe that there is any value at all in Christian teachings, or do you feel as if all of it is an unrealistic, impossible fairy tale that causes pointless suffering and pain throughout history and the modern world?

 

[Lucario EX]

To Crosplat's question, I think both are true. Probably the whole obsession over Heaven and **** was just started as a way to gain power back in the Middle Ages.

IMO, worrying about afterlives is silly. You don't know if there is one, so live this life for what it is. Not to say that I think people shouldn't care about doing the right thing, just that living to die is dumb.

V_for Vendetta, I'll write a proper response to your post later. Short on time right now.

Again, all JMHO.

 

[V_For_Vendetta]

Before I really respond to your question, I have one of my own. Do you believe that there is any value at all in Christian teachings, or do you feel as if all of it is an unrealistic, impossible fairy tale that causes pointless suffering and pain throughout history and the modern world?

Naturally there are values in Christian teachings, they teach alot of good morales to Children that they need to have firmly thrust into their head and kept there for their entire lives. It works, so I have no real problem with it

The only problem I have with Christianity is that book of FILTH known as the Bible. Other than that the only Christians I have problems with are closed minded ones who cannot adapt their beliefs with their knowledge, and then I only have problems because they are road blocks in out development.

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To Crosplat's question, I think both are true. Probably the whole obsession over Heaven and **** was just started as a way to gain power back in the Middle Ages.

IMO, worrying about afterlives is silly. You don't know if there is one, so live this life for what it is. Not to say that I think people shouldn't care about doing the right thing, just that living to die is dumb.

V_for Vendetta, I'll write a proper response to your post later. Short on time right now.

Again, all JMHO.

I'll probably be responding to it tomorrow, its getting late here.

 

[Crosplat]

Naturally there are values in Christian teachings, they teach alot of good morales to Children that they need to have firmly thrust into their head and kept there for their entire lives. It works, so I have no real problem with it

The only problem I have with Christianity is that book of FILTH known as the Bible. Other than that the only Christians I have problems with are closed minded ones who cannot adapt their beliefs with their knowledge, and then I only have problems because they are road blocks in out development.

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I'll probably be responding to it tomorrow, its getting late here.

To address the example about stealing to live, one thing that Christ taught was forgiveness and compassion. There are numerous examples in the Bible about criminals repenting for their sins and being forgiven. I cannot answer what Heaven is, but all I need to know is that eternal happiness will be better than eternal suffering. Even if it does not exist, is there anything wrong with leading a life that will get you to Heaven?

I have to strongly disagree with you because the Bible is NOT a piece of filth. After all, the positive aspects of Christian teaching come from it. There are parts of it that definitely are bad/outdated, but I feel as if it is a very worthwhile text for the most part. It holds a special place in my heart because it helped me through some tough times.

Close minded people of any type, not just Christians, are road blocks in any society.

 

[gallade]

*this following post is just a complete joke* maybe the whole christianity thing is just a conspiracy that when you believe it, your "spirit" imagines it to the point where it believes that this is all true.

 

[V_For_Vendetta]

To address the example about stealing to live, one thing that Christ taught was forgiveness and compassion. There are numerous examples in the Bible about criminals repenting for their sins and being forgiven. I cannot answer what Heaven is, but all I need to know is that eternal happiness will be better than eternal suffering. Even if it does not exist, is there anything wrong with leading a life that will get you to Heaven?

There are more examples of cruelty and punishment than. And about Christ...

Christ tells us we must hate our entire family, and even our own life, if we want to be one of His disciples (Luke.14:26)
I came not to send peace, but a sword (Christ - Matt.10:34)
If you don´t have a sword, sell your clothes to buy one (Luke.22:36)

Christ is hardly the person to quote when you speak of peace.

Is there anything wrong with living a life that will get you to Valhalla? Is there anything wrong with living a life that will get you to the Seed Daughter and lead into paradise? Is there anything wrong with living a life that with get you the Underworld not spent for eternity in the River of Styx? Of course not, but basing your entire life around something you do not know seems... silly.

I have to strongly disagree with you because the Bible is NOT a piece of filth. After all, the positive aspects of Christian teaching come from it. There are parts of it that definitely are bad/outdated, but I feel as if it is a very worthwhile text for the most part. It holds a special place in my heart because it helped me through some tough times.

I find that a book that teaches us prejuduce, hatred, injustice, ignorance, and to hate our own people if they do not believe the same as us to be intolerable. I am happy it has gotten you through hard times. I have a friend who had smoking get him though hard times. Just because something acts as a crutch does not mean it is good.

It does indeed have a few things in its pages that are good to teach Children. You undoubtedly know them because its all the priests teach in Church. But if you found chocolate in the garbage, would you eat it? The little good in the bible is tainted by the filth and hatred around it

And as for outdated, well why not update it? Or better yet, why not get rid of it. The Greeks did not need books to spread their beliefs, why do you need written text about religion if you refuse to update it?

Close minded people of any type, not just Christians, are road blocks in any society.

Indeed, unfortunately closed minded Christians are more common than any, and perhaps every other, type of closed minded person, because THEY GET AWAY WITH IT. So yes, its not just Christians, but what do you try to move out of the way blocking your road, a big road block or a smaller one?

 

[brightside182]

I agree with Crosplat.

