I am in support of religion and various religious beliefs. There MUST be something to it. All of time (documented) clearly reflects a belief in some sort of greater being. There has to be something. I just don't know what it is. And cannot explain it. When I close my eyes I can feel it. I just can't grasp it and or label it. But there is something there.
A feeling of the existence of a greater power (and no, I am not talking about the damned v10 vs. the ls1).
I have tried to become a believer in what most call God. But I am too weak and I let reason interfere. And so I continue to fear death.
I've always believed in God - but my biggest leap forward was when I discovered it wasn't me... [img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
I am not afraid of death, I'm not grief striken when people die - although I feel sad at the fact I miss them and sad at the fact others are torn and I feel their pain. I cry for their loss, but my own grief is short because I know I'll see them again.
I had an encounter with Someone who overcame death 2000 years ago and He promised the same everlasting life to me and anyone else willing to believe. Whether death is like an unconscious sleep - or whether we pass into a spirit state I'm not sure - but I do know that death is not the final end. Christ is a swear word to some, a cop out for others, but to me He has been an ever present friend and I don't need to complicate it anymore than that.
His Word (Bible) has been a guide for me, despite the fact I find limited use for church because most are just social clubs - I'd like to find a good one.
Faith does not require absence of reason - just not the worship of it.
Let me relate something a guy once told me who worked with dying people - he said you could always tell those who had a personal relationship with Christ - they all died peacefully, without fear, and often in their last dying breath their face would light up and eyes open wide as a smile took hold - like they saw something and were going to it. That happened to my grandad. The others - even church people - esp. of the old formal religions who had religion but no personal relationship - they were all very frightened - he said you could see the fear in their eyes - even those who talked tough before the moment... bravery ceased in his opinion in those final moments when reality of the unknown hit them. I never forgot that, but I do understand that peace the first group had - it's free, try it.
I guess it would be. Think about it. If you don't believe in ghosts. You don't believe it when people say they have "died" and came back, then you are stuck with no proof.
So the religious answer is faith.
But Faith = Believing in. And so if you can talk yourself into believing in something, then with enough faith, your problems can be labeled and systematically stored. It could cancell out your fears. But the problem still exists. I don't think faith is the answer.
I need more than that.
My experience is that God is not pushy - He quiety draws and if we want we come, if we don't we don't. He seldom acts in a miraculous way - for His own reasons - although once in a while He does and then it's pretty awesome.... like the time I was a young guy who'd had an argument with my first wife and was pretty angry... I took it out on the car - not a good thing to do... I got into a huge understeer at 75mph and was heading straight into an old couple's car -- I could see the whites of their eyes. An unseen hand picked my car up and shoved it violently back onto my side - physics made that impossible - I've raced - I know what tires can and can't do. It saved that dear old couple from my stupidity, and it saved me. Why? No idea - I wish Paul had the same help in that plane... we do not always know why. But I choose to trust. There are countless examples like that - many far greater than that simple example.
On the opposite side of the fence - the devil is more willing to show himself. You may not believe in ghosts and spirits and stuff - and I would not recommend you do this because you may find you can't escape it - but if you ever sneek upon a genuine satanists ritual sometime - you'll see stuff that'll make your hair stand on end - you want real fear - you'll get it there. Some of those folk have real power - but there is a greater power in Christ and in the face of it they are helpless. Their power is not their own they only think they have control of the spirits that enable them to do stuff a mortal cannot. When they discover the truth they are trapped - only Christ can deliver them. Most who try to escape die. It's real whether you believe it or not.
The power of witchcraft has many levels too - same source as Satanism. Those into it - IF HONEST - will tell you the power is real. Now think about it - if the power of darkness is real - the power of love and light in Christ may also be true. Just a thought.
There is spiritual reality in God - but you will not see it by analysing - the brightest minds on earth can't grasp it - it only becomes real when we take that bold step to trust...
- and few have the guts.
Most are afraid of what they might have to give up - as though their turds were of more value than eternal gold - but that is our human wisdom - it does not see everything as it really is.
I'm not preaching - but I do wish you peace and the kind of joy that reaches beyond fear.
Some type of Faith is all we have, if you were dying of some fatal disease, how would you go on without faith.
Whether the faith be in God, Jesus, Family, Yourself or whatever. Is it not faith that takes us to a higher level? Without faith of some kind in something then just put a gun to our head and pull the trigger or step out in front of a bus. How does anyone make it through any crisis without faith? I truely can not believe that we can make it without some kind of faith.
However, I do believe that there are the faithless and they are the Child Molesters, Saddams, Hilters, Mussolinis, John Wayne Caseys, etc.
