i want to believe

hi everyone just thought i would post this thread because there is something thats been on my mind for a while and im really not sure how to go about it. recently i have watched a few things on youtube about people who claim that they have had near death expriences and actually seen heaven and hell. or in some cases god himself the thing is i am not relegious in any way but i do believe that when we die we go somewhere else. i also understand that if u dont believe in god then u cant ever go to heaven or thats what people say.

and this is where the problem with me lies because how can i put my trust and belief in someone i have never met or even seen i dont even no how to go about praying in the right way or if there is a right and wrong way.

all im saying is that i think i am a good person and ok i have done some really stupid things in my life but no more worse then any other person has done. i support my daughter, i pay my taxes, and i work hard, im also friendly and thoughtfull but just because im not sure what to believe when it comes to god this will mean i go to hell ?? it seems a bit harsh to me plz someone enlighten me cos im lost

wow, exactly my thoughts. except for the paying taxes thing. thats nothing to do with it. thats a human "law" not a law of the universe.

Think about it, if there's a God out there that will deny you the afterlife even though you were a good person and did wonderful things for others while alive simply because you don't believe God exists due to a lack of evidence, is that God worth worshipping for all eternity?

Originally posted by skillz1


and this is where the problem with me lies because how can i put my trust and belief in someone i have never met or even seen i dont even no how to go about praying in the right way or if there is a right and wrong way.

In the first place, don't worry about right and wrong ways.
Prayer is just talking, so if you want to pray, just talk. Out loud or in your mind, whatever feels comfortable. If God is there, he'll be happy with that.

I would guess that you're going to get advice from both sides, from Christians urging you to make a decision instantly, and militant atheists telling you not to bother. I've been both in my time, I'll try not to add to the pressure.

If you actually want to believe, that's an advance on me in my atheist days, when I most positively did not want to believe. I suspect that God is actually not as legalistic as people sometimes try to make him, and a little willingness to believe will go a long way with him. Consider the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, and note how surprised some of the Sheep were to find themselves on the right side of the fence.

How do you learn to trust in God? Well, how do you learn to trust anybody?
If you want to try, just keep talking to him and be relaxed about it. I believe that God has a sense of humour and a very forgiving nature.



[edit on 13-4-2010 by DISRAELI]

Hell
is living
forever but
knowing that
someone else
has it just slightly
better than you do.

A vision of hell, all time
compressed into one moment,
may appear as flames and torment
to the viewer just as a high speed graph
of the stock market would look like a rollercoaster.

"No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18


David Grouchy

thanks for the posts so far there is some good advice i can take away from this really helped hearing other peoples thoughts

reply to post by skillz1


If God does exist he/she/it is likely nothing like those primitive descriptions given in our flawed human religious texts. Near Death experiences aren't exactly conclusively real, there are theories that explain them as chemical reactions that happen as the brain dies.

We all want to believe there is a higher purpose to all of this, that human beings are special, divinely created for divine reasons. And we all want to believe death does not mean oblivion. The fact is though that there is no evidence for God or an afterlife and while science doesn't have all the answers I'm sure any God that did exist would be able to forgive you for going with the evidence.

I realized long ago that science is the search for the truth and that if god is real he/she/it likely wants me to know the truth and to accept the evidence in front of me. What kind of God would force you to believe blindly without any evidence or else face eternal suffering?

Originally posted by hippomchippo
Think about it, if there's a God out there that will deny you the afterlife even though you were a good person and did wonderful things for others while alive simply because you don't believe God exists due to a lack of evidence, is that God worth worshipping for all eternity?

Simple answer: Yes, it is. Why not? Things are complex. Why would someone want to let you into their house if you don't acknowledge that they bought the house? It's kind of a jerk-thing to do, regardless of if you are a good person or not.

reply to post by skillz1


You raise a good point ... but you should also remind yourself that unless you are a Christian then there is no such thing as heaven and/or hell !

I am a Pagan who believes in the creative-energy of Nature ... like the slogan says ;

'I believe in God but I spell it NATURE'


I also believe the spirit is eternal ... and is reborn into various bodies to experience a variety of lifetimes (it would be weird if I didn't being a Pastlife Regression Therapist and all)

The fact is as humans we have 'freewill' and we can believe/disbelieve whatever we choose ... Witches Lore says;

'If it harm none do as you will' ...

I think that's a pretty good rule to live life by whatever your chosen faith ... or indeed lack of.


And I do not believe we will be punished for doing the best that we can during our lifetimes ... as humans we are prone to error ... I respect my God ... I do not fear my God ... unlike some of other faiths.

Woody

Originally posted by For(Home)Country

Originally posted by hippomchippo
Think about it, if there's a God out there that will deny you the afterlife even though you were a good person and did wonderful things for others while alive simply because you don't believe God exists due to a lack of evidence, is that God worth worshipping for all eternity?

Simple answer: Yes, it is. Why not? Things are complex. Why would someone want to let you into their house if you don't acknowledge that they bought the house? It's kind of a jerk-thing to do, regardless of if you are a good person or not.

I'm saying its petty of a God to accept someone into heaven simply for believeing in his existance and not for good deeds done during ones life.