And to reply to the original post:

I believe that when you go to heaven you will remember most everything that you lived on Earth. However,
in the bible it mentioned that you will not feel hurt or pain. So you will remember your mother! And after all God
is the final judge on who makes it in.

Also, almost every religion has a state of enlightenment or afterlife. And in almost every single one its based on
how you lived your life...all but Christianity.

In Christianity (or at least in my faith) you can get into Heaven by accepting the gift of Jesus.

Jesus said:

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: and no man can come to the Father except through me."

And I agree with all of you who talk about closed minded Christians...they give us a bad name. I believe that
Christianity should be a personal faith and relationship instead of a Religion that often shoves their beliefs down
peoples throats.

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OH....and on the Bible.

I believe the bible has some teachings that no longer apply in this day and age. However, the overall truth and
message in it remains true. We are all sinners, no one is better than the other.

 

[BJJ763]

Is there anything wrong with living a life that will get you to Valhalla? Is there anything wrong with living a life that will get you to the Seed Daughter and lead into paradise? Is there anything wrong with living a life that with get you the Underworld not spent for eternity in the River of Styx? Of course not, but basing your entire life around something you do not know seems... silly.

Guess that's why it's called "faith".

Your quoted Scripture is taken out of context. For example - Luke 14:26 the meaning is that the disciple's family must take second place to following Jesus (also reference Matthew 10:37)

Maybe if you had a better understanding, you would have a different out look?

 

[Gardi94]

I agree with Brightside, most of the people in my town are closed minded people. Me being Catholic, most Protestants think we still CHARGE people money to forgive their sins. Sad really, people who take so much influence from a book that teaches love, forgiveness, acceptance of others, and peace, yet, just because their nieghbor is under a different branch of Christianity, they hate and despise them.

 

[The Knee]

Although i am not deeply spiritual, i have no problem with people finding strength in a system of beliefs. What i do have a problem with however, is using faith as a scapegoat or a repentence for their actions. Brain Nichols(SP), a criminal here in Georgia kills 4 federal officials, but he finds god later so he feels that makes it right in the minds of people. It's a very hard line to notice, but people will often "find strength" when they really just use it as a scapegoat for all of their shortcomings.

 

[toxictaipan]

So we lose everything that makes us Human? I'd sooner go to ****....

And I agree, the basis of Christian teachings seem to be preparing your life for dying and going to the next one. Seems fine to believe when you are older, but teaching this to young children is just... sickening.

But, that brings up this question: Were we prepared for this life, also?

To Crosplat's question, I think both are true. Probably the whole obsession over Heaven and **** was just started as a way to gain power back in the Middle Ages.

Do you relize how, very, very, very possible that is? And do you relize that if aliens were to land and we have proof, that would blow the whole religious thing out the window, and with that, we would have no sins?

That would mean it would be completely fine to do whatever you want, morally correct or not.

And do you know how fast criminals, not to mention the rest of the world would jump on the chance for that? Let's just put it this way, the power has power becuase of guilt, whether that guilt be valid or not.

 

[afstandopleren]

Afterlife is for people whom are insecure and can't handle the concept of death. The idea of going to a better or worse place gives people an incentive to change their lives, often for the good. As much as I believe that the current religions need some serious updates to keep up with the changes in modern day life, it will always impact people in ways we can't tell without ever experiencing it.

 

[hitmonchan93]

Afterlife is for people whom are insecure and can't handle the concept of death. The idea of going to a better or worse place gives people an incentive to change their lives, often for the good. As much as I believe that the current religions need some serious updates to keep up with the changes in modern day life, it will always impact people in ways we can't tell without ever experiencing it.

Way to stereotype there =/.

 

[ryanvergel]

I agree with him for the most part. The soul, God, the afterlife, etc. are just assurances against ego destruction. The human psychology and sense of ego/self cannot cope with the idea of not existing after becoming self-aware. Thus we create this system of beliefs to convince ourselves that we do not do what we in fact do- cease to exist in any form after we physically die.

We have no more reason to believe in Heaven than we do in anything else. It's just a wild an assertion as an afterlife full of walking toasters in the land of dinosaurs in an alternate dimension where gravity is reverse or something.

Any conviction or preference for a particular afterlife or religion is just arbitrary and ultimately rests on nothing substantial. It is just the psychology of the human mind dealing with the unthinkable and unknowable- the lack of existence.

 

[Jaeger]

People will always believe what gives them the most confort.

 

[Wood811]

Any conviction or preference for a particular afterlife or religion is just arbitrary and ultimately rests on nothing substantial. It is just the psychology of the human mind dealing with the unthinkable and unknowable- the lack of existence.

Ceasing to exist may be hard to wrap your head around but what if one were to live forever? If there was no end? Imo the concept of forever is hard to understand because we as humans are used to having an end to everything. Kind of like outer space or w/e. Does it have an end? I don't think so??? umm????....*head explodes*

Kind of off topic but...

 

[toxictaipan]

I'm still trying to figgure out how Adam lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. On the Creationist's side, the Earth is only a few thousand years old, and on the Evolutionist's side, it's a few billion...

So, that implies that we lost the ability to live that long very recently.

Has anyone lived that long since Biblical times? I don't think so.

So, what happened? What caused us to live such a shorter life? I mean 400+ years shorter, that's just not realistic.