Very interesting thread. However, faith = anesthetics when it comes to death. Whichever works for you is fine. But the "personal relationship with Christ" answer is complete thoughtless manipulative puke. Again, this is my opinion and is NOT meant to be personal. If it works for you, that's great! Really. But I actually find the rhetoric threatening. Again, not on a personal level, but just generally. I'll try to elaborate if I get some more time today (and if anyone actually gives a damn about my opinion ).
I am confused. I've been confused about God and such sense being a child.
The parts that interest me have little to do with blind faith and more to do with recognizing that there is, in fact, a power (call it what you will) that exists beyond us. I cannot label it. But I know there is something there. Perhaps this is the feeling that has guided all human beings toward some sort of religion or another since the begining of time. We search to define a power that exists, and in fustration settle with faith on an image that we congure up.
If someone could prove to me that ghosts, the devil or any spirit exists, then I would be much more open to faith. Although I can't tell you what "proof" means in this case. I can tell you that I would approach it with an open mind.
When I was in my youth, I got into Alister Crowley, Anton LaVey, and others, in a big way.
It was wasn't the denail od GOD, just worshipping the opposite.
I got saved at 22, hasn't been perfect, but better.
I took care of my father from 1999-2001, when he got cancer.
He grew up in church, and thought that was all that was necessary.
I prayed for him, and during this time, he also became saved.
He died on Feb. 28, 2001.
Since Jan., when he came home for the last time, he didn't listen to the radio, tv, etc., he was content.
The monday before he died, he went comatose, and had his 'death mask face', he still looked content. And when he died, it was as if he had somewhat of a smile on his face.
The only part that sucked, was, I walked out of the room, my sister came over, saw him(I was fixing dinner), went she walked out of the room, I talked briefly to her, then went in to see him, and he was gone. About the space of 5 minutes.
You never know, it's before you get there, that you have too make that decision.
In comparison,when Voltaire died, he died worse than a pig(his attitude, demeaner).
How would you rather go?
When I was in my youth, I got into Alister Crowley, Anton LaVey, and others, in a big way.
It was wasn't the denail od GOD, just worshipping the opposite.
I got saved at 22, hasn't been perfect, but better.
I took care of my father from 1999-2001, when he got cancer.
He grew up in church, and thought that was all that was necessary.
I prayed for him, and during this time, he also became saved.
He died on Feb. 28, 2001.
Since Jan., when he came home for the last time, he didn't listen to the radio, tv, etc., he was content.
The monday before he died, he went comatose, and had his 'death mask face', he still looked content. And when he died, it was as if he had somewhat of a smile on his face.
The only part that sucked, was, I walked out of the room, my sister came over, saw him(I was fixing dinner), went she walked out of the room, I talked briefly to her, then went in to see him, and he was gone. About the space of 5 minutes.
You never know, it's before you get there, that you have too make that decision.
In comparison,when Voltaire died, he died worse than a pig(his attitude, demeaner).
How would you rather go?
GTHOMAS, obviously you were close to your father. Was his passing easier to deal with knowing that he had been saved before he passed?
Sorry to hear about your father. Hes in a better place. :angel:
GTHOMAS, obviously you were close to your father. Was his passing easier to deal with knowing that he had been saved before he passed?
Sorry to hear about your father. Hes in a better place. :angel:
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I didn't dwell on the fact that he wasn't saved, just prayed, and he did.
I was glad he did become saved. Didn't dwell on that, either.
Just, well, I guess everything was said before his passing.
I didn't attend his funeral, but was at home for the after funeral get together.
When I walked in, and saw he was dead, I was in shock, I was like 'Wh-wh'wh'wh'why d-d-d-d-didn't yyoouuu sssaaaayyyyy ssssooommmeeetthhiinnggg?', to my sisiter.
But, I'll be honest, I didn't cry.
I think it is easier when you know you are on your last leg, than if it happened suddenly, and unexpected.
Even my mom(divorced) came by.
So, if you have anything to say, get resolved, etc., it should be done as soon as possible.
The results of waiting, and never getting that chance, is a killer, also(stress, doubting, etc).
Religion softens the blow of death. Let's face it. If you thought it was all over and that was that, then death would be pretty scary. Perhaps religion is a built in safe guard that helps us al deal with the time line issue.
It seems that all the energy I have, all the experiences in life, all the wisdom has to go somewhere. Or would I turn into a crashed hard drive, discarded and recycled.
Reality is a bitch. And I hope those that believe are right. And I hope I am wrong. There is no other issue that I know of that I wish I were as wrong as I do about my current religious beliefs.
). 
