4 Spiritual questions.

Ribbon · Oct 13, 2006

I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything...I just was curious about what everyone's beliefs/thoughts are around here.

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions:

1. Who is God?

2. How did the world begin?

3. What is your pupose on earth?

4. What will happen to you after you die?

Here's my answers...

1. I believe God is everything He says He is. The Creator. The Alpha and Omega. Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent. The Sacrifice so that we might believe on Him and be saved. I believe He is Love and that He is Truth. What life is all about. My true Friend. I believe in the Trinity. And that God is the only one that has the power to save people from Hell and to condemn them.

2. I believe God created the universe in 6 days (Day 1: Light and Dark. 2: Water. 3: Land. 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars. 5: Sea creatures & the birds. 6: Man & the land creatures.) and rested on the 7th day.

3. I believe my purpose is to serve God and rejoice in Him. Tell others about Him and what He has done for them and what He could do for them if they believe on Him. To live abundantly and to love. To use my gifts to help others and honor Him. To study His Word and build my relationship with Him. To be more like Him with His help. Also, He has given me gifts/talents that I'm sure will be used one day for my personal service to Him.

4: I believe that God has saved me from eternal damnation and that I will live forever with Him and other believers because I have excepted what His Son did for me on the cross and trusted in Him. I will be renewed and complete, in every way (spiritually/physically/mentally/emotionally). Without God, I could never go to heaven.

What do you think?

Green Gaia · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. Who is God?

Something made up by humans to explain what they don't understand. Although the jury is still out for me on whether there is a "higher power" but I don't usually call that "God" unless I'm talking to someone who would not understand me any other way.

2. How did the world begin?

I don't know. I do not prescribe to any creation myths and science has not fully explained the origins of the universe yet, so... :shrug:

Honestly, it's not an important question in my daily life.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To live peacefully and leave behind a better world for my children and those who come after us.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

I don't know, but I tend to lean towards the "nothing" side.

BruceDLimber · Oct 13, 2006

Greetings redux!

(Again, for the record, I'm a member of the Baha'i Faith.)

1. Who is God?

The Supreme Being and Creator. Known in the Baha'i scriptures as the Unknowable Essence because we can't gain any knowledge of Him whatever through our own actions. Everything we know of Him has been taught to us by the Divine Messengers He sends!

2. How did the world begin?

Through God's creation of it, the physical details of which are explained by science.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

It's twofold:

- As individuals, we are to acquire the spiritual virtues we'll need both here and in the Next Life.

- And in aggregate, we are to carry forward an ever-advancing, spiritually-based civilization.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

We will go on to the Next Life, which our scriptures tell us will be wondrously glorious, so much so that this is currently beyond out comprehension!

And to the extent that we've developed the spiritual virtues I mentioned above, we'll be spiritually closer to God (the definition of Heaven)! If we've failed to do this, we'll have place ourselves spiritually distant from God (the definition of hell).

But the Baha'i scriptures assure us that even those spiritually remote from God in the Next Life will eventually, through His Mercy and Forgiveness, be enabled to draw closer to Him so that eventually, we'll all wind up near Him (i.e., in Heaven.

To quote Shakespearre, "'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished!"

Best,

Bruce

Comet · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. Who is God?

Click to expand...

God is that which humans use to explain that they cannot comprehend. GOD is that which is all and nothing.

2. How did the world begin?

Click to expand...

(long boring scientific conversation I'm sure you've heard... that is how Earth began)

3. What is your pupose on earth?

Click to expand...

To grow and to die.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

Click to expand...

You continue on the "life-cycle" of things.

BFD_Zayl · Oct 13, 2006

1. i do not believe in the christian perception of god

2.same answer as comet

3. to die

4. either your soul is strong enough to exist in the nether, and you stay dead, or it is not and you are reincarnated

michel · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything...I just was curious about what everyone's beliefs/thoughts are around here.

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions

1. Who is God?

Everything; the "All" The Alpha and the Omega.

