How Could You Know What Happens After Death?

Buttercup said:

That's ok Becky...I'm sure that's a question you aren't asked every day and I didn't really expect you to know.

Still, there has to be some way that the LDS prophets prove to the elders that they are men who have a direct line to God. Otherwise anyone could say they talked to God.

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They do have a way....I just can't think straight right now - my headache is coming back and my eyes hurt.

I want to take a nap:sleep:

It doesn't matter who talks to God.

If God were to stand in front of me right now, how could I be sure it was God?

Buttercup said:

Well, that's kind of what I meant with the ghost reference in the OP. Many people will say they don't believe in ghosts but believe in God. To me it's the same supernatural, unprovable phenomenon. I've had a few people tell me they've seen ghosts and I believe they believe they saw something. But, if you tell me I have to believe in ghosts or I'm going to hell......that sure aint fair!

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in respect to the ghost reference, isn't the posulation of ghosts pretty much the same as the postulation of a soul ? Both are spirts that live inside bodies.

Buttercup said:

But, if you tell me I have to believe in ghosts or I'm going to hell......that sure aint fair!

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If a god existed and was communicating with one group, wheater it be the mormons, baptists, sunnis, hindus ect ect..at the exclusion of all other groups wouldn't just the observation of that alone suggest that fairness was not an aim goal or desire of such a god but rather exclusion and seperation which is in line with the presentation of the christian heaven/hell concept?

beckysoup61 said:

They do have a way....I just can't think straight right now - my headache is coming back and my eyes hurt.

I want to take a nap:sleep:

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sweetie, take a nap.

For many people, so far as I can understand it, faith is not merely a matter of what one believes: it is also (and perhaps more importantly) a vehicle to something. That something might be God, or might be a more moral life, or might be something else. But for many people, it seems almost incidental what faith requires them to believe. Their main reason for having faith is that it gets them somewhere spiritually.

I think that might account for why some people believe in such things as an afterlife despite all evidence to the contrary that there is one. It's not that they are focused on the reasonableness of their beliefs. Rather, they are focused on the benefits of their faith in an afterlife.

At least those are my hunches. Do they make any sense, or should I drink another beer and start my speculations all over again?

PureX said:

It doesn't matter who talks to God.

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Sure it does....billions of people believe prophets of yesteryear and prophets of today had/have a direct link to God. I would say it matters enormously to some. Maybe not to you.

If God were to stand in front of me right now, how could I be sure it was God?

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My humble guess is that if God stood before you.....you'd know it.

Buttercup said:

My humble guess is that if God stood before you.....you'd know it.

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I know you are absolutley right.

beckysoup61 said:

They do have a way....I just can't think straight right now - my headache is coming back and my eyes hurt.

I want to take a nap:sleep:

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Sweetheart, have you seen a doctor yet?

Sunstone said:

Sweetheart, have you seen a doctor yet?

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I have..I'm fine really.

Just tired - I lit some incense, I think that's what is hurting my eyes.

I have a mild concussion, but I'll be fine.

robtex said:

in respect to the ghost reference, isn't the posulation of ghosts pretty much the same as the postulation of a soul ? Both are spirts that live inside bodies.

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Yes, I guess you could say that. But, I meant it more as a supernatural being. We are expected to believe in a supernatural God....or go to hell. To me it's the same notion as when someone tells us they see a ghost. Maybe they did. But, I didn't. So, why should I have to believe THEY saw a ghost or go to hell? You get what I mean?

If a god existed and was communicating with one group, wheater it be the mormons, baptists, sunnis, hindus ect ect..at the exclusion of all other groups wouldn't just the observation of that alone suggest that fairness was not an aim goal or desire of such a god but rather exclusion and seperation which is in line with the presentation of the christian heaven/hell concept?

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As a Christian...I was always told that it's our job to discern the right God. So, I guess we were the only smart ones.

Buttercup said:

My humble guess is that if God stood before you.....you'd know it.

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How?

Think about it. What could God do to prove divinity? Defy physics? How do I know this isn't just a trick, or the illusion of some advanced being that is not God? How do I know that it's not some sort of demon pretending to be God? How do I know that I am not hallucinating the whole experience?

beckysoup61 said:

I have..I'm fine really.

Just tired - I lit some incense, I think that's what is hurting my eyes.

I have a mild concussion, but I'll be fine.

