I really wish I believed (reincarnation, God)

[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

[Mike182]

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

i think you should refrain from pushing yourself into believe something that you do not believe

i'd offer help and guidance, but without knowing you, any help or guidance i give you could be pretty much useless, but i hope you find your path

[Daria]

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

i get what you mean, but death doesn't need to look so scary now... because maybe it's just the end of everything, and so when you die, you won't realise that you don't exist, and so it wouldn't matter that you no longer exist... does that makes sense?

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Daria

i get what you mean, but death doesn't need to look so scary now... because maybe it's just the end of everything, and so when you die, you won't realise that you don't exist, and so it wouldn't matter that you no longer exist... does that makes sense?

Oh definitely--once you're actually dead, if it really is just the end, you don't know. But the thought of consciousness being gone forever scares the bejeesus out of me.

[sahra-t]

But it's the same as how it was before you were born! Were you scared then!?

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by sahra-t

But it's the same as how it was before you were born! Were you scared then!?

Hahaha...nice Although who knows...maybe the transition WAS scary and we just can't remember it!

I do sort of believe in reincarnation, now that you bring up birth and pre-birth. But the thought of reincarnating after this life is scary in itself given how the world is going.

I wonder how people 400 years ago, 1000 years ago, 20,000 years ago would have felt about reincarnating. I bet they found the world scary too, but in other ways.

[Super Universe]

Just some suggestions:

Maybe get away from the news channels for a while, change your daily routine. Lose track of the time at your neighborhood library. Take your lunch with you to a park and watch the people play.

When you have more time pack another lunch and go on a nature hike. Buy a telescope and study the night sky. Visit your towns animal shelter and bring home a pet. Volunteer a few hours at an elementary school, grading papers during classtime, but during recess make sure you go out and participate with the children.

And when you are not so down on life maybe you'll see that there is happiness in the world.

God will be waiting for you to return. He is in no hurry.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by sahra-t

But it's the same as how it was before you were born!

I disagree. I believe I was fully cognizant for a few billion years before I was born.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Lintu

Oh definitely--once you're actually dead, if it really is just the end, you don't know. But the thought of consciousness being gone forever scares the bejeesus out of me.

I'm curious as to why you feel that way. I mean, I do believe in God, and in an afterlife, but I don't think I'd find the idea of non-existence particularly frightening. In trying to imagine how I'd view the inevitability of death if I believed death to be the end of my existence, I think I'd feel sadness or regret, but not really fear. From your OP, I'm gathering that you were once a believer. May I ask how you came to lose your belief?

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I'm curious as to why you feel that way. I mean, I do believe in God, and in an afterlife, but I don't think I'd find the idea of non-existence particularly frightening. In trying to imagine how I'd view the inevitability of death if I believed death to be the end of my existence, I think I'd feel sadness or regret, but not really fear. From your OP, I'm gathering that you were once a believer. May I ask how you came to lose your belief?

Maybe it's not so much fear as what you're saying, sadness or regret. I think I'm just getting to a point in my life where family members are growing older (I've had several extended family members pass away recently) and I'm finding it hard. When you believe you'll see them again later, it helps.

Yes, I was once a believer. But then once I started believing that it wasn't possible for one religion to be right (at the exclusion of others), most of the theologies started to fall apart. (If that makes any sense). And it just started seeming to me that God was invented over and over again by different groups of people, sometimes for good purposes and sometimes for bad. So then God became less of the humanlike father and more like an underlying spirit. I still believe there could be an underlying unifying spirit, but not a God that comforts and punishes and leads us all into an ultimate goal.

And Super Universe, I'm not saying that there isn't happiness in the world. It's just death in particular that I find really troubling without faith, more so than most other issues.