2. How did the world begin?

Originally, before God made Heaven and Earth ? I haven't a clue; to me, its unimportant.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To learn whatever lessons I have been given in this incarnation; the ultimate goal ? To do my best to attempt to emulate Christ

4. What will happen to you after you die?

I am not sure; maybe I'll be reincarnated again, to conquer some new 'lesson' (or, if I have failed the purpose of this life, maybe I'll have to 're-sit the exam'). Personally, I hope I am done with Earth (The 'Valley of the shadow of death', as I see it).

dbakerman76 · Oct 13, 2006

1. Who is God?
I see God as the Creator and source of all existance. God is both a part of all creation and yet distinct from that creation. I also see God as Love.

2. How did the world begin?
I honestly don't know I wasn't there.

3. What is your pupose on earth?
My purpose is to love God and all of humanity.

4. What will happen to you after you die?
I believe my soul will unite with God as all souls do.

Random · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. I believe God is everything He says He is. The Creator. The Alpha and Omega. Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent. The Sacrifice so that we might believe on Him and be saved. I believe He is Love and that He is Truth. What life is all about. My true Friend. I believe in the Trinity. And that God is the only one that has the power to save people from Hell and to condemn them.

2. I believe God created the universe in 6 days (Day 1: Light and Dark. 2: Water. 3: Land. 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars. 5: Sea creatures & the birds. 6: Man & the land creatures.) and rested on the 7th day.

3. I believe my purpose is to serve God and rejoice in Him. Tell others about Him and what He has done for them and what He could do for them if they believe on Him. To live abundantly and to love. To use my gifts to help others and honor Him. To study His Word and build my relationship with Him. To be more like Him with His help. Also, He has given me gifts/talents that I'm sure will be used one day for my personal service to Him.

4: I believe that God has saved me from eternal damnation and that I will live forever with Him and other believers because I have excepted what His Son did for me on the cross and trusted in Him. I will be renewed and complete, in every way (spiritually/physically/mentally/emotionally). Without God, I could never go to heaven.

What do you think?

I think you are a true believer. However, I could never bring myself to accept things so literally and unambiguously. I think these questions you ask are answerable, but there can be little uniformity of opinion or consensus amongst us regarding them until the barriers between us, conscious, unconscious, social and imaginary: all obtrusions must collapse to enable the Absolute experience we desire and end the curse of relative truths only. But until then we have only personal revelation to inform us, however devisive that may be, and all else is conjecture.

Hacker · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. Who is God?

He/she, is a very mysterious all knowing spiritual being that created the world and has all of the answers that perplexes us humans.

2. How did the world begin?

I believe there WAS a beginning of the earth, like creation from God, although I think we as souls have always existed in some way or another.(I believe in other dimensions of reality whatever that may be

).

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To learn and grow in order to achieve spiritual progress for God, and the only way that can be accomplished is having good and evil. IF there was no evil, then how could we ever learn anything.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

We go back to the "other side" see our friends and family, and then reincarnate to continue our spiritual progression.
My opinions of course.

Feathers in Hair · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything...I just was curious about what everyone's beliefs/thoughts are around here.

Hehee, thankfully, one usually has to try quite a bit harder here to start a flame war.

1. Who is God?

Either something that each of us compose or a 'face' that we can put on aspects of ourselves.

2. How did the world begin?

I've written out my impression of the 'creation story', which doesn't conflict with evolution. Not sure where it is, though. Gotta find it!

3. What is your pupose on earth?

For this lifetime, learning to accept unconditional love.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

I don't know. I envision a time of peace before choosing if I'd like to be reincarnated, but it's not integral to my belief system.

MysticSang'ha · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything...I just was curious about what everyone's beliefs/thoughts are around here.

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions:

1. Who is God?

No worries about flaming here. You're curious, that's all. BTW, "God" is purely a mental construct.

2. How did the world begin?

I find this question irrelevent on the path for spiritual growth. I'm sure I'll know once enlightenment is achieved, however.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To serve as a bodhisattva in order to end others' suffering however they see fit.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

Because my answer to this would be too lengthy, I will refer you to the Bardo Thodol - otherwise known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

http://www.summum.us/mummification/tbotd

Peace,
Mystic

Mr. Hair · Oct 13, 2006

Ribbon said:
Who is God?

*smiles*

God is not not God. What not not God is, however, I couldn't even begin to define.