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Becky, I'm sorry you still aren't feeling well. You had a bad day yesterday with accidents. If you don't feel like participating any further...I appreciate your comments so far. :hug: Take it easy on yourself and ask your hubby to rub your head.

Buttercup said:

Yes, I guess you could say that. But, I meant it more as a supernatural being. We are expected to believe in a supernatural God....or go to hell.

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That's a weird idea to me. My idea of God is that He would NEVER do that.

Buttercup said:

So, why should I have to believe THEY saw a ghost or go to hell?

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You don't.

Well wether you want to believe me or not is your own choice, but I have been dead. Now I didn't experiance much but what did experiance felt almost like enlightenment. When I was wee one at the age of 7 I had tripped and knocked my skull against hard tile, after that I swore I had gotten up and everyone was frantic near my feet. Now I wouldn't say I floated up like others have said, but the world kind of faded out. Now I had found myself in the tunnel of light that you may have heard about, unlike others

PureX said:

How?

Think about it. What could God do to prove divinity? Defy physics? How do I know this isn't just a trick, or the illusion of some advanced being that is not God? How do I know that it's not some sort of demon pretending to be God? How do I know that I am not hallucinating the whole experience?

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You'd just know. It's not a matter of logic or illusion.

He doesn't have to prove anything - you'd just know it was Him.

Buttercup said:

Becky, I'm sorry you still aren't feeling well. You had a bad day yesterday with accidents. If you don't feel like participating any further...I appreciate your comments so far. :hug: Take it easy on yourself and ask your hubby to rub your head.

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I am taking it easy -- well, I'm going to a Church broadcast tonight - just for the ladies. And they are fixing me dinner. *Sigh* I'm excited about that.

I'll be back later tonight.

But...you still have to concede that you are taking as truth the written words of people you could never know.

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Maybe. But that's a non issue to me in the long haul. It's much more than understanding with my mind. There's spiritual confirmation that occurs.

Otherwise, if there were no bible you wouldn't believe the way you do. You believe the words written by these men right? That's how you know you are going to heaven? And you have to believe that Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. You have to believe in the virgin birth, you have to believe that Jesus was the son of God. If you had no bible, Dawny....you have no Christianity. Even though you say you "feel" God, you still choose to believe the bible as a written book about salvation. The bible tells you how to "feel" about God.

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As far as those who have no bible...it's the responsiblity of every Christian who has a bible to get one to those who don't. The Great Commission.

And yes, I was introduced to Christ thru the Word but I had a choice...to either believe or disbelieve. There's no middle ground. I chose to believe.

When I'm doubting, I cling to John 3:16. that it's my belief and faith in the cross that has saved my soul. When my heart caught on to what Christ has done for me out of love...I can't at this point disbelieve.

Do I go through bouts where I'm less faithful? Sure, I do. I doubt at times too but it's God who brings me back through His Word, through testimony from others...through HIs precious hand in my life.

My major problem these days is about hell....it ruins all of religious teachings for me. But, that's another thread.

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Christians have done a good job of doing this to one another, unfortunately.

The message should be one of LOVE...Christ's love.

I still say that no human alive knows exactly what happens after death. Anything said about death is speculation and guesses from ancient books taken on faith. If you are happy with just faith...then that's great. I guess I'm not.

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And again, I claim John 3:16 with all of my heart. We don't know everything. That wasn't the point...to know everything. But what we have been given is enough to make a choice for our lives and our afterlives. We can either choose God or not.

We've been given what we need and we're not being forced to accept it.

And we can't accept it if we have no faith...

beckysoup61 said:

You'd just know. It's not a matter of logic or illusion.

He doesn't have to prove anything - you'd just know it was Him.

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Then why don't we "just know", now?

Sunstone said:

I think that might account for why some people believe in such things as an afterlife despite all evidence to the contrary that there is one. It's not that they are focused on the reasonableness of their beliefs. Rather, they are focused on the benefits of their faith in an afterlife.

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Yes, I get what you mean. And I'm not discounting faith. Faith is a wonderful thing. But, I need more to go with it....I need to study and ask questions and have them answered in a logical manner. I don't expect absolute proof of God....but, I'd like more than ancient books. That's all I have! God has never paid me a visit.

As far as evidence that there is no afterlife........I can't imagine that anyone has proven there is no afterlife for humans. Can you direct to the proof of no afterlife?

I suppose if you could die fast enough....like 10 times the speed light you could look back and see your self die and talk about it. Not sure I got the physics right. Could someone help here?:run: