Do any Christians believe in life after death, ghosts or reincarnation?

Oh, and I'd have to agree regarding the "Papa's" faith. He does ride around in a bullet proof rig; accompanied with a massive armed armada.

reply to post by contemplator



There is an inherent lack of humanity that is within your posts. You have a need for things to be explained, and that is good, however, the explanation you have provided for yourself is based on

Your ability to read the quality and quantity of tears, and what each represents, respectively?
Your ability to reason that since it is not how you would conduct yourself in a similiar situation, the situation is by definition NOT similiar, and the source of the tears comes from somewhere unbeknownst to the mourner?

Can i have some specifics please before i smash my computer screen over my head and wear it as a necklace?

reply to post by contemplator


You know this because you asked them right?

Its not that you have a tendancy to say things people don't like. Its that you have a tendancy to talk out your butt.

reply to post by heyo


I call it like I see it. I'm overly sentient and perceptive which is my curse and gift. You can't possibly understand being able to view something in the real world like I can. No offense but your avatar shows you have "Jesus Face", which means you are existing in another state of reality than me. You will find every possible excuse to explain grief having no relation to faith. I don't buy it, maybe I would if I had a big stake in faith like you and others.

reply to post by Greenize


Thanks for the link,there are a few of your posts I'm interested in checking out tomorrow.

I'd like to believe that there is life after death, however, I sometimes believe we are in hell right now. With all the vile things going on around us many would agree this hell.

This belief probably wouldn't be accepted by my religious background. However, that is what I believe and I think we are judged on how we live our lives down here. Either we can be a beacon of light to others or a beacon of darkness, we have the right to choose. If you choose evil then you will be rewarded with evil beyond epic proportions to your immortal soul for all eternity. If light is what you choose then illumination of heaven will shine upon your soul for eternity.

I guess will find out one way or another, and that I suppose; is what faith is for.

reply to post by contemplator


Not that I expect to care about my opinion, but if I may give an example. Three and half years ago, my father in law was killed on his job. Yes we grieved. Yes we sobbed uncontrollably...we were heartbroken. Number one we wouldn't see him every week as we always had. Number two, we didn't get to say goodbye. We missed him...but the belief that we would someday see him again allowed us to heal and move on. I never once thought that he was just dead and that was that....


[edit on 7-6-2009 by Greenize]

There is not a single christian I know of that believes in life after death. Why do you think they sob uncontrollably at funerals or shriek when they are about to die in a plane crash. If you are going to eternal bliss in heaven wouldn't you be going "woohoo!!!",

reply to post by contemplator


The thing that most confuses me is praying that someone else won't die, especially if the person is incapacitated with some horrible disease. If I believed with all my heart that they would be going to a beautiful place to be with God, I would be praying for God to take them and share his warmth and beauty with them.

reply to post by contemplator


i haven't been to church in ten years, and i can read you pretty well.
the picture is taken at bushparty btw, and it's supposed to be comical.
my face usually is

You don't have anything special other than what you've convinced yourself you have, period. You cannot just call yourself somethinga nd say it is so because you say it is so.
You sound like you're young, or immature at the very least. You don't know yet that grown-ups usually keep comments that you seem to revel in to themselves not out of ignorance, but out of respect and the knowledge that they wish to be treated as they themselves treat other people.
You can go around pointing out people's shortcomings all you want, but there's always somebody better at it.

Plus, you never gave me a specific answer. Deflection is a tactic of the weak, or at least, the tactic of somebody who doesn't know what they're talking about.
Jesus face. Pffft. lol. You're so wrong right now.

reply to post by Sundancer



that's something i've thought of too, if you dn't mind me jumping in. It's a bit selfish i think, ultimately. However, life is a gift from God, this universe and planet part of that gift. It is not so bad to wish somebody to stay. Loved ones become a part of you in some ways, and it hurts when they're torn away
It kind of seems like you expect christians not to be able to be sad?
what the heck?

I agree that this world is a 'hell' of sorts. That Evil is bound here. I don't think we are coming to the beginning of the final 1000 years, but completing the final 1000 years; where the Evil will be bound for all eternity.

In regarding this place as hell, I think there is a 'mix' of souls here. The very bright souls of light, and the darkest souls of Evil; which are bound here. I think we are in we are in the Battleground of all the universe.

Also, I can see where contemplator is coming from with his 'ability' to sense things. I've live all over the world, and in LA(lol). When you've been seasoned in the world experience, you'll learn to view people in a different light.

Originally posted by Greenize
reply to post by contemplator

 

Not that I expect to care about my opinion, but if I may give an example. Three and half years ago, my father in law was killed on his job. Yes we grieved. Yes we sobbed uncontrollably...we were heartbroken. Number one we wouldn't see him every week as we always had. Number two, we didn't get to say goodbye. We missed him...but the belief that we would someday see him again allowed us to heal and move on. I never once thought that he was just dead and that was that....


[edit on 7-6-2009 by Greenize]

Have you ever had instances in your life were you believed your father and other deceased relatives have intervened on your behalf? I believe my ancestors are all around me watching my back if you will and I have to say I have been some pretty tight predicaments.

Call it divine intervention because truly that is what I believed happen to me in my many instances of peril. Maybe my ancestors interceded on my behalf to the man up stairs? I'm a sinner like I'm sure everyone else is on this thread, but I try to lead a good life. Maybe the man up stairs feels it reasonable to intervene on my behalf at the requests of my ancestors. Maybe they put a good word in for me? I know this sounds odd, but I thought I would ask you; since you spoke so poignantly about your father.

