Mods, if this is not alllowed, please delete the thread...
I dont want to get into a religious discussion that is not allowed, but I am interested in knowing what others think about the subject. I have read lots of stuff, of course, none of it means squat...but I think from my own thoughts and educational and theological experience, when you die, its the big sleep, until armagedeon, then the judgement.

I know different religions believe in different things, like reincarnation, and thats cool, I am just wondering what others think...Please dont bash someone elses feelings.

edited to add, I am asking because I find myself in times of need talking to my Dad for guidance or strength...

I know a lot of people will disagree, but I think that's it. You rot or blow away (if cremated) and nothing more.

I'm not sure. I don't believe in God so there is no "judgement" in the way I believe. I do think there is a *heaven* for lack of a better word. I believe that we have spirits and those spirits can either go to *heaven* (but without the God part most believe in) or they can wander the earth. So obviously, I do believe in ghosts as well. I also think reincarnation can happen. Basically, I think it's important for each person to find out what they believe in and not believe something just because their church tells them or their parents tell them. We want our kids to figure out what THEY believe. It doesn't matter what we believe. I was raised basic christian and dh catholic and we both think this way.

So, I guess I would say that whatever happens, it involves our spirit...

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"to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

When you die, that's it.. what makes you "you" is gone and your body becomes worm food or is cremated.

When you die, your life ceases. That's it. Ashes to ashes.....etc.

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It's odd that you ask this question on a day that my family has to question this. My very dear SIL passed away this morning after a 18 month battle with colon cancer. She left behind my brother and 2 teenage kids.

Personally I think that when we die we go to heaven. What that is like- I have no clue. I believe that we become guardian angels for those we've left behind. I know that when my SIL passed this morning, my Dad was waiting for her along with her brother who died when she was just a teenager. That thought gives me comfort.

My Dad died almost 5 years ago and I still find myself talking to him. It brings me comfort that he is up there watching over me and my family.

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Mom to Katie 1/95 and Sara 5/97

I am sorry to hear that you lost your SIL. It is a comfort for us to know that there is a heaven.
Hugs! Shirley

Brendasm1,

Great topic...

You and I determined recently that we're going through the same adjustment - losing our dads. My family just marked the 6 month anniversary last week of losing mine.

I am not sure of your religion/religous beliefs, but I'm banking on the fact that there IS a heaven.

I also have to tell you that, since losing my father, I've been reading all kinds of books on the subject of heaven, and no book has brought me more comfort than A TRAVEL GUIDE TO HEAVEN by Anthony DeStefano.

I am reading this book so slowly, because I don't want it to end! Here is what the back cover says:

Most Americans believe that there is a heaven, but many have difficulty conjuring up images beyond angels in flowing robes with harps and helos. Anthony DeStefano knew there had to be a more complete, meaningful vision of what heaven is like. Using the Bible as his guide, along with an extraordinary sense of logic, fun and adventure, DeStefano set out to look for clues about the place called heaven. He learned that this highly spiritual place is actually very physical, a place more exquisite than a Hawaiian beach at sunset, more thrilling than Alpine skiing, and more fun than an exhilarating game of tennis. travelguidetoheaven.com

There are several quotes of acclaim on the back. One that stands out:

"At a time when Americans are thinking anew about their faith, this book helps Christians to remember the most important thing in life, namely, that our true destination is above." - William J. Bennett, former Secretary of Education and author of The Book of Virtues



ksmomof2, I'm so sorry about your SIL. She, as well as your brother's family and you all will be in my prayers.

Aw, Squeak, you beat me to it! What a glorious day that will be!

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I believe if you have been saved by the blood of Jesus, you will go to heaven, if you havent accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior....you will go to hell.....Squeak....I thought of the same verse!!!!! Sherri

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"It isn't that liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan

Wow.....guess all us Jews are in a heap of trouble! At least in your book.
my book includes the words and writings in the torah! btw I'm a jew but I have found my Messiah!

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"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5.(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." -Revelation 20:4-5 NIV

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." -Revelation 20:5 KJV

I also believe its "the big sleep" until Armageddon.

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I believe that there is a God and I believe Jesus was his Son. I do not believe God will send those that are not saved by the blood of Jesus to Hell. I believe as long as you believe in God (no matter what name you call him) and you live life according to your beliefs (do unto others) you will go to Heaven.

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Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

I don't know.

That's the only answer I can give, because I honestly haven't a clue.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Has anyone ever read any of Sylvia Brown's books? they are very interesting. She has a good depiction of heaven.

