Couple Questions About "God" and Religion - All Folks Welcome

Hello All

I have some questions, and I hope the fine folks here at ATS can answer them.

Ok, first, before you response, please state your religion, and which God you belief in.



1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?


2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

How does this square with your God / religion? For example, for Christians, how can "Genesis" be correct if there is other planets with life? Does everybody not born on Earth go to hell? How can anything in the Bible be God's word if there is intelligent life outside of the world?

For your Muslim's, same question. How does "Allah" square with intelligent life outside of Earth?

And if you are going to say that There Is No Life Outside Of Earth, specifically for people that are about to say this, if you belief there is no life outside of Earth, does this mean that if life is discovered outside of Earth, that your religion is false?


3- Most of the people on Earth, are split between Christianity (or catholic), Islamic (Muslim), and hindu.

For Christians, does this mean that all non-Christian's go to hell?

For Muslim's (errr, for muslim's I already know what they gonna say), does this mean that all non-Muslim's go to hell?

For hindu, and or other religions, how are you confident that billions of people that don't agree with your religion will go to (insert name of your religion's "bad place" )


4- And last question. How do you know that your (insert God) and your (insert Religion) is not an Alien, or Aliens, ?

My opinion! Thanks for sharing question and lets hope this will turn into a constructive threat




1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?

I believe you are a soul trapped in amaterial body. It could have been any body but there is a reason why you ahve this one, probably because it would help your spiritual journey to be shaped. You have a tree ans thats your life, how you climb it, its your choice.
I dont know where people wre before being born but I dont believe in re-encarnation, meaning you were here before but it could be. I dont know. I do think the spirit is quite immortal. I believe that when you finally reached your hightest point, you go into eternal life. Its easy to say but... very hard to explain.
For me, the state of your soul before birth and after you die, could change depending in how was your life here. Hopefuly, you have recahed here a higher conciousness.

2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

How does this square with your God / religion? For example, for Christians, how can "Genesis" be correct if there is other planets with life? Does everybody not born on Earth go to hell? How can anything in the Bible be God's word if there is intelligent life outside of the world?

I was born Roman Catholic, raised in catholic schools but I think genesis is taken too literal. I think sometimes people missinterpreted the Bible becaus due to the lack of better explanition and words, they could only described it in not a perfect manner.
For example, the Quran does go a bit more realistic when explaining the creation, starting from the Big Bang. Read it is quite amazing. Obviosly thre were other planets. For me, it is very possible to have life outside Earth.

For your Muslim's, same question. How does "Allah" square with intelligent life outside of Earth?

And if you are going to say that There Is No Life Outside Of Earth, specifically for people that are about to say this, if you belief there is no life outside of Earth, does this mean that if life is discovered outside of Earth, that your religion is false?

Why would a religion be false if there is a discovery of life outside Earth? I elieve the revelatiosn where done in a universal scale now, that human beings were so dome and egotistical to think we were on top of the chain, its ridiculous.

3- Most of the people on Earth, are split between Christianity (or catholic), Islamic (Muslim), and hindu.

For Christians, does this mean that all non-Christian's go to hell?

No. The Bible says..... look. The Bible was written in Aramaic if I can recall or in some very old freaking language which is not used today. This is why the Torah remeinds pretty similar and this is why the Quran is read in Arabic so it is kept in its original form, something Christians should have respected. I do not think they refer they go to hell, I mean the books. I think what it means that when you deny to yourself your own truth, you condem yourself into hell and hell will be lived here in Earth. Many religious figures believe that Hell and Heaven are actually on earth but then dumb people have created this image that Hell and Heaven is after death... after death is only transition.

THIS IS MY OPINION! But I have read abvout priests and monks that think this way and I believe it as well because it makes sense to me!

For example look at the commandments, they are pretty straightforward. What to do, to make others feel at unease with you? Kill them, rob them, disresect your family, not appreciate in God's (jesus, Allah, YHWH, Jehova, Buddha, Khrisna, Brahman, Highest conciousness, etc) name.... its pretty straightforward to me that if you kill or rob or want to hurt someone else will not benefit you... so then they were created.

