Poll: Heaven and You

Hello all and God bless.

What do you think?

God Bless

Romans 10:9-10

Yes ........

I think we will go where we think we will go. The Tibetan Book of the Dead talks about what happens at the time of death and shortly after. It says something to the effect that whatever you thought of God at the time of death that is what you will have to work through before you are born again. In other words if you were fearful you will face those masks you created. I see myself in nature and surrounded by flowers. I also would like to explore the whole Universe. I don't think that there is a time of judgement. We do enough of that while we are alive.

Lightkeeper said:

I think we will go where we think we will go. The Tibetan Book of the Dead talks about what happens at the time of death and shortly after. It says something to the effect that whatever you thought of God at the time of death that is what you will have to work through before you are born again. In other words if you were fearful you will face those masks you created. I see myself in nature and surrounded by flowers. I also would like to explore the whole Universe. I don't think that there is a time of judgement. We do enough of that while we are alive.

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Beautiful post, Lightkeeper, especially "We do enough of that while we are alive." How very, very true.

I agree we will go whereever we think we will go, whether that be heaven, the summerland, valhalla, Nirvana, or even hell. I kind of wonder about the last one, though. When I was a child, I had terrible worries and nightmares about going to hell, because I was being taught "In order to go to heaven, you need to love God with all your heart." I tried with all my might to do this, but I was concerned about things like 'What if some part of my heart loves my stuffed bear more than God?" I would pray daily, nightly, hourly that God allow me to love him with all my heart, because I was so worried about going to hell. I know that was just the way the child-me interpreted things, but I wonder what happens to adults, or others, that believe that they are going to hell.

I do not believe Heaven exists; therefore I do not believe I will go there when I die. I don't believe Hell exists, either. So I believe that when I die, that will be the end of me forever except for becoming part of the food chain.

Hello all and God Bless.

Has anyone ever heard of Pascal's wager? It truly matters what we believe about God, Heaven, and where we are going, it will make a eternity of difference.

Pascal's Wager:
"If I am wrong about God existing, then neither of us would ever know it, because we would both die and cease to exist, and all consciousness would disappear. But, on the other hand, if I am right and you are wrong, when we both die, I will go to heaven and you will go to hell. Now it seems to me that any intelligent man would bet on the right side of that wager."

It matters.

God Bless

Romans 10:9-10

My answer would be none of the above. I believe we make our own heaven or hell out of this life here on earth. The important thing is not what happens after we die, but what happens now, while we are living, and what we do with this lifetime.

ONEWAY said:

Hello all and God Bless.

Has anyone ever heard of Pascal's wager? It truly matters what we believe about God, Heaven, and where we are going, it will make a eternity of difference.

Pascal's Wager:
"If I am wrong about God existing, then neither of us would ever know it, because we would both die and cease to exist, and all consciousness would disappear. But, on the other hand, if I am right and you are wrong, when we both die, I will go to heaven and you will go to hell. Now it seems to me that any intelligent man would bet on the right side of that wager."

It matters.

God Bless

Romans 10:9-10

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The problem is, my lack of belief is not voluntary. I simply find it impossible to accept religious beliefs. If there were a God, I don't think faking religious belief would do me any good. So if there is a God, I lose. So be it.

"My answer would be none of the above. I believe we make our own heaven or hell out of this life here on earth. The important thing is not what happens after we die, but what happens now, while we are living, and what we do with this lifetime."'

i agree.

i dont think i would go to heave. read my post about my hamster that just died. ive got to do soemthing to make it better. but how? aha. ill talk to engyo.

im not spiritual enought to enter heaven. thats why i believe in reincarnation. if a train hit me, i would be reborn until i gain salvation on my own.

do you know any buddhist prayers or mantras that i can say for deceased animals to speed them to buddha hood, heaven, or a higher rebirth?

I think heaven and hell are metaphors for psychological well-being and illness. The implication is that we need to take care of our emotional and mental health just as much as we do our physical health.

