Matthew 18 can tell you that there is nobody in the "Kingdom of Heaven"

a reply to: dontneedaname
Are babies born with a name?

Do babies claim that things are theirs?

Little children know nothing....they are not separate from what's happening.

They have no idea of time.....so have not made an idol of themselves that walks outside the garden. There is no time but now for little children.

For a little child there is nothing other than what there is.

a reply to: dontneedaname
A little child does not have to die to enter heaven......a baby has not yet believed in himself or a world (two)..so there is just the kingdom (one).

But you......you have to die to become as a little child to enter the kingdom.

You as a separate thing has to lift away.....and the world will vanish.....and all that's left is what is.

In reality there is no separate you.....now is what is.

Little children only see and hear now......but a believed in 'separate you' sees and hears stories about other times and believes things that are not true.

Little children live in truth, in the here and now.......they have not been blinded by concepts.

Generally I have viewed heaven and hell as the same kind of place, An eternal life as a universal memory, defined by the consequences of our actions.

If you are generally an asshole that breaks a lot of good things and let a lot of people down it looks like a bad place to be. If you helped things grow and supported those around you, who knows just what repercussions these may have one day in the distant future? I would rather be a part of that.

There is a long history of ancestors that have brought us to this time and space, we would not be here without all their hard work and sacrifice. A lot of good people forgotten in the history books, but still a part of the present and into the future.

It is easy to get lost in the Bible with all of its sayings, interpretations and stories. The basics of Jesus seams pretty easy, don't be an idiot, support your neighbors and love life. We all stuff up and make mistakes at times, don't be too hard on those that are willing to learn from them.

The Heaven Christ speaks of is the Father, becoming one with Him, the Earth and all that it is and was has no bearing with the Father so only a child like soul who has not been stained by our Earth can enter, suffice to say no man has ever returned to the Father.

The old Heaven created by the evil one was not for the righteous and is why it is to be destroyed.

a reply to: dontneedaname

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the LOWLY position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

My interpretation of "become as a little child":
You have to believe, as a little child.
Through this kind of belief you would have unwavering faith.
Children BELIEVE. They put faith in things unquestionably.
As we grow, we lose that innocence. We start questioning things, doubting all of our choices, thoughts and beliefs.
We need to have faith, like that of a child, to enter the kingdom and I fall short daily.

a reply to: dontneedaname

The question was
“Who then is the greatest”
You didn’t read what was written did you?

Must be a lot of blind one armed people in heaven as well
“29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.”

You do know the bible is not literal in every single word?

So..maybe you want to argue there could be some souls in heaven (I'll say none), but certainly the vast majority did not enter heaven, and all those who think they were going to heaven, did not enter. Where did those souls go then? (Assuming u believe in a soul)

We are reincarnated, Christs return will will end it.

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: dontneedaname
Are babies born with a name?

Do babies claim that things are theirs?

Little children know nothing....they are not separate from what's happening.

They have no idea of time.....so have not made an idol of themselves that walks outside the garden. There is no time but now for little children.

For a little child there is nothing other than what there is.

Though I wouldn't say Little Children "know nothing" Plenty of CHILD PRODIGIES...

but yes...different perceptions.

A big difference is in common facial features. I'll try to post something about that with some photo examples of babies vs adults. the things we don't realize - starting at us right in the face.

Young children do not DELIBERATELY LIE. They speak more freely. And young as in under 5? Or under 3? THey may say UNTRUE things....random things. Have read stuff like that..and my experience with older kids (But still young) would follow that..in a more/less type way. Very young kids have less to no shame as well. Running around naked. w/o a care in the world. Of course, not all children, but some...sometimes its related to parents, sometimes not.

Again, the age of the child is not noted...but a 1st century 3-10 year old is going to be much more peaceful then an equivalent child of 20th/21st let alone preceding centuries.

"Funny things kids say" -- where do these thoughts come from?

www.boredpanda.com...#-my-kid-says-tweets/?utm_source=duckduckgo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic

www.dailymail.co.uk...

further refuting the blank slate...why do some kids get cancer really young or other diseases? what about birthmarks? Assuming we eliminate motherly exposure to various toxins / environmental exposure.

a reply to: dontneedaname

why do some kids get cancer really young or other diseases?

Why not?

Do all saplings get to be trees?

originally posted by: Raggedyman
a reply to: dontneedaname

The question was
“Who then is the greatest”
You didn’t read what was written did you?

Must be a lot of blind one armed people in heaven as well
“29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.”

You do know the bible is not literal in every single word?

well maybe you should just put a weight on your neck and throw yourself down a well!

well of course...so what is metaphor, what is literal? What is LEFT OUT? What can be learned from other parts of the world? Other texts? Or gasp - other religions? Or is that just "heresy." Any fool falling the "heresy" line deserves the LAKE OF FIRE and will likely get it within 10 years, sooner.