For Muslim's (errr, for muslim's I already know what they gonna say), does this mean that all non-Muslim's go to hell?


My Muslim husband would say no, does this meet your expectations?

For hindu, and or other religions, how are you confident that billions of people that don't agree with your religion will go to (insert name of your religion's "bad place" )

N/A

4- And last question. How do you know that your (insert God) and your (insert Religion) is not an Alien, or Aliens, ?
Umm, because Aliens would be a finite entity and God is infinite, God is the creator and the distructor, the protector, the desollator, the pacifist, the nothing, the everything, the beginning, the end, the merciful, the giver, the compassionate...

We would be aliens to them and we cannot created this world or universe, we cannot create love or faith.. we dont have that power.



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Also


I really love something the Muslim say which is: There is no God... but God.

There is not God:
Forget all your ideas of God, everything you have learn, all your expectations..

but God
See the 99 names of Allah, its quite beautiful.

I believe in God because I have had experience when I see a light in the tunnel. I have lived the power of prayer and how it saved my dad. I do think there injustice in the world, that there are too many wars, that the world is screwed but I think its our fault. We were given such an amazing planet that of all the posibilities, this is it. All the laws of nature would have to be so precise to end up like this and here we are, I think we are perfect in our way. We counting Earth. The Solar System, Nature, creation, evolution... Its incredible.

Have you heard of the Golden ratio? That is some amazing stuff.

I get amazed all the time by the world and I know its a horrible world but thats aother stury. If this was supposed to Utopia, then how do we know the existence of God if we dont experience sadness, loss, sacrifice? What would we learn and how?

I used to be an atheist until I saw so much coincidence and let really myself go with the flow. it all started when my dad almost died with a brain cancer. To be honest, this si the time when you go: why God? do you exist? and it happened, it is called denial but after I understood that faith is incredibly strong and since then I believe. Then I had another down moment and questioned why me again? but I got up and had faith. God does tests you. When I finally understoo that God was not a bearded man up there or that he was a human or that he is not just the creator, the judge..... In that year I did so many incredible things, I moved out to Europe, drop out of school of a career that wasnt for me, I left a horrible place, I met the love of my life, I reconcile with my sisters, I met incredible people. That was my best year...

and to be honest, I have lost "that" a bit because I am too busy making plans while my life goes on (wrong) so I am not in touch but because I experienced it sooo intense, I understand God exists and I surrended.

Originally posted by azulejo

My opinion! Thanks for sharing question and lets hope this will turn into a constructive threat

I agree, thanks as well :-)

.............
For me, the state of your soul before birth and after you die, could change depending in how was your life here. Hopefuly, you have recahed here a higher conciousness.

Hmm, interesting. So, if after we die it's possible to reach a higher conciousness, it would make sense than as Human's, we have "medium consciousness" .... and... 1+ year before we where born, we 'had' "lower consiousness"? I like that sound of that :-)

I was born Roman Catholic, raised in catholic schools but I think genesis is taken too literal. I think sometimes people missinterpreted the Bible becaus due to the lack of better explanition and words, they could only described it in not a perfect manner.
For example, the Quran does go a bit more realistic when explaining the creation, starting from the Big Bang. Read it is quite amazing. Obviosly thre were other planets. For me, it is very possible to have life outside Earth.

Reading the Quran to learn about creation sounds like a cruel and unusual punishment!

JOKING folks, just JOKING ;-)

I'll take a look see to learn how Muslim's think the Universe was created.

Why would a religion be false if there is a discovery of life outside Earth? I elieve the revelatiosn where done in a universal scale now, that human beings were so dome and egotistical to think we were on top of the chain, its ridiculous.

Well, personally, I agree with you.

But, I was kinda referring to the Young Earth Creationists and the Literal-Bible people. For those people, how would alien life square with there beliefs? Was Jesus born on every planet? etc.

