Redefine God - Open Source Religion and Religion 2.0

The Open Source Religion & Spirituality Project and Religion 2.0

One of the main purposes of religion is to answer this question, among many others. Because RG is all-encompassing, I'm sure there are many, many opinions on this. Do you believe in reincarnation, moving on to a new reality, heaven vs. hell, or do we just stop existing after the body dies?

Share Twitter

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Greg,

Your comment above that the Bible can be interpreted in so many different ways is not really true. Man chooses to interpret the Bible according to his own reasonings and thereby we come up with many interpretations. However, the Bible, itself, TELLS us how to interpret the Bible and the vast majority of people have never learned to interpret the Bible according to this method, hence most people are wrong when they try to interpret the Bible, because they are not doing it God's way. Simple: Use man's methods and do it wrong or use God's method and do it correctly.

Reply to This

I'm sure that the mind is connected to reality in an intimate way. What goes on in our heads and hearts is accessible from the outside world. But what does that necessarily mean?

I don't have any fixed belief on exactly what happens when we die. There are many possibilities. I don't believe in the universal reality of a Heaven or a Hell. Though I think that there is a part of everyone that they can't deny and perhaps will have to face up to at death. If you've created a lot of demons, they may pop up. But I don't think that's eternal or anything. I hope that there is an after life, because there is so much more to people than many realize. I deal with demons in the waking world, some don't. It doesn't seem right that they'll never have to face that reality.

Reply to This

I deal with demons in the waking world, some don't. It doesn't seem right that they'll never have to face that reality.

What do you mean by that?

Reply to This

Sinister Sites – Temple Square, Utah

Situated at the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah, Temple Square is the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Mormon faith. This ten acres plot of land includes a Temple, a domed tabernacle and numerous buildings, monuments and memorials. While this place may seem holy and wholesome, a closer look at the structures reveal the presence of occult, pagan and masonic symbols. A deeper study of those grounds only adds to the controversy regarding Mormonism and reveals the disturbing truth about its real god.

A closer look at the stone carvings on walls and statues within reveal symblos of masonic hand shakes, inverted pent stars and the all seeing eye, etc.

Very interesting.

Reply to This

The Utah Mormons were founded by a Mason, Brigham Young. He broke his vow of secrecy concerning Masonic issues, but claimed that no one owns truth.

The Masons "worship" (if you like that term) one called "The Great Architect". Until recently, their books held Jesus in or near that position. It has to be presumed that God is that never seen Architect. The issue is, as it is with all religions, exactly which perspective of God is really being worshiped.

Reply to This

"Judge, I did NOT kill the man, I just changed his form. Honest! And as far as that property damage, it was in a change of state anyway. I just help to change its form. Rubble is a natural state."

Reply to This

I want to create a graveyard.. a cemetery... how about a Netuary. that no only preserves creation ... you can have a plot...some unreal estate for those that are not born. We seem to always memorialize death... why not look at it the other way around?

db

Reply to This

Is there Life after Death? That depend on your belief structure. The one I utilize assumes that I am not my body. My body is the vehicle I inhabit on this material plane. My premise is that I am a soul - eternal - indivisible - unique. When I use this as my starting point, the question becomes - is there Life after Life, where did I come from, where and I going, who am I. One of the more striking paradigms, proposed by ancient religion is that of reincarnation (rebirth). It sits upon the notion of Karma (meaning - ACTION). So, long before Newton proved that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, the ancients hypothesized that that everything we do will eventually come back on us. These frameworks set up a whole new set of questions - like, if the law of karma eventually balances everything out, how come I was born with a clef pallet (for example) and my neighbour seems to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. For me, to live with the idea that "I" die when the body wears out is not nearly is much fun as living with a understanding that I a responsible for my entire life experience.

Reply to This

Whether there actually is life for you after "death" (the death of your body) depends entirely on whether such was prepared properly. Many argue as to how to make such preparations. My version, although in complete agreement with the Biblical understanding that I hold, is something of a long unfamiliar story.

Reply to This

The Astrologer said:
Good idea in a way db but the idea of a plot is surely for a place to dump the material trappings of this world... How about designing and establishing some sort of capacitor to hold vibration sympathetic to human life, as a celebration of life and spirit to come?
Now THERE you have the idea!! :o))

{{in fact, I have designed such a thing}}

Reply to This

The Hindu and Buddhist religions talk about Karma. A very similar notion is presented in the Christian tradition as Sowing and Reaping. The problem of people blaming themselves is not isolated to one belief system alone. IN my opinion, the real question is what must I know and do to pay off any karmic debt I have accumulated over time. Self blame does not resolve karmic debt.