Do you REALLY want the TRUTH of it all? If you do, you can find it all by researching the origins of whatever your religion is. Thats where the answer is.

In regards to your specific question about the heaven and hell nonsense that we today believe thanks to the church authorities and these lunatic end timers, study FOR YOURSELF the original meanings of heaven and hell, satan, etc etc. You can find the answers as long as you DO NOT be LAZY like the average cult sheep member whom buys into the whole blind faith garbage. That nonsense works PERFECTLY in keeping the cult members buried in nonsense. Good luck.


[edit on 13-4-2010 by SunIsSon]

Click the link. Read the OP, it may help you gain a perspective of what is going on in this world.

I love Christ for what he did at Calvary. Unlike what you've been told by some so far. I have never tried to persuade anyone to anything. Just answering your thread.

I think you have one thing figured out already. So read the OP that is meant for people in your state of mind.

Remember that the reason an atheist can't find God, is the same reason a theif can't find a policeman.

You have likely heard that it is impossible to prove that God exists. You have heard wrong. Not only can the existence of God be proven, denying the proof undermines rational thought. It is true that God does not need anyone, let alone me, to prove His existence.The existence of God is so obvious that we are without excuse for denying it. No one needs proof that God exists.

[edit on 13-4-2010 by randyvs]

well with near death experiences the actual event that is described is changed slightly to fit ones belief system
so
"i had a near death experience, i saw a light and i felt like there was someone there with me"
could easily become
"I had a near death experience, I saw the light of heaven and Jesus was there i could not see him but i just felt the love of the lord"
or
"I had a NDE, i saw the light of nature energy and felt at one with my earth godess"
or
"I had a NDE i saw my spirit light orb space brother and felt the harmony of the other density in the future time of 2012 spirit orb future harmony"

see?
and on the other side
"I had a NDE, it was dark and i was afraid and in pain"
becomes
"I had a NDE, i saw hell it was black i felt the fear of satan and his deamons tormenting me"

[edit on 13-4-2010 by zaiger]

this is the thing though if i go through my life not knowing what to believe what does that make me? because if i believe in god then apparently im saved. but if i dont then im athiest and in that case im doomed. but what happens to people like me? the ones who are not saying god is real but on the other hand they are not saying he is fake. they just simply dont no what to believe. and do we get punished in the after life for been this way??????

Originally posted by skillz1
this is the thing though if i go through my life not knowing what to believe what does that make me? because if i believe in god then apparently im saved. but if i dont then im athiest and in that case im doomed. but what happens to people like me? the ones who are not saying god is real but on the other hand they are not saying he is fake. they just simply dont no what to believe. and do we get punished in the after life for been this way??????

Nobody is in a position to say exactly how God is going to judge people.

In my mind, I keep coming back to the "Sheep and the Goats", and the possibility that you might be giving yourself to God in ways that you won't recognise until he tells you about them.

I think I would say to you- "Be honest with yourself". Surely making the search honestly is what matters. I believe God recognises good will when he sees it, and may be more willing to respect that than simply mouthing the words "I believe" when you're not really ready.

It might help to find a friendly, local, Christian to talk to on the subject. If you take the decision to put your trust in God, do it because it feels the right thing to do, not out of fear.

[edit on 13-4-2010 by DISRAELI]

[edit on 13-4-2010 by DISRAELI]

and do we get punished in the after life for been this way??????

reply to post by skillz1


Did you click the link? What did the last line say? If you clicked on the link you should be past this point. Later.

If you believe stuff like this....

i do believe that when we die we go somewhere else.

... people can convince you of stuff like this....

i also understand that if u dont believe in god then u cant ever go to heaven or thats what people say.

Watch out for stuff like that. That is a load of B.S.

There is a scientific reason people think they go somewhere when having a near death experience. They aren't actually going anywhere, and it's a normal, common psychological anomaly that people experience when certain areas of the brain are deprived of blood.

reply to post by traditionaldrummer


cheers m8 i no its so hard to know what to believe and what not to but the romans,egyptians and many others are huge belivers in the after life. i really do believe we take another path when we die. but that is not to say there is a god or that there aint one its all sooo confusing

Originally posted by davidgrouchy
Hell
is living
forever but
knowing that
someone else
has it just slightly
better than you do.

God lives forever and is a jealous god (as stated in the bible should the subjects worship anything else), egoistic (requires worship) and is often angry enough to kill and torture others.

Is God in Hell?

On the other side, If one has almost no ego, anger or jealousy issues, may or may not live forever and is not bothered by anything else having it better in anyway slightly or far greater than oneself.

Is that person in Heaven?

[edit on 14-4-2010 by ixiy]

To the OP...

Don't worry so much about the afterlife...

It sounds like you try to live as a good person. If that isn't good enough for any deity (whether they are God, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, etc.)...then they aren't worth your belief, adoration, or worship.

The afterlife may or may not exist for all we know. But, we do know we're right here now, so my advice is to make the most of it, and not dwell on what may or may not be waiting after death.

To those preaching damnation to those not following your faith...do you realize that to be correct, you'd be condemning the majority of the Earth's population to hell? Is that really what you think of your deity's aims?