No. The Bible says..... look. The Bible was written in Aramaic if I can recall or in some very old freaking language which is not used today. This is why the Torah remeinds pretty similar and this is why the Quran is read in Arabic so it is kept in its original form, something Christians should have respected. I do not think they refer they go to hell, I mean the books. I think what it means that when you deny to yourself your own truth, you condem yourself into hell and hell will be lived here in Earth. Many religious figures believe that Hell and Heaven are actually on earth but then dumb people have created this image that Hell and Heaven is after death... after death is only transition.

Wasn't it originally in Hebrew?

So, does this mean that all the people that don't belief in the Bible are "denying themselfs the truth?"

Does that mean any and all Alien life (unless Jesus visited each planet) are "denying themselfs the truth"? What does that even mean?

Regarding death being the transition... Transition into what?

What did Adolf Hitler transition into?

And what does an atheist transition into?

And what does an Alien transition into when they die?

THIS IS MY OPINION! But I have read abvout priests and monks that think this way and I believe it as well because it makes sense to me!

For example look at the commandments, they are pretty straightforward. What to do, to make others feel at unease with you? Kill them, rob them, disresect your family, not appreciate in God's (jesus, Allah, YHWH, Jehova, Buddha, Khrisna, Brahman, Highest conciousness, etc) name.... its pretty straightforward to me that if you kill or rob or want to hurt someone else will not benefit you... so then they were created.

So, where the 10 Commandment's created on all planet's?

Do alien's also have to follow the 10 Commandment's?

Does this mean that God has to give 10 commandment's too all life bearing planet's?

My Muslim husband would say no, does this meet your expectations?

Where DOES he think muslim's go to after they die? And where do they think non-muslim's go?

Umm, because Aliens would be a finite entity and God is infinite, God is the creator and the distructor, the protector, the desollator, the pacifist, the nothing, the everything, the beginning, the end, the merciful, the giver, the compassionate...

We would be aliens to them and we cannot created this world or universe, we cannot create love or faith.. we dont have that power.

But what if an Alien civilization 5 millions years ahead of us technologically created our galaxy? You gotta atleast admit, based on what Human's learned in a few thousand years, that any intelligent civilization with millions of years of technological advancement, might have the power to create galaxies.


What is your belief in God / Creator based on ? If Bible, than , does this mean all Alien's wouldn't not know who God is because there planet didn't have a Bible?
Sorry for all the questions. I do hope, if you have time, you can answer time.

Thanks :-)

Originally posted by Confusion42
Hello All

I have some questions, and I hope the fine folks here at ATS can answer them.

Ok, first, before you response, please state your religion, and which God you belief in.

My personal religous convictions are probably beyond your understanding but most closely resemble Satanism.

1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?

Do you believe in the soul? The afterlife? Reincarnation? These are important questions to know the answers to you before you can have THESE questions answered.

2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

That's a reasonable assumption.

How does this square with your God / religion? For example, for Christians, how can "Genesis" be correct if there is other planets with life? Does everybody not born on Earth go to hell? How can anything in the Bible be God's word if there is intelligent life outside of the world?

The bible does not say that there is NO other intelligent life out there. In fact the old testament clearly states the god created MANY other beings and creations

For your Muslim's, same question. How does "Allah" square with intelligent life outside of Earth?

I'm not muslim

And if you are going to say that There Is No Life Outside Of Earth, specifically for people that are about to say this, if you belief there is no life outside of Earth, does this mean that if life is discovered outside of Earth, that your religion is false?

Does everthing need to be so black and white? Right and wrong? Can't there be truths and faults in ALL religions and belief systems/

3- Most of the people on Earth, are split between Christianity (or catholic), Islamic (Muslim), and hindu.

For Christians, does this mean that all non-Christian's go to hell?

For Muslim's (errr, for muslim's I already know what they gonna say), does this mean that all non-Muslim's go to hell?