Can we return to our point of origin (after this earthly sojourn) with an accumulated debt and the associated impurities? The concept of hell might suggest that before we return home any impurities we have accumulated must be burned away. Some resolving karmic debt is what defines liberation. So the question now might become, are you looking for liberation or liberation in life? This is the lesson that Buddha demonstrated - in my opinion. Liberation can be attained in life.

The Astrologer said:
John S said:
If the law of karma eventually balances everything out, how come I was born with a clef pallet (for example) and my neighbour seems to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. For me, to live with the idea that "I" die when the body wears out is not nearly is much fun as living with a understanding that I a responsible for my entire life experience.

I know of this belief John but it does mean that some live their whole life blaming themselves, often doing unthinkable things because they believe they owe a debt to the karma. I have known also of those who take advantage of those who believe they must live by karmic rules...

Reply to This

We cannot be sure we even exist in any form other than our awareness of our existennce. All that exists is now The past is gone the future is yet to come. And even our now is questionable as to what we really are as opposed to what we perceive we are. I must live in this perception of reality that I have built around me. But I have had dreams that have felt as real as life until I awoke from them. This begs the question am I dreaming right now? I think Deepack Chopra posed the same possibility that death could just be awakening from a dream. Does God exist? Do we exist? Do I believe in reincarnation? Perhaps we are able to live or relive the life of any individual who has ever existed or create an entirely new one. I suppose I have many perceptions, of possibiliities but no real firm belief which might be the true reality. However I must of course act and react according to the perception of the world I share with all of you who "exist" here in it with me.

Reply to This

Reply to This

RSS

Books by Amazon

Birthdays

Latest Activity

On a lighter note, do all born again christians have two belly-buttons?
4 minutes ago
The origins of the said 'sighs' are relative.
2 hours ago
Roman, You have call people who disagree with you fools, delusional, and worse; yet would teach me how to "get along"? and again ~sigh~
2 hours ago
Using the sword of truth like a blunt hammer only isolates.
4 hours ago
Jeff, I must ask myself why, as you say, people are worshiping science. Can they not find frameworks, mystery, hope and challenge in spirituality? Fortunately, it is not necessary that everyone descend into extreme addiction (vice) to develop profo…
13 hours ago
Yes David Bee, all potential sources of knowledge should be given an honest look however there are so many sources that it would take years to get through them all. I am suggesting that each one of us here is a potential sources of knowledge. For ex…
13 hours ago
Bee, enjoy your book.
14 hours ago
Given these "problems" with the Bible, if the God of the Bible is the God of reality (as I believe He is), I do not wonder at all about His reasons for bringing forth the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is the anchor of my faith in Jesus Christ.…
14 hours ago
Sophie Reynolds, Queen-of-Fables, Rebecca Roberts and 6 more joined Redefine God - Open Source Religion and Religion 2.0
15 hours ago
The Kernel added 2 blog posts
16 hours ago
"without any possibility of appreciating its stories of actual greater underlying metaphoric meanings" Roman, Did Moses lifting serpant for Israel to look upon and be spared the death they were facing have anything to do with the lifting up of Chri…
18 hours ago
Jeff. anyone would be bewildered if others insisted they turn away from a profound personal experience. I hope you do not feel I or others are challenging the validity of your experience or belief. We did not come to RG to change each other - did we…
19 hours ago
The bible is a great book. Though not perfect by any means in its many years of attempted transliterations involving additions and edits, and as its historical development with its endless diversity of interpretations bares out, even to this day as…
23 hours ago
Goodmorning Kernal, Over a year ago there was a very strident debate between a mormon and I. It was ugly, and I learned from it. I mispoke earlier when I refered to this thread, I meant this topic. You'll note I haven't participated much. I don't w…
yesterday
Thanks Jeff, Glad to hear from you and thanks for sharing as you have. I'm not sure I understand your reference (9 hours ago) about bringing this thread back to life? Nevertheless. . . As for me being full of myself, I can see how you would say tha…
yesterday
Thanks Katinka. The book referral is appreciated.
yesterday
david thurman and Alison Parker are now friends
yesterday
Kernal, you're a might full of yourself there bud. I didn't bring this thread back to life, and have resisted jumping into another me vs. mormon debate. Just not worth the trouble. I guess I've grown up a little in my time on RG, even at 49 years.…
yesterday
Here is how I see it. We are spiritual beings having a mortal experience. Currently our physical body and our spirit body are inseparably connected until our physical body dies, when we will leave our physical body. I am unable to physically detect…
yesterday
I have been taught, and believe, that it is only with an open mind can one find the truth. I do not believe that there will be any conflict between scientific fact/truth and religious fact/truth, when all is known. Theories are not fact, but are par…
yesterday

© 2010   Created by Sidian M.S. Jones on Ning.   Create a Ning Network!

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!