The "message of God" is also a LIVING message, not one from 2000 years ago! There's a vast amount of knowledge and experience available to many now, but relatively few are interested in learning / experiencing it. Many MATERIALLY RICH people aren't interested at all. You can travel (Pre-covid anyway, but still now) to almost any point on the globe for relatively peanuts (Assuming u aren't dirt poor). You can see with your own eyes. You can find endless documentaries and books...but many choose not to investigate - very deeply, if at all. And no, just traveling and going to a seaside resort is not what I'm talking about.

But they are reference points. A book as large as the Bible can say pretty much anything. But I like Matthew 18 because it goes against societal aspirations of becoming an adult and all that entails. ANd it is VERY explicit.

As for what was LEFT OUT...

If "God" is overseeing everything more/less...then wouldn't it be interesting that after the most destructive WAR ever (WW2) "we" discover the Nag Hammadi in 1946-47. It just "magically appears" out of the desert. WHAT WAS LEFT OUT of the Bible?

A war that "god" let happen. ANd if you're on top of your game...made happen. Why would "God" do that? Why would "God allow" millions to die? WHy is "God" going to have millions, billions? die soon - if u believe it is the end times. Who da # is God? Just some invisible entity voice?

There's just a massive # of coincidences with 9-11 (posted earlier). THere's always random coincidences...but how many does it take before realizing something else is going on? How improbable does a coincidence have to be before one realizes it MAY be something else.

originally posted by: Smigg

So..maybe you want to argue there could be some souls in heaven (I'll say none), but certainly the vast majority did not enter heaven, and all those who think they were going to heaven, did not enter. Where did those souls go then? (Assuming u believe in a soul)

We are reincarnated, Christs return will will end it.

you took 2/3 of the words right out of my mouth. hahahahahaha.

a reply to: Quadrivium

Likewise.

We all for short of that.

duckduckgo.com...

Roots of altruism show in babies' helping hands - search term.

actually this is a repeated story from 15 years ago or so. Meaning I saw the exact same story more/less on MSNBC. can't find the original one now.

But again...what age was the child? And becoming LIKE is not equaling the same. But it's the general idea.

When does being a NICE GUY "altruistic" go over to being a PUSH OVER (overly weak)?

got to find the balance...

a reply to: Akragon

"a child is a blank slate..."

That pure awareness is the true nature of our unmanifested soul. The I AM THAT I AM that exists before the manifested thinking mind.

... Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.

a reply to: dontneedaname

What does any of that have to do with who is in heaven. You saying that your scripture means heaven is empty

And I don’t see God instigating any wars, they are clearly mankind’s doing, yes, something is going, it’s not God orchestrating the end, the bible warns it is the schemes of man.

But, believe what you wish, just questioning your opening post that heaven is empty

originally posted by: dontneedaname

originally posted by: Smigg

So..maybe you want to argue there could be some souls in heaven (I'll say none), but certainly the vast majority did not enter heaven, and all those who think they were going to heaven, did not enter. Where did those souls go then? (Assuming u believe in a soul)

We are reincarnated, Christs return will will end it.

you took 2/3 of the words right out of my mouth. hahahahahaha.

Hahahaha yeah?

originally posted by: Raggedyman
a reply to: dontneedaname

What does any of that have to do with who is in heaven. You saying that your scripture means heaven is empty

And I don’t see God instigating any wars, they are clearly mankind’s doing, yes, something is going, it’s not God orchestrating the end, the bible warns it is the schemes of man.

But, believe what you wish, just questioning your opening post that heaven is empty

yes, maybe I went tangential a little.

How do you know "God" hasn't instigated any wars? Check the 9-11 post earlier....

Heck...you don't even know who God is, do you? You may beLIEve you know...but you don't. Oh...do you have a personal relationship with "God?" Your invisible friend?

I don't beLIEve anything.

I don't beLIEve in God or Jesus, love, america, justice, or anything.

There are things I KNOW, but even then I don't know anything.

There's only cause & effect, and what I experience, and what I have lEARNed.

do all beLIEvers unwiitingly follow BAAL?

a reply to: dontneedaname

How do you know "God" hasn't instigated any wars?

What does it matter if he has? He's still God! lol

I suppose you think you can judge the Creator of the universe?

originally posted by: visitedbythem
a reply to: dontneedaname

A child is trusting. This is what was meant.

We are saved by faith through the grace of God. Faith of a child.

Not by works- We cant put God in debt.
Do you understand?

That simple post says it all.

a reply to: dontneedaname

Feel free to believe anything you want, by all means choose your own road
I am a christian, comes with good and bad but, the message is simple, clear and hard work, love others, even your enemies. I think thats the best we can do and work on it

When I read comments like yours, happy to ask for an explanation. In this case, how do you arrive at "no one in heaven" when the context is "who is greater in heaven"
Thats all