For hindu, and or other religions, how are you confident that billions of people that don't agree with your religion will go to (insert name of your religion's "bad place" )

Do You believe in hell?

4- And last question. How do you know that your (insert God) and your (insert Religion) is not an Alien, or Aliens, ?

edit on 1-2-2012 by Confusion42 because: (no reason given)

I don't know. It's a plasuable theory.

reply to post by Confusion42

 

I adhere to no religion.
God? You can not ascribe attributes to the formless and timeless.

1. Existence before and after death? We always were and always will be. I Am. Do you see the cycles, links, and chain reactions that bond everything to everything? Not one single thing can originate or exist 100% on its own without relying on something else: food, water, nutrition, energy, space, time. All is One. We are an expression of all that ever was, all that is, and all that ever will be. There are no separate selves.

2. Life existing elsewhere beyond Earth would not exist without me, and I would not exist without them. All is One.

3. Hell? After death will be another life. I know of no place for the eternally damned.

4. The debate whether Gods are divine or extraterrestrials is extremely superficial. If aliens created me, who created the aliens? Everything is a result of co-dependent co-arising, meaning everything exists because of everything else. Not one thing is "unimportant" or meaningless.

Originally posted by azulejo

I really love something the Muslim say which is: There is no God... but God.

There is not God:
Forget all your ideas of God, everything you have learn, all your expectations..

but God
See the 99 names of Allah, its quite beautiful.

Wait, so are you catholic or muslim?

And, so, all the Alien life out there, they wouldn't know the "99 names of Allah" would they?

So, is God or savior Jesus? Allah? They where "messangers" and / or "son's of God" right?

Again, this all "happened" on Earth.

So, (assuming alien life exists).... Well they wouldn't never have heard of Muslim's / Christian's / Jesus / Allah?

What if there's an alien life outhere, also pondering religion. And, what if, there are 1 trillion of (Sample Alien Specicies A), and they are a million years ahead of us technologically and are ABLE to prove that a GOD DOES EXIST. And (Sample Alien Specicies A) with it's 1 trillion follows belief in (there God, let's call it "AlienGOD")

Ok, so, to rephrase..

What would you think if tommorrow on the News, it's confirmed that there exists an Alien Race 1 trillion in numbers, with proof that there God, called AlienGod, exists?

Would not that undermine all the God / Religion on this planet?

I believe in God because I have had experience when I see a light in the tunnel. I have lived the power of prayer and how it saved my dad. I do think there injustice in the world, that there are too many wars, that the world is screwed but I think its our fault. We were given such an amazing planet that of all the posibilities, this is it. All the laws of nature would have to be so precise to end up like this and here we are, I think we are perfect in our way. We counting Earth. The Solar System, Nature, creation, evolution... Its incredible.

"Life" and "The Universe" is incredible indeed.

It would be hard for me to try to address "seeing a light in the tunnel" without sounding rude... So, (again trying to ask nicely)... How do you know what you saw wasn't just hallucination ?

Have you heard of the Golden ratio? That is some amazing stuff.

I get amazed all the time by the world and I know its a horrible world but thats aother stury. If this was supposed to Utopia, then how do we know the existence of God if we dont experience sadness, loss, sacrifice? What would we learn and how?

I really didn't want this to be a thread debate over existence (err nonexistence) of God (errr invisible man in the sky).......


Why is sadness, loss, sacrifice necessary for beliefing in God?

I don't mean to twist your word's, but, that would imply that God make's disfigured child, God gives people cancer, so that people belief in God?

I used to be an atheist until I saw so much coincidence and let really myself go with the flow. it all started when my dad almost died with a brain cancer. To be honest, this si the time when you go: why God? do you exist? and it happened, it is called denial but after I understood that faith is incredibly strong and since then I believe. Then I had another down moment and questioned why me again? but I got up and had faith. God does tests you. When I finally understoo that God was not a bearded man up there or that he was a human or that he is not just the creator, the judge..... In that year I did so many incredible things, I moved out to Europe, drop out of school of a career that wasnt for me, I left a horrible place, I met the love of my life, I reconcile with my sisters, I met incredible people. That was my best year...