How did the world begin?

I suspect something broadly along the lines of contemporary scientific thought, as far as I understand it as an unqualified layman. (With a six-second attention span to boot

)

What is your pupose on earth?

I doubt there exists an eternal, ultimate purpose for myself to realise somewhere 'out there'. As for the fleeting, cloud-like ones I give myself, they sharpen and fade, lose distinction and merge. *shrugs*

Possibly I could answer 'to appreciate and partake in the harmony that resides in all, and is all' or simply 'to follow Tao', but that too would simply be another abstraction.

What will happen to you after you die?

Perhaps nothing, perhaps everything. Perhaps both. Which "me" are you referring to?

Evandr2 · Oct 15, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. Who is God??

He is the senior member of the Godhead, the Holy Father even to Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost who comprise the other two thirds of the Godhead. He is the Father to all the host of heaven, as we are all His spiritual children. He is our God, our creator and the one to who we look for salvation and exaltation. We have no other God before Him. It is He whom we seek to become like.

2. How did the world begin??

It was organized and fashioned by Christ and Michael (the archangel who also became Adam in the garden of Eden) under the authority and direction of The Father who is Eloheim.

3. What is your purpose on earth??

To be tested and tried to see if we will keep all the commandments of God while not having a sure knowledge of Him. Our minds are veiled to the remembrance of the pre-existence. It is the only way that the steel of our devotion to God can be effectively tested. Otherwise our actions would be fixed on the reward and not a true manifestation of our character.

4. What will happen to you after you die??

All will go to that same paradise which Jesus spoke of to the thief who was hanging next to Him. This is not the realm of God but a continuation of this trial wherein there are two realms. One is spiritual prison and the other is a place of glory and rest. The unrighteous will find themselves in spirit prison where they will be continually taught by those in spiritual glory. There is no rest for the wicked.

When the Lord declares the work done to our Heavenly Father at the end of the millennium then will come the great and final judgment wherein each and every individual will be judged according to their works.

Evandr

Devil's_Chaplain · Oct 15, 2006

1. Who is God?

Gods were created to explain the world, Zeus, Thor with his hammer and Cupid with his cute lil' bow, all the same. The Christian God is simply one more God on the list.

2. How did the world begin?

I don't know, but I do know how life on earth began, kinda.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To learn as much as I possibly can about our wonderful planet, to love all other animals, to pass on my genes (get jiggy with it) and then die.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

My brain return to the earth from which it was created, my body will rot and I will live on in other creatures (the atoms that I am made of will be used to create new life).

dawny0826 · Oct 15, 2006

Hi Ribbon, how are you? I don't think I've had the chance to welcome you to the forum yet...so welcome!

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions:

1. Who is God?

My Father...creator of all.

2. How did the world begin?

By God's hand.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To serve my Father.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

I will return to my Father.

Here's my answers...

1. I believe God is everything He says He is. The Creator. The Alpha and Omega. Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent. The Sacrifice so that we might believe on Him and be saved. I believe He is Love and that He is Truth. What life is all about. My true Friend. I believe in the Trinity. And that God is the only one that has the power to save people from Hell and to condemn them.

I concur!

2. I believe God created the universe in 6 days (Day 1: Light and Dark. 2: Water. 3: Land. 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars. 5: Sea creatures & the birds. 6: Man & the land creatures.) and rested on the 7th day.

Me too!

3. I believe my purpose is to serve God and rejoice in Him. Tell others about Him and what He has done for them and what He could do for them if they believe on Him. To live abundantly and to love. To use my gifts to help others and honor Him. To study His Word and build my relationship with Him. To be more like Him with His help. Also, He has given me gifts/talents that I'm sure will be used one day for my personal service to Him.

As do I!

4: I believe that God has saved me from eternal damnation and that I will live forever with Him and other believers because I have excepted what His Son did for me on the cross and trusted in Him. I will be renewed and complete, in every way (spiritually/physically/mentally/emotionally). Without God, I could never go to heaven.

Very well said. I agree with you completely.

What do you think?

We're totally on the same page.

