How To Get To Heaven When You Die

[XFRODOBAGGINSX]

Crunch!!!

[Compugasm]

Quote by: Deadeye I'd rather be slipped the black pill than to linger in some ICU unit being pumped with fluids, dope and oxygen.

There is always the hail of bullets option. Seems to be quite popular lately.

[nerdvincent]

Quote by: XFRODOBAGGINSX Crunch!!!

Crinch? Cranch? Crounch?
Habla Inglès?

[Winter wind]

Crunch!!!

Ok, this dude just went from religious troller, to regular old troller. Would someone please do something about him already!

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Foxfyre "Believer" within the context in which I used it would imply, at least to me, those who come to the Bible study with some form of concept that the Bible is the standard textbook defining the origins and definitions of their faith. And it assumes that those with an informed opinion about the kind of Bible study I conduct will have actually undergone that kind of Bible study. If you put your finger on a hot stove enough times, you learn to trust that it is believable that putting your finger on a hot stove is an uncomfortable experience. Other experiences can evolve into the same kind of trust for negative and positive realities in our lives. It is that kind of experience that I am referring to here. The Bible study I teach takes years to complete, so I get to know my students pretty well. Of course I don't follow all of them around forever, so I am speculating that none were dissuaded from their religious faith via the study itself. I have no way of knowing what other kinds of experiences they may or may not have had. I am unaware that any 'defected' during or as a result of the course, however, and as I have not had negative feedback of that sort in all these years, I think my assumption is more reasonable than not. That is true. And one cannot be a fanatic about anything and retain an open mind re that same thing. The most succinct definition of fanaticism is, I think, close mindedness. I do not presume to dictate to anybody what he or she must believe about a supreme being or what his/her relationship must be with that being. At the same time, ritual orthodoxy is not worthless or nonproductive to hundreds of millions, even billions, of people who find it valuable in their society and personal lives. If the being I call God was able to be defined or contained within a particular perspective, I think he would not be much of a God. I hope your search is leading to to a good place, however. I think anybody who searches unconditionally with an open mind will always find God by whatever name. I don't have a clue what heaven will be like. I only know that I am assured that it exists and I know some of what I hope it isn't like. Certainly the cartoon depictions of gossamered draped angels with harps floating on pink clouds for all eternity would not be my definition of paradise. I'm sure curious though.

First reaction to my comments...

Well, that seems a tad vague, at best. But I have no problem with vague. I do believe we have a right to define "believer" for ourselves... but no one else. Personally that's between them and whatever deity they believe in... if they do. Otherwise, they argue with, and amongst, themselves. Those who I know who consider themselves atheists say that, and that alone, is quite enlightening... and what we actually are all doing.

My only comment... good for them: until they feel they need something else. (I won't type "more" because, once again, what one considers more, or less... in this case... is up to the individual until they feel they may have been wrong: no matter what they may or may not believe.)


Second reaction...

I know plenty of atheists, agnostics and, to avoid a long list, "other" who would describe how they got where they are today in the same manner... your hot stove analogy. Many come from fundamentalist, or more mid-stream, Christianity. You see I'm a rather odd Unitarian Universalist... considered a heretic even by some of them. I am a theist with agnostic tendencies. I do believe in God... but am willing to admit I might be wrong. I came by my beliefs through studying scripture: Old and New... many different versions, the Koran, The Book of Mormon, both Books of the Dead... well, enough of that. Let's just say I find the subject fascinating and I also believe each and every one of us, as well as many faiths, has/have at least a small piece to the puzzle that would describe God, or what's divine... however one wishes to characterize it.


Third reaction...

Maybe. Maybe not. But I find little harm in your assuming it's probably true as long as you understand you could be wrong... as any of us could. (Or maybe ALL? Wouldn't THAT be fascinating if we find out that the afterlife and "God" are something not one of us: not even prophets... have imagined. This possibiity I find as interesting as I do find it frightening. Could go either way or somewhere between... which might be something as weird, as odd, as the afterlife as painted in Beetlejuice. I don't believe that. In fact, since someone imagined it already, it's been ruled out by the terms I just used.)

Next to last reaction...

I would never consider orthodoxy to be useless. I actually do believe they to have a part of this rather large, perhaps infinite, puzzle. How much? I have no more of an idea than if you asked me about any other group of people. But I do believe God, if not "infinite," is quite close. Seems we agree to a certain extent here.

Last reaction...

Ah, curious... indeed.