Hmm, I have some personal questions after reading this. I will send you a PM.

But, for the purpose of thread, I ask, Does God do "bad" things to us so we believe in him?

I gotta admit tho man, if I had to go through what you did (dad with brain cancer), I wouldn't be surprised if what happened to you would happen to me. But, for purpose of thread, I ask, Isn't it just a placebo type effect? The simple act of beliefing God was with you made things better (regardless if a God even exists)?


Placebo effect can be strong and studies have been done that showed belief in God helps people rationalize things and such. Maybe it's placebo?

and to be honest, I have lost "that" a bit because I am too busy making plans while my life goes on (wrong) so I am not in touch but because I experienced it sooo intense, I understand God exists and I surrended.

About to send PM, I am kinda curious about something.

reply to post by hudsonhawk69




NEVERMIND. THE UNDERLINES IS GONE. PLEASE IGNORE THIS POST

reply to post by hudsonhawk69

My personal religous convictions are probably beyond your understanding but most closely resemble Satanism.

Please do not try to belittle me in my own thread. I was hoping to avoid this. I will reply to this post kindly, but if you try to belittle me again, I will not be kind.

Go ahead and explain your personal "religious convictions" . I am an educated one, so go ahead....

Do you believe in the soul? The afterlife? Reincarnation? These are important questions to know the answers to you before you can have THESE questions answered.

Please do not start twisting things around.

My thread as I clearly stated, is ME asking QUESTIONS, thus, I would hope that

people (most are, but not you), would ANSWER my QUESTIONS....

The point of this thread, are the questions I asked... Why?

So I can educate myself on various peoples viewpoints on the questions I asked.

Please, answer the questions and do not tell me that I have to know this or that before I can ask these or those questions.

Answer the questions, or explain why you won't. Otherwise, it looks like your trying to belittle me.

The bible does not say that there is NO other intelligent life out there. In fact the old testament clearly states the god created MANY other beings and creations

AGAIN, PLEASE, answer the questions!

Does everthing need to be so black and white? Right and wrong? Can't there be truths and faults in ALL religions and belief systems/

And once again, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Do You believe in hell?

My thread, I am OP, my questions. If your addresssing the OP, than answer the questions.

Don't get me wrong, I aint trying to force you to tell me my beliefs.

If you do not want to participate in this thread, than don't.

If you do, than answer the questions I raised.

reply to post by Confusion42


No religion.. no "God".. singular Omnipotent Male Being.. as perceived the way most of Humanity does.

1/ Soul is pre-existant to life on Earth. It happily accepts a memory-block to be able to have the full experience of Life in the World. It is the same before life, and after life when it wakes up from the Dream of Life.

2/ No problem. Life can exist everywhere and even in forms we small-minded humans believe cannot exist.

Genesis is based on ancient Sumerian writings, the Hebrew left Sumer with the first few books of the Torah.. which became Genesis over extended timeframe.. and much information was deleted from the massive original that shows the Religious "God" is only one of a race of visiting aliens to Earth.

Of course, this is not the same "God" jesus spoke about as being his Father.

3/ No Hell for anyone.. well, except the self-created experience people manufacture for themselves after death of the body based on their Beliefs about their Value and everything else..... this is called The Belief Territories which are found in lower 'astral' levels of awareness.

Those who are there stay until they begin to wake up from their Belief-System and are then able to accept the greater reality 'beyond' the limited structures for earth. Sometimes, living people go into this Territory to assist those who are ready to move on to the greater reality.

4/ The religious "God" was originally an alien named NK (Enki) .. but who was usurped by an older brother NL (Enlil) who hated him with a vengeance and ensured for all time that little Humans.. of their design and manufacture.. would only remember NL as the God.. the same one we read about today in Genesis. The nasty, egotistical, bloodthirsty, hate-filled God of the Hebrews.