Gerani -

The generic Buddhist thing would be to do your usual practice (whether silent sitting, mantras or whatever) and then dedicate the merits of your practicing to benefit your passed friend. This is usually done in the form of a prayer; like all Buddhist prayers, it is not directed outward, but inward.

i c thanks.

retrorich said:

The problem is, my lack of belief is not voluntary. I simply find it impossible to accept religious beliefs. If there were a God, I don't think faking religious belief would do me any good. So if there is a God, I lose. So be it.

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Hello Retrorich, I have a question:

Why do find it impossible to accept religious beliefs?

God Bless

Romans 10:9-10

ONEWAY,

Going to heaven or hell is not for me to "guess" about. (I think I missed that in the Bible.) I am redeemed by the blood of Christ and trust in Him alone for my salvation..... My only prayer is that I may spend eternity in love with Jesus, no matter where I go.

Peace in Christ,
Scott

I hope I go to heaven, but I can't possibly have an absolute assurance of it. I could always sin seriously and thus cut myself off from God's grace. And if I didn't sincerely repent I'd go to hell. But I hope I use my free will to avoid sin and thus avoid hell.

ONEWAY said:

Hello Retrorich, I have a question:

Why do find it impossible to accept religious beliefs?

God Bless

Romans 10:9-10

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Because to me, the claims made by most religions (I am primarily familiar with Christianity) are illogical. And if the claims were true, I would find it impossible to love or respect God. I have commented on my beliefs in other posts in these forums, but I will repeat a few here.

A find it unbelievable that:

God always was and always will be.

God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, yet allows terrible things to happen (e.g., 9/11, the Russian School Massacre, babies being born with horrible deformities and diseases).

God allows people to be born, knowing in advance that they will sin, will not repent, and will burn for all eternity in a lake of fire.

God found it necessary to send his only begotten son into the world to die on the cross so that people could be forgiven of their sins. Why wouldn't God simply forgive them and be done with it?

I cannot accept the tired excuse that God works in mysterious ways.

Since i am presently on the path to conversion to Judaism I am still ruled over by the 7 Noahide laws, of which i have followed, knowingly or un-knowingly, my whole life.

Besides i don't think an eternal hell in the traditional Christian sense exists anyways.

Hello Retrorich.

I have only been a Christian since early this year but I will try my best to answer your concerns.

God always was and always will be.

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Nobody will ever be able to fully comprehend this. The reason behind that is we are bound by all the scientific laws of this universe. Just about everything in the universe can be shown to have had a begining, even time itself. The thing we should not forget is that God created these laws, he created time and space itself. He is not bound by the laws that we are and that is why we can describe God as being the first cause.

If you think about it logically, there has to be something that started everything. If the universe had existed forever there would be nothing left of it by now.

God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, yet allows terrible things to happen (e.g., 9/11, the Russian School Massacre, babies being born with horrible deformities and diseases).

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This is perhaps the toughest obstacle to overcome when wanting to believe in God. I recommend the following website for answers to this:

http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t023.html

God allows people to be born, knowing in advance that they will sin, will not repent, and will burn for all eternity in a lake of fire.

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If God doesn't create that person he hasn't even given them the choice. If a person wants to reject their creator we can't blame God.

God found it necessary to send his only begotten son into the world to die on the cross so that people could be forgiven of their sins. Why wouldn't God simply forgive them and be done with it?

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Here is an example. Joe Bloggs is in court for murder, rape and many crimes. The Judge is looking down the charge list and Mr Bloggs blurts out "Ahh, you're a good Judge therefore you will forgive me for these crimes. The Judge would probably respond with something like "Yes I am a good Judge, and that is the reason why youre crimes cannot go unpunished."

God is perfectly good, but he is also perfectly just. Sin cannot go unpunished. However, God has taken the punishment for your sins when he hung upon the cross. The price has been paid already for you, simply accept this fact - please for your own sake, do not reject it.

I cannot accept the tired excuse that God works in mysterious ways.

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Would it not make sense that if a being had infinitley more knowledge and wisdom than us that he/she may accomplish tasks in a different mannor than how we would?

I hope you come to the truth. Please accept Christ today, it will be the best decision you ever make!

Simon