I really wish I believed (reincarnation, God)

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by SoliDeoGloria

Well, don't get your hopes up too much for it not to turn into a debate. I'll try to get something started in "general rligious debates" titled "right & religion". I'll do my best to be nice. I probably won't be able to continue it too far due to the fact that my wife and I are celebrating our ten year anniversary tonight but will add to it when possible.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

Oh congrats to you and your wife!

[SoliDeoGloria]

Oh congrats to you and your wife!

Thanks. Our actual anniversary is thurs. but we are celebreating tonight.

BTW, here's the proposed thread: Right & Religion

Sincerely,
SolideoGloria

[uruk]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

"The Lake?" And where would this lake be?

Um . . . . I don't exactly know.

Revelation seems to put it as some soldering barbeque pit somewhere in heaven for everyone to see. Most think the lake is, "down there" under the ground. I've learned that there is a difference between "hell" and the "lake". Hell is "the grave" or the place of the dead. "The Lake" is the place of punishment, according to fundamentalist christian doctrine.

Super Universe, what you're saying sounds good to me. But, I have trouble with it because of what I've been taught all my life. I'm not saying your wrong, your perspective is just a very different world than I'm used to. I've never let my mind go there until lately. It takes getting used to. But, I will think on your comments.

To Lintu: I've heard that religious jewish leaders have said that the longest someone experiences punishment is for a few years -- seven at the most. But, because the teachings of Jesus are basically balasphemous in the eyes of jewish doctrien, some Rabbi in the past have wished 40 years of punishment upon Jesus. Of course, this isn't all jews, It's just something I heard. But, doesn't that speak to the idea that Christianity and Judaism don't really seem to "mix" sometimes. Just a thought.

congrats on the marriage. marriage could use it's own forum!

Almost ten years now.

I'm a few moments away from a week vacation out of town. so, by the time I get to post again, this thead will probably be forgotten. Take it easy everyone!

[EnhancedSpirit]

Death is no different than birth. It is just a passing of the spirit from one form to another. When a lightbulb breaks, the electricity does not just disappear, even though you can no longer see it's effects. If you are questioning your faith, then there is really nothing any one could 'say' to make you feel different. This is a personal experience and only you can work through it. God understands completely why you have doubts and concerns and fears, and he is just waiting for you to see that there is nothing to be afraid of. Fear is actually your enemy, not death.

This thread made me think of a song, and I want to share with you the lyrics, all who know this one, sing along . . . .

I don't believe in superstars,
Organic food and foreign cars.
I don't believe the price of gold;
The certainty of growing old.
That right is right and left is wrong,
That north and south can't get along.
That east is east and west is west.
And being first is always best.

But I believe in love.
I believe in babies.
I believe in Mom and Dad.
And I believe in you.

Well, I don't believe that heaven waits,
For only those who congregate.
I like to think of God as love:
He's down below, He's up above.
He's watching people everywhere.
He knows who does and doesn't care.
And I'm an ordinary man,
Sometimes I wonder who I am.

But I believe in love.
I believe in music.
I believe in magic.
And I believe in you.

Well, I know with all my certainty,
What's going on with you and me,
Is a good thing.
It's true, I believe in you.

I don't believe virginity,
Is as common as it used to be.
In working days and sleeping nights,
That black is black and white is white.
That Superman and Robin Hood,
Are still alive in Hollywood.
That gasoline's in short supply,
The rising cost of getting by.

But I believe in love.
I believe in old folks.
I believe in children.
I believe in you.

But I believe in love.
I believe in babies.
I believe in Mom and Dad.
And I believe in you.

[caminante]

thats a beautiful song..uhmm who sings it? how is it called? =)

[Silicon Hero]

Just curious why do you think you know longer believe? If you said you want to believe in it then why not? I was in the same predicament not too long ago. I will talk if you want, just pm me.

[kai]

Originally Posted by Lintu

I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't

you shouldnt let this upset you take it in an alternative view , this could be enlightenment, you have come to a point in your life where death has reafirmed your mortality use it to enjoy life ,see how lucky you are ,worry about an afterlife, after life , its your turn to live,

[EnhancedSpirit]

Originally Posted by caminante

thats a beautiful song..uhmm who sings it? how is it called? =)

Williams Don-I Believe in You. It's a nice, slow country song from 1980. You can listen to clips at Amazon.com.

I would like to attempt to introduce you to God on a very personal level. Once you are aware of the connection, you can practice getting and staying 'in tune' with it. If you wanna.

Now I'm going to make this as simple as possible. It reminds me of trying to get my four year old to focus on the plane that is way up in the sky. Sometimes it takes her a really long time to spot it, but once she does, the excitement is so sweet. We also must keep the heart of a child. Finding life to be awe inspiring, even if we can label and explain how nature works, you must still learn to focus on the beauty of it all. Beauty is a connection to God, the feeling you get when you see something 'beautiful' is the Holy Spirit filling your heart, and this is one way to be 'aware' of God's presence.

Beauty is a very easy one to tap into, but not a very strong one, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so this connection is very weak and subject to one's own preferences. There are other connections like the roots of a tree: compassion, empathy, charitable giving, etc.

The most powerful connection is love, and even more so, unconditional love. Now I want to point out that I believe that our emotions are to our spiritual connection, as a thermometer is to temperature. The feeling you get when you are in love, "on cloud nine" 'butterflies in the stomache', 'skin tingling' feeling you get is being connected to God. God is Love, so God is that feeling ALL THE TIME. And we are connected to him when we feel this. I have been told that an orgasm is an open window to Heaven. That euphoric feeling is 'love', in the spiritual sense of the word. It is your spirit vibrating at a higher level (closer to God, as opposed to a lower level-negative feelings). Now this feeling does not just come from sex. A mother gets this feeling when she gives birth, or watches her child accomplish something for the first time. A teacher gets this feeling when they see the lights come on in their students heads. An artist gets this through there craft. These are connections to God, whether you believe that or not, will not change the fact that it is true. All you have to do is RECOGNIZE. BE AWARE. Once you start being aware of these connections, you can start to bring them on at will, instead of by chance. When I want to feel that tingly feeling, I just relive a moment from my memory that made me feel that way. I can do this while I'm stuck in traffic, or waiting in line at the grocery store.

Once you get 'in tune' miracles will start happening in your life. Meaningful coincedences, and synchronistic events will come more and more often, and you will start being led by the spirit, if you choose, because it is still up to you to resist fear, and anger, and ego. Over and over, you must be the one to maintain the connection. Like a radio station, God is always there, but we can only hear it if we are 'tuned in to' the right frequency. And that frequency is LOVE. Love your neighbor, your enemy, your parents, your children, your job, your life, your circumstance.

[ayani]

there is a book you really ought to read... "stalking the divine" by kristin ohlson.

it's about faith- it tells the story of a small community of catholic nuns, and the woman who comes to love them. it's about wrestling with faith, struggling for faith, and finding faith. a very good book.

[maro]

actually, to live just to die at last
is not only scary
it is horrible

a life with no aim
I don't consider it a life at all

and u don't even know when death will come to u

some one has said that u will not be scared at death because , u were not scared before ur birth

but what I am saying to u
if some power gave u life
and made u a living human being, when u was nothing mentioned before

so why couldn't this power gave u life again, after ur death

I suppose it would be much easier than the original time

My, brother
to believe, is not something difficult as u think
just use ur mind
keep searching for the right path
and the true purpose of this life
and ask god to guide ur heart to it

if u did so,
I am sure that he will never let u down

and when the truth comes to ur heart , u will never doubt what u feel in ur heart