* the information on before and after life comes directly from my own lifetime of experience in the field of human growth and awakening.. but I am not a New-Ager or Follower of any set path of Beliefs.. I forged my own path over 40 years.

reply to post by Sahabi

1. Existence before and after death? We always were and always will be. I Am. Do you see the cycles, links, and chain reactions that bond everything to everything? Not one single thing can originate or exist 100% on its own without relying on something else: food, water, nutrition, energy, space, time. All is One. We are an expression of all that ever was, all that is, and all that ever will be. There are no separate selves.

So, God = Everything, and Everything = God

Per say, human's are components of the whole? (God)?

2. Life existing elsewhere beyond Earth would not exist without me, and I would not exist without them. All is One.

This makes no sense what so ever.

I assure you, ET's existence does not depend on you. And your existence does not depend on ET.

That state you made is rather egotestical no? To think that all or alot of life would not exist if you where to not exist?

3. Hell? After death will be another life. I know of no place for the eternally damned.

Are you saying this as a belief, or are you claiming this as fact?

So, after death, what kinda life? Where?

And, where where we 1+ before birth?

4. The debate whether Gods are divine or extraterrestrials is extremely superficial. If aliens created me, who created the aliens? Everything is a result of co-dependent co-arising, meaning everything exists because of everything else. Not one thing is "unimportant" or meaningless.

Well, please explain this further. Otherwise, what you said makes no sense.

If I step on some ants, Human's will continue to exist.

If I get shot in the head, I die, not everybody else....

Originally posted by Confusion42
Hmm, interesting. So, if after we die it's possible to reach a higher conciousness, it would make sense than as Human's, we have "medium consciousness" .... and... 1+ year before we where born, we 'had' "lower consiousness"? I like that sound of that :-)

We could go the other way as well, Its possible that we had a higher consciousness before we were born "medium consciousness" as Humans and when we die we have a lower consciousness until we burn out (no reincarnation for you!). Damn , either way as humans we can only achieve "medium consciousness"! Thats B$!

I don't know $hit about the before or after life and although I like SCI-Fi I don't gamble ,so I don't bet on a religion.

Its scientifically improbable that we are the only non-intelligent life form out there. So sure its plausible that an intelligent Alien teenager out their is playing with a Petri dish and created us.

Great thread BTW!!! Star n Flag for you. I hope they don't close your other thread down.

For the religious folks out here that reply give yourself a hand for productively participating and willingness to challenge yourself with some of the questions the OP is asking. Of course it could go vice-versa.

Originally posted by Confusion42
Hello All

I have some questions, and I hope the fine folks here at ATS can answer them.

Ok, first, before you response, please state your religion, and which God you belief in.

None and none

1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?

There is no evidence of a soul. So therefore I would have to say I will exist after death only in the minds of those who remember me.

2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

How does this square with your God / religion? For example, for Christians, how can "Genesis" be correct if there is other planets with life? Does everybody not born on Earth go to hell? How can anything in the Bible be God's word if there is intelligent life outside of the world?

For your Muslim's, same question. How does "Allah" square with intelligent life outside of Earth?

And if you are going to say that There Is No Life Outside Of Earth, specifically for people that are about to say this, if you belief there is no life outside of Earth, does this mean that if life is discovered outside of Earth, that your religion is false?

In a universe as vast as we perceive it to be there certainly will be other lifeforms. Due to my personal worldview the rest of the question is non applicable.

3- Most of the people on Earth, are split between Christianity (or catholic), Islamic (Muslim), and hindu.

For Christians, does this mean that all non-Christian's go to hell?

For Muslim's (errr, for muslim's I already know what they gonna say), does this mean that all non-Muslim's go to hell?

For hindu, and or other religions, how are you confident that billions of people that don't agree with your religion will go to (insert name of your religion's "bad place" )

No real answer but I will paraphrase the great Asimov here. " If I am right then they (the religious) will not go to Heaven. If I am wrong the majority will still not go to heaven, as they are hypocrites.

