ETA that I have certainly thought at times how comforting it would be to believe in an afterlife and reuniting with your loved ones. I just don't believe it.
If there is "something" after, it would seem to me that it would have to be markedly different from the present, sensory existence. Like, there would be have to be an absence of physicality. We can't taste lasagna. Or have sex. Or feel cashmere. Those are physical experiences that we only get to have here and now. So maybe that means our souls escape the physical, floating around like shapeless orbs where we just sort of emanate or radiate love, peace, hope - whatever.
I believe that I will go to heaven, as I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior. That gives me a great deal of peace. Asking the Lord to come into my life has given me peace beyond anything else ever has. But, I digress.
Will I see loved ones there? I don't know. I hope so. Will they look the way I know them? I don't know. Will they exist in a different way than on Earth so physical appearances don't matter? Will their presence even matter to me? I don't know.
What I do look forward to is spending Eternity in Heaven. To hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21 To finally receive my reward. Peace, happiness, no pain, love, everlasting joy.
As for others who don't believe as I do? That's up to them. I'm cool with that.
Post by lobster1022 on May 24, 2012 14:42:24 GMT -5
LHC....I love how you put it. The way you described the sense of time really resonated with me. I believe that things don't always have to be black and white. I think it all comes down to perspective. We all have different viewpoints of the same thing. Not everything has to make sense. I believe in God, but I rarely go to church. I believe in Heaven, but I don't think it's a place with streets of gold and pearly gates. I think heaven is a perfect place for each one of us...and that "perfect" is going to look differently for others. And who knows...maybe I'm wrong. I guess I just like to think positively when I can about thinks so abstract. Believe in what gives you comfort.
I believe that I will go to heaven, as I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior. That gives me a great deal of peace. Asking the Lord to come into my life has given me peace beyond anything else ever has. But, I digress.
Will I see loved ones there? I don't know. I hope so. Will they look the way I know them? I don't know. Will they exist in a different way than on Earth so physical appearances don't matter? Will their presence even matter to me? I don't know.
What I do look forward to is spending Eternity in Heaven. To hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21 To finally receive my reward. Peace, happiness, no pain, love, everlasting joy.
As for others who don't believe as I do? That's up to them. I'm cool with that.
I feel like I come here regarding this topic and it's always "Yes!!!" or "No!!!". Thank you for posting that you personally believe yes, but going in depth about things like, "who would be there?" or "what would we look like?"
I find the answer to be very complex and appreciate the honest answer.
Obviously I've given the "what happens to us after we die" thing a lot of thought over the past several years. Based on what I've read in the Bible, and my own personal thoughts, I don't think everyone who doesn't believe in God will be denied into His kingdom, but I do believe in Judgement Day in some form or another. I also believe that our loved ones are not watching over us. They are with God. I also believe that my DH isn't sitting around missing me. I believe he's with everyone else who has gone before us. I believe he's someplace where there's love and light and peace, and since he's with God, nothing else matters. I'd also like to believe he will know when I've arrived in heaven--like a red light will flash or something. ha ha
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
I love this post. I have major anxieties about this when drifting off to sleep and it's frightening. I have no real theories, I only know I am currently agnostic and will never be atheist only because I like the comfort of "maybe...." But I never claimed to have all the answers and I dread the day S comes and asks me about it.
I believe in a God and I believe in an afterlife. I believe Jesus died for our sins. I do not believe that those who didn't believe in Jesus will be denied entrance to Heaven.
HOWEVER.
I sometimes wonder about eternity and the afterlife in logistical terms. And the skeptic in me thinks that in the very last moments of consciousness, the very last seconds of life, in that hazy gap between living and dead, those last moments stretch out. Like when you're in an accident and things seem to either move very slowly or very quickly.
Time ceases to have meaning when your only consciousness and sense exists in your fading brain activity, when all other systems have given up the ghost.
And in that moment, in those few seconds, maybe that's where the afterlife begins and ends. Your memories, your life, your loved ones who have died, the best and worst days and nights of your little, insignificant life -- all those things mashed up and jumbled together, stretched out before you as you lay dying. Your memories conjure up your loved ones, your imagination spawns an endless array of new conversations and reunions, of peace and kindnesses past, the love and comfort of a mother.
Time is relative. Einstein taught us that. Hidden in those last few seconds of life could be an eternity. God's very last gift to mankind. Not an astral plane or an alternate dimension, but tucked away in that last leap of faith.
Anyway.
This actually made me tear up. And I'm not even *close* to getting my period. It's a beautiful thought.
I try not to think about it too much. I grew up Christian but had so many bubbles burst over the past few years realizing how much stuff I was taught is false that I don't know what to think anymore. I hope there is an afterlife and that at least one thing I was taught is true.
Let me add that I absolutely believe in God. I don't know about the Trinity or how factual the bible is. But I do believe there is a Creator and with that, I learn toward there being an afterlife.
I do like the Jewish belief of those who don't go to Heaven are reincarnated until they get their life right. I do not believe in the whole "burning in a lake of fire for eternity" that so many of my relatives just love to spew.