That's just gross!~
Unfortunately, I have been to way too many funerals in this past year, some w/ viewings, some without. I find the funerals w/ open viewing to actually be a bit therapeutic. The last one was for a 14yr. old child. Once we saw him, you could just tell, his body was a shell-his soul had very obviously gone onto a different place. It wasn't that he was "dead in the coffin" but just that it was so obvious that he just "wasn't there" anymore. I truly believe in heaven. I'm not in any hurry to go, but find comfort knowing that many ppl I love are already there. I myself, want to be cremated; I do not want my body in the ground after I go-no worm food here~

I don't know, but I don't believe in any gods, so I guess it will be interesting to find out what's next. Hopefully no time soon.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I definantly believe in God. I also believe that you have to accept Him as your Saviour to be accepted into heaven. And Hell is a place I do not want to be.

When you die I believe that you cease to be. The vessel that was your body is just tissue that dies and rots. Your spirit however lives on forever in anyone whose life you have touched. Not the "ghost"type of spirit, but your essence, who you were not what you looked like. I do not believe in heaven as an after death place. It is an interesting question and really makes you think

I think there's another plane, and I think there's some passage between the two, unless you're held here through pain or confusion -- yours, or that of someone who misses you. I believe in God, but I don't think that's where the judgment comes in -- there seem to be a lot of checks and balances while we're still alive, whether or not we notice them. I also don't think the physical body has any worth once we've left it, unless we can salvage bits and pieces for someone else, so I'm fine the cremation/worm food bit. I don't want to take up space if I'm not here to enjoy it.

I don't think we ever die.I think everything is alive, forever !

thanks for the civil discussion....its something I have been thinking of alot lately, and I appreciate your input.

I agree. The physical body dies but the spirit lives on.

Toonces,

As my DH always reminds me - the Jews are "The Chosen Ones" - so sounds to me like you're all set!

And as my mom says, there are many paths to God.

Just for the record, worms aren't interested in dead people, for food, or recreation.

Why not? They're decomposers, and people need to be decomposed!

As for the original question: I simply don't know. What I know, though, is that a lot of people are going to say:"Dag, that's not what I thought!"

I also believe either you go to heaven or hell.

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

I have had a few really crazy things happen to my family that really made me beleive that there are angels surrounding us. Trust me these were not oh what a coincidence episodes. So I believe in some way my deceased relatives are living. When my Grandfather was found dead in his bed he had the biggest smile on his face. Made me think he saw my Grandma

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Without Health you have no Wealth!

I believe you go to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory. I think only the very good will go straight to Heaven or the Very Bad to Hell, the rest of us will go to Purgatory.

According to Roman Catholic doctrine, some souls are not sufficiently free from sin and its consequences to enter the state of heaven immediately, nor are they so sinful as to be destined for hell either. Such souls, ultimately destined to be united with God in heaven, must first endure purgatory - a state of purification. In purgatory, souls "achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven."

I do not think Jews will go to Hell - they are, after all, "God's Chosen People"

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Mary

Wow dnj51, I didn't know that is what the Catholic doctrine was. Interesting. I believe in grace and that because of what Christ did on the cross, I am always "right" with God. Not because I'm good, or extra good, or perfect, but simply because I cannot be any of those things and God knew that and provided Christ as my sacrifice. Done. Nothing I can do or not do will change that.

So, based on what I just wrote I suppose you can guess where I stand..lol It's heaven or hell based on where one stand with God.

And about the Jewish ppl, I seriously and pathetically enough am not educated on the subject enough to form an opinion. They are God's chosen ppl so I suppose that pretty much speaks for itself!!

Melissa

that subject is always on my mind lately, i guess i am getting old.
i would like to beleive that God is an infinite dimensional God. that to me would explain how God knows the future like the present like the past and how God has control over space and time.
and when we die we continue to exsist in higher dimension (not infinite)
if God exsists, and i hope that he does, he would be genderless, and unique, we would not understand his/her/its image if we are to see God, since he/she/it is from infinite dimensional space. i also beleive that relegions are all man made.
but seriously who died and came back to tell us how it realy is, so i realy don't beleive 100% in anything, but i sure hope that there is something like punishment for murderors and rapists.

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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
Albert Einstein

I believe that Jesus Christ, who died for my sins, is the son of God. And, I believe in Heaven and Hell, and that my soul will inevitably end up in one or the other. (I'm aiming for the former.) I don't feel strongly one way or the other about Purgatory or "the big sleep". If there's a lay over on the way to Heaven, as long as I eventually reach my destination (back to my Father's arms), I can live with that.