4- And last question. How do you know that your (insert God) and your (insert Religion) is not an Alien, or Aliens, ?

I cannot "know" there was no alien intervention. However based on our current understanding of the physical laws of this universe, it would seem to be unlikely. For space is vast and even light moves slowly (relatively speaking) across it

reply to post by Confusion42


Peace be upon you my friend. I have not come to argue, debate, or convert. Only to answer the questions of your op.

Ponder the cycles of life and death. Go to a forest and examine the life and death of trees, plants, bugs, and animals. Every single thing springs from something else. Everything is connected. Once we die, something else will spring forth, just as we see in nature, the cosmos, and the subatomic.

What I speak of is not egotistical. On the contrary, when we travel beyond Ego... beyond sensory perceptions... beyond thought... beyond emotion... we become 'I Am.'

Every individual thing only exists because of the existence of every single individual thing.

If you do not understand or agree, then please ignore and disregard my words. In the subjective-relativity of this existence, we all have our own understandings.

Peace.

Originally posted by Sahabi
reply to post by Confusion42

 

Peace be upon you my friend. I have not come to argue, debate, or convert. Only to answer the questions of your op.

Thats to bad, cause its healthy to challenge ones views which could lead you to the truth or reinforce the truth you already know.

You didn't mention your religion but I'm going to guess Hinduism? BTW Hinduism makes more sense to me than the others.

reply to post by Confusion42


While I would love to spend the next 30 min formulating a long and in cleaver reply... Who really has the time for that. At the end of the day many of the questions you pose are simply unanswerable. Hence the necessity for you to figure out what it is that you believe. It's part of the journey.

We could discuss philosophy and religion and quantum physics untill the cows come home but there is no hard evidence to answer what you are asking, only theory and beliefs.

If I had some idea of what your current or previous beliefs were I might be able to offer you some direction of inquiry, but you ask for answers to questions where everything is relative to your viewpoint... With out giving your view point. You have provided no frame of reference with which to give you a useful reply.

Who can possibly know if the soul even exsists?

With intending to offend you I would suggest that prsuing your own avenues of learning and inquiry would be most beneficial to your spiritual growth.

If you need a starting point, without knowing where you are at I would suggest the book "conversations with god" by Neale Donald Walsch is a good place to begin. It's a simple entry level book but there are a few gems in there.

Agnostic here

1. I don't know if there's a soul. I'd like to think there is but there's a pretty big chance that there is not. I'd like to think there is some sort of 'life force' in everything, but until there's evidence I can't answer this question.

2. I think if there is some sort of life force in everything then anything (and everything) in the universe is part of that so there is no issue.

3. I'm neither, and I think they are all systems of mythology which reflect the harsh, superstitious environments within which they were created.

4. for two reasons, the main one being I would like to think that there's something that transcends reality itself, as of yet there is no evidence of this so there might not be. The second being that I'm doubtful that 'aliens' have ever visited earth.

Originally posted by Confusion42
Hello All

I have some questions, and I hope the fine folks here at ATS can answer them.

Ok, first, before you response, please state your religion, and which God you belief in.



1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?


2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

How does this square with your God / religion? For example, for Christians, how can "Genesis" be correct if there is other planets with life? Does everybody not born on Earth go to hell? How can anything in the Bible be God's word if there is intelligent life outside of the world?

For your Muslim's, same question. How does "Allah" square with intelligent life outside of Earth?

And if you are going to say that There Is No Life Outside Of Earth, specifically for people that are about to say this, if you belief there is no life outside of Earth, does this mean that if life is discovered outside of Earth, that your religion is false?


3- Most of the people on Earth, are split between Christianity (or catholic), Islamic (Muslim), and hindu.

For Christians, does this mean that all non-Christian's go to hell?

For Muslim's (errr, for muslim's I already know what they gonna say), does this mean that all non-Muslim's go to hell?