I think about this a lot, especially as I'm going to sleep (which drive DH crazy). I know that there is no way to "know" whether or not there is an afterlife and if we actually have "souls". I don't think we can know because our brain cannot comprehend the problem to figure out the answer. We, as humans, couch things in terms that we know. We have to do this to understand things. But I don't think we can do this for the afterlife because we only know life here on Earth. So, maybe things aren't as simple as living and dying. Maybe there is an after life (maybe not the kind we envision because, again, we think of the after life in terms of what we know here on Earth).
Anyway, I sometimes wonder why, if there is a God, why doesn't he give me an answer to clarify my doubt. But I've come to realize that even if I were given an answer (like a sign or something) it still wouldn't be confirmation for me because I will always doubt whether the answer or sign was legit. For instance, if God "spoke" to me and told me that he exists and there is an afterlife, I would instead think that my mind is making shit up.
I believe in a God and I believe in an afterlife. I believe Jesus died for our sins. I do not believe that those who didn't believe in Jesus will be denied entrance to Heaven.
HOWEVER.
I sometimes wonder about eternity and the afterlife in logistical terms. And the skeptic in me thinks that in the very last moments of consciousness, the very last seconds of life, in that hazy gap between living and dead, those last moments stretch out. Like when you're in an accident and things seem to either move very slowly or very quickly.
Time ceases to have meaning when your only consciousness and sense exists in your fading brain activity, when all other systems have given up the ghost.
And in that moment, in those few seconds, maybe that's where the afterlife begins and ends. Your memories, your life, your loved ones who have died, the best and worst days and nights of your little, insignificant life -- all those things mashed up and jumbled together, stretched out before you as you lay dying. Your memories conjure up your loved ones, your imagination spawns an endless array of new conversations and reunions, of peace and kindnesses past, the love and comfort of a mother.
Time is relative. Einstein taught us that. Hidden in those last few seconds of life could be an eternity. God's very last gift to mankind. Not an astral plane or an alternate dimension, but tucked away in that last leap of faith.
Anyway.
LHC- what you wrote is beautiful, and actually gave me a lot of comfort. I recently lost my father, and have since been struggling with his loss and the concept of death. I was so afraid that in those last few days he was scared and in pain, and I prayed constantly that he was at peace.
My dad spent a few days in and out of consciousness, and when he was "awake" he would talk about things he said he was seeing, and talk about people who had already passed as if they were still there. At the time it actually kind of freaked me out, but after reading what you wrote I am choosing to believe that is exactly what was going on. If that's how it really works or not, I don't know.... but right now the thought gives me a sense of peace I have been searching for. Thank You!
My grandpa wrote about my grandma dying (she died young). Allegedly she thought that she saw her dad and God and a white light. She felt a lot of comfort and was happy. I know people hallucinate, but I liked to read it.
And sometimes when I'm fearful of death (which doesn't happen very often) I think about it being a transition leading to somewhere else. Like babies being born: They're probably terrified during the transition ("where the fuck I am I going?"), but once they come out they're met by people who love them (hopefully), and eventually they figure out that this is kind of a fun place to be. : ) That's how I view death most of the time.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Lurker popping out to say I, too, am comforted by LHC's post. I label myself Christian, but my beliefs are in a state of flux. Sometimes I am very comforted by the idea of an afterlife. Sometimes the concept of "eternity" freaks me the eff out and I hope it all DOES just end when we die. And I'd rather there be no afterlife at all than have a hell exist.
Post by fuckyourcouch on May 24, 2012 20:08:47 GMT -5
I really don't know.
I wasn't raised religiously, but I guess more "spiritually". I always kind of accepted the typical heaven and hell type scenario until I got older. Then, the more I thought about it, the more my logical, scientific side fought it. Now, as an adult and a scientist, I would say I fall in the agnostic category. I'm fairly disgusted by organized religion, and I certainly don't believe everything the Bible teaches, but I am not willing to commit to the idea that there is NOTHING else. I spend a lot of time arguing with myself about what version of my loved ones I would see, what version of myself, etc.
I think about this concept a lot though. My own spooky and seemingly too perfect to be written off as coincidence experiences make me question it a lot. and LHC, your post actually made me tear up a bit, it's such a beautiful way to imagine it.
And sometimes when I'm fearful of death (which doesn't happen very often) I think about it being a transition leading to somewhere else. Like babies being born: They're probably terrified during the transition ("where the fuck I am I going?"), but once they come out they're met by people who love them (hopefully), and eventually they figure out that this is kind of a fun place to be. : ) That's how I view death most of the time.
A nun once explained it to me that way, she said we leave this world where we are confined by space and time, to a place where people are waiting anxiousy to catch us when we pass to the other side, just like being born
I think that if you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, then you go to heaven, but I'm clearly in the minority here, along with most topics that come up on ML.
Sucks for all those babies that have died. They didn't believe. Or did Jesus give them a pass? At what age do you not get a pass anymore?
Lurker here: I'm with sakelp. I believe in the afterlife and think that Jesus died to atone for all the crap we pull during our lifetime, small or big.
As for the babies, I can't imagine Jesus condemning them all to hell. I also don't think "passes" are given. I think decisions are made for one way or the other by each person.