No matter what name you call Him by, I KNOW there is a higher power. Looking back down the path that I've come to this point in my life, it's clear to me that it is MY path and that it was meant for me. It's often been a hard, treatcherous path. And, He has walked with me, helping me down that path. And, I pray to Him everyday, thanking Him for being my guide.

Sorry if I sound sappy to the non-believers. But, for me, there's no other explanation.

.

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~~~MsMiser

I love her...I know many think she is a flake, but I find comfort in her.
I believe that Heaven is everyones final destination. God loves each of us and Heaven is our reward.

I sort of believe there may be a higher being. But I don't believe in religion. I don't believe that the higher being would like or approve of most religion. I hope there is something after we die, but there's nothing I can do about it either way, so I tend to not give it much thought.

I'm really torn. I'd like to have the beliefs that a lot of you and a lot of my friends do. I think that would be comforting, but I simply do not believe like that.

I believe the spirit lives on through others who are alive (kind of like believing in the "spirit" of Santa). I do not believe that it's some ghost-type thing that roams around or exists anywhere. I also do not believe that it's something that actually "leaves" the body when one dies.

I find comfort sometimes feeling like my grandma is near or guiding me from above, but seriously when it all boils down - I really think that when one dies, it is all over. The body just rots and it's all done with. Nothing more.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I believe that Jesus is God's son, who died on the cross for our sins and rose the 3rd day; that by asking forgiveness for your sins and asking Christ to come into your life, you will go to heaven. God gave His son for us so that by accepting Jesus as our Saviour, we have eternal life in Heaven. He gives us free will, though, and those who do not accept Christ will be forever separated from Him and will spend eternity in Hell once death occurs. After death for those who have accepted Christ, you will be immediately in Heaven!!

I believe in angels I belive my great aunt and her sister was both turned into angels of maybe ghosts and stayed at their home for a long time. I for some reason "felt" them there, one I'd never met she passed before I was born. Maybe they stayed to care for the flowers, cause not matter what you did or didnt do to them they was always gorgous, mom never weeded them or really paid them any attention but they was always in a pretty garden. i want to believe there's heaven and all, my grandfather passed away 2 weeks ago and I miss him terribly

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I believe there is a heaven and a hell. I believe that as a born-again Christian, I will spend eternity in heaven.

My faith in God seems to grow and become stronger as I get older -- and it sustains me every day. I can't imagine life without faith in God

I consider myself very fortunate that my DH and DD are born-again, too.

My belief is That we all go to heaven. I do believe though that you have to ask forgiveness for your sins and truly mean it.I believe god will forgive all sins and embrace everyone no matter what religion, ethnicity etc.. I don't think it matters if you are baptized or not either. I do NOT believe in hell. I think the trials we go through here on earth are enough and that there is NOTHING worse after death. As to what its like Up there ..That I have NO clue! I can't even imagine. Thats what I like to believe anyways. I hope I am right!

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~*~Live life to the fullest*~*

I hope you're right, too. Though, I'm sorry to say that I can't agree with you. I've often said that life here on Earth is sufferable enough. (And, sometimes wondered if I wasn't already in Hell. LOL) I surely do not want to spend eternity in any place worse than this. Can you imagine after you die, finding yourself in Hell for all eternity?.....Suffering torment and anguish for infinite time? (And, it'll be too late to do anything about it then.) I try very hard to be a good person and a good Christian. It's not always easy and sometimes I even fail. Thank the Lord for his forgiving heart! All I have to do is ask (sincerely) and I am forgiven. Now that's love!

I'm not trying to scare anyone or force anything down anyone's throat. And, I am by no means a Bible toter so I can't get all "quotey". I'm just a regular schmoeena (female schmoe ). But, I do believe somewhere in the Bible, Christ says something to the affect of, "Be ashamed of me and I shall be ashamed of you before my Father." I'm not saying anyone else is, I'm just saying I'm not ashamed of my love for my Lord.

I believe it also says something in the Bible about many people believing they'll make it into Heaven, but they won't. Like I said, I do try hard to do what I believe my Father (God) expects of me. And, like I've told DS quite a few times.... If I don't make it into Heaven, I'm gonna be pissed! (LOL)

This has been an enlightening thread, thanks OP!

.

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~~~MsMiser

I believe that life on Earth is our preparation for our real eternal life. Kind of like school. I believe that whatever form we take wherever we go that we are reunited with those people and animals who have died before us. I believe that when we are there things we have wondered about will be revealed.
I also believe that the reason for the lack of interaction so to speak between the living and the dead is due to keeping us here. If everyone knew for sure without any doubts how spectacular eternal life is people just might be killing their loved ones and themselves (yes defeating the purpose but maybe not thinking clearly) just to get to "Heaven".

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