For hindu, and or other religions, how are you confident that billions of people that don't agree with your religion will go to (insert name of your religion's "bad place" )


4- And last question. How do you know that your (insert God) and your (insert Religion) is not an Alien, or Aliens, ?

edit on 1-2-2012 by Confusion42 because: (no reason given)

I am a Hindu and believe in " Brahman " - the Absolute Highest Form of Consciousness in Hinduism.

In the Bhagavad Gita I read that the Universe is " teeming " with life. Makes sense to me because what would be the point in having such a vast Universe if Earth was the only planet that was meant for life. Also, a lot of Hindus believe that " everything " is God ( Brahman ) which also makes sense to me, because, if it wasn't for God, nothing would exist. So everything is God or a part of God.

As far as Heaven and Hell goes in Hinduism - As far as I know, there isn't a Hell or a Heaven in Hinduism. It is all about " karma " - your actions determine your destiny. So, you carry certain " traits " over into your next life. The ultimate goal of mankind in Hinduism is to achieve a state of " moksha " which is liberating your soul from the cycle of birth and death. If you don't achieve moksha in this life, you get another chance to do it in the next, but being reborn again is also called misery in the Bhagavad Gita. Once you have achieved moksha, you " reunite " with Brahman, meaning, after death, your conscious becomes one with the Cosmic conscious known as Brahman. I think that is as close to " Heaven " as you can get in Hinduism. You're not going to go to " Hell " just for not believing in Hinduism. That totally goes against the beliefs in Hinduism. It is really all about karma and losing your sense of ego. Your actions on Earth shouldn't be about I or Me, and you shouldn't have any selfish motives behind your actions. Do everything out of the goodness of your Heart. That is one of the main principles in Hinduism.

I am fairly new to Hinduism but it has changed my life and my outlook on life as well. I have never felt closer to God than I do when reading the Bhagavad Gita.

I believe in the one true God. There is no other god, why would I believe in any other God?

1. Yes, I believe people existed (or at least their "souls" existed before birth. Obviously, people generally don't have any memory of this).

2. I am pretty sure that life exists outside earth, BUT, I don't believe in aliens with human-level or above intelligence.
I don't see why my beliefs would be rendered false if the existence of intelligent life outside earth was proven.

3. As far as I understand, according to Christianity, when Jesus died, he went down to Hades/Abraham's bosom, and freed all the people there to allow them to heaven.
Of people who have no knowledge of Jesus or his message, they would probably be judged on their beliefs and deeds?
Aside from this, of the people born after Jesus, I'd guess it depends on each person's individual interpretation.
Some would say that all you need to do is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself". Others would say "None can get to the Father except through Jesus".

As far as Islam is concerned, it says that all who believe in God and do good deeds, whatever religion they are, they could get into heaven. Obviously, this is probably restricted to monotheistic (and maybe monistic and deistic) belief in God.

Hinduism doesn't really have a concept of hell, as the poster before me explained. Depending on your karma, you would either be reborn in a better or a worse position, unless you escape the karmic cycle and enter moksha. Considering that during the the repeated reincarnations on the way up, one of the steps near the end you'd probably be a Brahmin, I suppose TECHNICALLY you could say that only hindus (or Jains and Buddhists if you want to conflate them all) can achieve this release, but then again, everyone can be reborn as a Brahmin.

4. Since it is my belief that God is in control of the universe, and not constrained by it, God cannot be an alien, unless you mean in the literal sense of alien being something "outside" or "other" from creation.

1- Does a person (soul, etc.) exist 1+ years before a person is born? Where are "people" 1+ years before birth. What is the difference in the "state" your in when your die, and 1+ years before you're born?

These things refer to states of consciousness beyond our life on earth.
I dont know and would not claim to know. Anybody who claims to know is simply guessing or giving you his opinion.

2- Due to the fact that there are trillions upon trillions of stars out there, and most have planets, let's assume that LIFE exists outside of planet Earth

How does this square with your God / religion?

No conflict at all. The Creator who made the universe could have just as easily created life forms elsewhere in the galaxy.