[edit on 7-6-2009 by Jakes51]

reply to post by sanchoearlyjones


I'm missing your point. You see where he's coming from because you've lived all over the world, and......how does that relate?
I've seen the measure of man in my own back yard over the years, from the meth addiction to my period of ultimate purity....a maxim magazine is like a xxx porno in that state of mind, wooweey!!!
...keep in mind gifts aren't given only to the Godly; the use and credit for those gifts is a large test.

reply to post by heyo



By all means jump in, I expect Christians to be sad when a loved one dies the same reason I'm sad - because I will miss them. But like I said, I don't understand why someone would pray for someone NOT to die when there's a beautiful place waiting for them with God

Originally posted by contemplator
reply to post by heyo

 

I call it like I see it. I'm overly sentient and perceptive which is my curse and gift. You can't possibly understand being able to view something in the real world like I can. No offense but your avatar shows you have "Jesus Face", which means you are existing in another state of reality than me. You will find every possible excuse to explain grief having no relation to faith. I don't buy it, maybe I would if I had a big stake in faith like you and others.

One of my closest friends is a borderline atheist, or agnostic. Even though our beliefs are very, very different we never let it get in the way of our friendship.

Why? Because a true christian loves and shows compassion to all living things, and does not single any individual or groups of people as devil seeds. Matter of fact, these people who show so much hate and violence are showing traits of the devil himself, and then proceed to go to church and call themselves 'good'. What a crock, also they judge people from afar and damn them to hell without ever knowing that person, sickening, just sickening. Truth is, a false church began right from the beginning and they preach a false doctrine about God and the Christ. It's quite sad, a lot of people kissing ass to go to heaven are in fact digging their own grave, and their fears will create a sort of 'self-hell'.

They assume to worship the Christ in a fashion that best suits them, whatever tickles their fancy, instead of giving their heart to Jesus/Son of God/Emmanuel/Christ/The Amen/The witness/first born of the dead and so on. If these 'christians' were truly reborn, they would have compassion for all life, and they would know they have always existed, as a forethought of the Eternal God. Don't even get me started on Islam lol, and the Jews are God's chosen, they'll come around soon enough, they've turned from God many times throughout history but God still loves them, as do I, no matter what. That goes for Muslims and Buddhists also, and all peoples alive or dead. I would die for any one of you, you are my brothers and sisters, I am not greater or less than any one else. If changing this world for the better cost me my life, I'd go out like a champ, with a kool aid smile lol.

This thread does seem like a baited trap, does it not?

"Let's lure Christians in here with a provocative question, and at the first sign of humanity or admittance of anything other than substantiated proof, tear them apart!"

We're human. Like everyone else on this planet, Indigo or not (referrering of course to other recent posts here on ATS). As such, we have emotions. We mourn those we lose along the way, regardless of the length of our seperation. We want everyone to live a long, happy, fruitful life. Everyone, no matter their religion, race, sex, etc.

To ask us to deny grief is to ask us to be something that we are not. It's incredibly short-sighted and even malevolent.

If you want uncaring machines, then look to those who claim complete objectivity to all around them.

As to the OP and their question, I'll need a few to collect my thoughts. I admit that I am a bit rattled at the complete and utter lack of respect for others that can be shown on these forums. But such is the age of the Internet, where people of big words but small actions can hide behind text and technology to spout their hatred.

./end rant

[edit on 7-6-2009 by GuiltyByDesign]

reply to post by heyo


Heyo don't get me absolutely wrong. I see a place, and time for everything. I can see where contem. coming from as there are a lot of hypocrits in this world. Not all motives are just, and pristine. Simply look at the "Minister's of profit, and wealth". They at least to me aren't about anything godly except for their little chests of gold.

I have lived all over the world, and people do mourn differently in different places. I can see being sad in the fact of not seeing someone again in this life, but I can 'see' contem. point in that I do believe alot mourn over the realization of their own mortality.

I can 'believe' in his 'sensing ability' because when your in some sh**h*le country, and your conducting yourself trying to get by, usually language doesn't cut it. You need something else, and something deeper; call it a sixth sense.

Originally posted by heyo
reply to post by sanchoearlyjones

 

I'm missing your point. You see where he's coming from because you've lived all over the world, and......how does that relate?
I've seen the measure of man in my own back yard over the years, from the meth addiction to my period of ultimate purity....a maxim magazine is like a xxx porno in that state of mind, wooweey!!!
...keep in mind gifts aren't given only to the Godly; the use and credit for those gifts is a large test.

Very well put heyo. You have a fine understanding of spirituality. One only receives grace through works not grace alone. You can say your a Christian all day but if you don't act on it in your daily affairs it is just a label. I'm sure this rule applies to other denominations as well. God doesn't want us to sit around playing holier than thou game when He knows we are imperfect creatures of frailty. I think He wants to do our best to make the world around us a little bit like heaven for others.

[edit on 7-6-2009 by Jakes51]

reply to post by Sundancer



I totally hear ya. It's just that we're only human, too. what you're saying, essentially, or what i'm hearing, is that you don't understand why christians don't deal with death perfectly. cause we're/they're not perfect!!

reply to post by Jakes51


Hi Jake

I sometimes believe we are in hell right now. With all the vile things going on around us many would agree this hell

I can't imagine anyone going through life without at one time or another considering this might be hell.

If you choose evil then you will be rewarded with evil beyond epic proportions to your immortal soul for all eternity.

Are you speaking of karma? Reincarnation?