Ribbon · Oct 16, 2006

dawny0826 said:
Hi Ribbon, how are you? I don't think I've had the chance to welcome you to the forum yet...so welcome!

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions:

My Father...creator of all.

By God's hand.

To serve my Father.

I will return to my Father.

Here's my answers...

I concur!

Me too!

As do I!

Very well said. I agree with you completely.

We're totally on the same page.

Thank you for your welcome, Dawn! ^^ And thank you for letting me know that you agree

We should talk some time

Ribbon~

P.S. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on these important questions =)

Real Sorceror · Oct 16, 2006

Ribbon said:
I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything...I just was curious about what everyone's beliefs/thoughts are around here.

In a Bible study book I'm reading now it asks these four questions:

Its all good. I'm glad you are asking a variety of different people rather than just your fellow church members. I'm sure we can provide you with different insights and ideas than you might normally encounter.

1. Who is God?

The author of creation. The being we one day hope to meet and spend eternity with.

2. How did the world begin?

God created a process called evolution and provided the correct circumstances for life to begin.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

Whatever I make it to be and whatever I feel called to do.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

That depends on what sort of person I was in life. Wicked people will spend time in Hell to learn and reflect on life's mistakes. Good people will enter Heaven. The rest of us(those wishy-washy people in the grey area) will return to Earth via reincarnation.

1. I believe God is everything He says He is. The Creator. The Alpha and Omega. Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent. The Sacrifice so that we might believe on Him and be saved. I believe He is Love and that He is Truth. What life is all about. My true Friend. I believe in the Trinity. And that God is the only one that has the power to save people from Hell and to condemn them.

I agree for the most part. I don't see Hell as being the "default" setting. I don't believe that we need "saving".

2. I believe God created the universe in 6 days (Day 1: Light and Dark. 2: Water. 3: Land. 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars. 5: Sea creatures & the birds. 6: Man & the land creatures.) and rested on the 7th day.

Would you be interested in a good, old-fashioned evolution vs Genesis debate?

3. I believe my purpose is to serve God and rejoice in Him. Tell others about Him and what He has done for them and what He could do for them if they believe on Him. To live abundantly and to love. To use my gifts to help others and honor Him. To study His Word and build my relationship with Him. To be more like Him with His help. Also, He has given me gifts/talents that I'm sure will be used one day for my personal service to Him.

An excellent purpose! Frubals for you!

4: I believe that God has saved me from eternal damnation and that I will live forever with Him and other believers because I have excepted what His Son did for me on the cross and trusted in Him. I will be renewed and complete, in every way (spiritually/physically/mentally/emotionally). Without God, I could never go to heaven.

Agreed in part. I don't believe God would eternally damn anybody. Eternity is a very long time, and in the end I believe everyone will eventually reside in Heaven.

kreeden · Oct 16, 2006

Ribbon said:
1. Who is God?

God is the Creator . What God is , is beyond my comperhension .

Ribbon said:
2. How did the world begin?

Beats me ? I don't recall being there .

Ribbon said:
3. What is your pupose on earth?

To find purpose .

Ribbon said:
4. What will happen to you after you die?

Again , I don't recall ever having the experience , so I can't say for sure , but I assume that Life will go on ....

angellous_evangellous · Oct 16, 2006

1. Who is God?

Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Friend, Jesus Christ

2. How did the world begin?

See # 1.

3. What is your pupose on earth?

To read.

4. What will happen to you after you die?

I don't care. I don't know which is scarier - if there is a God or if there isn't One. If there is a God, God has allowed this mess of a world to continue, and we will be at this God's mercy. If there isn't a God, we'll face the chaos alone. I will hope beyond hope that somehow God is good and pray that God will have mercy on us all - I suppose that I'm irrationally optimistic.

footnotes:
Christian responsibility to beg for mercy
God's Judgement
Process Theology of the Cross

cardero · Oct 16, 2006

1. Who is God?
The first spiritual entity that came into existence.

2. How did the world begin?
It was a joint creation, created not only by GOD but other spiritual entities as well.

3. What is your pupose on earth?
To create and experience, to touch many lives, to teach and to learn.

4. What will happen to you after you die?
Ill go home and plan my next incarnation.

4 Spiritual questions.

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