[Profpat]

Chazzysaw;

I agree with you about organized religions.


My Christianity has me believing that The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, its here and now, in our midst. We are but to open our eyes and act accordingly. That God is a God of the living and not of the dead. I love God with my whole heart, mind, and soul. And I love my neighbor as I love myself. ( I try my best ).
And that You and I and Jesus are all God's children.

I received this teaching from the gospels of The Christ.

Given that I don't plan on dying, I enjoy living to much.

Best to all;

Pat

[austintorn@aol.com]

— Future-Vision —

Pretend that you’re dead and gone, siting on a star,
Regretting there the emptiness of your memoir,
Thinking: If only I could live it all again!
Fancy yourself not here, then smile because you are.



— This Rare Earth —

Oh never has there been a time more rare,
But that I could truly say “I was there
On that Heavenly sphere of blue and green;
Yes, I was there in life extraordinaire!”

[Profpat]

Welcome back Austintorn. I hope you had a nice trip. I like your poems and picture.

Pat

[David Maes]

To the question "what happens after you die?", I would love to know the answer. But I hate to disappoint you, I don't.

As I see it there are two perspectives: there is some kind of a materialistic perspective, which says we don't have a spirit, and we only have a brain; so when we die, we are kind of condamned to earth.

Then, there is also another perspective, which says we have some kind of a soul or spirit.

Some idea which I consider to be more a materialistic perspective myself, is for example, a person which always behaved very rational gets a stroke; the rational part of his brain is very damaged; but he's lucky, he survives and the emotional part of the brain takes over. Now he's a very emotional person; so his behaviour has changed; he's a different person.

Also even love (for example between partners) has a chemical which can explain it...

Then there is of course also the idea that we are just a product of evolution.

On the other hand, some people claim they even saw or heard or felt some kind of apparation(s) of kind of spirits or souls...

Personally, I never really experienced that, but do you have to believe in it, before you can see it?

If we have a soul, then which properties does it have?

There is a very negative thing in life, namely we die.
But there is also a very positive thing in life, namely we get born.

When a zygote is formed after fertilization, what happens next is incredibly astonishing.
It's like it's just all programmed.

So I do wonder, do we just have a brain (is it all chemicals?), or do we have a soul? or do we have both of them?

I really can't answer that (not that I wouldn't love to).

I have no clue.

I do know about someone who I think might have had a clue, but answered it in his own way: "There are only two ways to live your life: to pretend nothing is a miracle, and to pretend everything is a miracle. If believe in the last way." (A. Einstein).

[mkirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by David Maes To the question "what happens after you die?", I would love to know the answer. But I hate to disappoint you, I don't. As I see it there are two perspectives: there is some kind of a materialistic perspective, which says we don't have a spirit, and we only have a brain; so when we die, we are kind of condamned to earth. Then, there is also another perspective, which says we have some kind of a soul or spirit. Some idea which I consider to be more a materialistic perspective myself, is for example, a person which always behaved very rational gets a stroke; the rational part of his brain is very damaged; but he's lucky, he survives and the emotional part of the brain takes over. Now he's a very emotional person; so his behaviour has changed; he's a different person. Also even love (for example between partners) has a chemical which can explain it... Then there is of course also the idea that we are just a product of evolution. On the other hand, some people claim they even saw or heard or felt some kind of apparation(s) of kind of spirits or souls... Personally, I never really experienced that, but do you have to believe in it, before you can see it? If we have a soul, then which properties does it have? There is a very negative thing in life, namely we die. But there is also a very positive thing in life, namely we get born. When a zygote is formed after fertilization, what happens next is incredibly astonishing. It's like it's just all programmed. So I do wonder, do we just have a brain (is it all chemicals?), or do we have a soul? or do we have both of them? I really can't answer that (not that I wouldn't love to). I have no clue.

Nice to see you back again mate,good to know you are still here!I think we have both brain,and soul,with a mind to use them both?

regards michael.

[David Maes]

Thanks for the answer Michael and nice to see you too.
Greetings.

[mkirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by David Maes Thanks for the answer Michael and nice to see you too. Greetings.

Just as a matter of interest David,are you one of these people who actuallly believe in
life after birth?



regards michael.

[dipayankar]

Without being discriminatory, lets keep it to science and not get religion in here..

Originally Posted by KV4N God's Word says: Hebrews 9:27 (27) And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 2 Corinthians 5:8-10 ( 8 ) we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (9) Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. John 11:25-26 (25) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, (26) and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 14:6 (6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Jesus said: Matthew 5:20 (20) "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The scribes and the Pharisees lived as moral a life as possible. But, Jesus said your righteousness had to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees. That was impossible, they were a "good" as a man could be. Matthew 5:21-22 (21) "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' (22) "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. WOW... Jesus said if you are angry with someone you will be found guilty in God's court of law for Murder and would be cast into Hell. This shows that God will not only judge us by our actions but, also by our thought life. Have you ever told a lie?? Even a little one?? What does that make you?? I'd say it'd make me a liar. Revelation 21:8 ( 8 ) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (9) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. The standard we have to live up to is God's standard and that is perfection. None of us can live up to that. Scripture says: Romans 3:23 (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, So if none of us qualify to get into Heaven, then you may ask, how do we get there? The Bible has the answer. John 3:16 (16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Romans 5:8-9 ( 8 ) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. You see, we have broke God's law. And just like when we break man's law, we go before a judge and have to pay the fine. Well, we are all going to have to go before God to account for the sin we have done. And just like the courts on earth, God's court will have to render a verdict. And the Bible says we are all guilty and should be cast into Hell. But, in the case of an earthly court, what if someone came in and paid your fine for you? What if they said, "Judge I'll pay their fine if you let them go"? Then the court would be satisfied and the accused would be released. Jesus did that very thing about 2000 years ago. God became flesh and was crucified on the cross and died for our sins. And was resurrected on the 3rd day. Romans 3:24-25 (24) being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; (25) whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; Being "justified" (or justice having been done, the fee paid) as a gift from God through the blood of Jesus. But, how do you receive this gift? It isn't automatic. Acts 2:38 ( 38 ) Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 3:19 (19) "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 8:22 (22) "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 16:31 (31) They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Romans 10:9 (9) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Notice "repent" shows up a lot. That literally means to "turn away from", not just asking for forgiveness of sin, but acknowledging that your a sinner and changing direction. Turning away from sin. And notice prayer is in there a lot. Pray that God does forgive you of your sin and changes you heart. And to "believe" in Jesus is more than just believing that He existed. It means to "put him on". To strive to be more like Him. To turn your life over to Him. Get yourself reconciled with God, get down on your knees and admit to Him that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. Find yourself a Bible Believing Church, get baptized (to show the world you are Jesus'), read/study scripture and pray. Grow in His Word

[chazzysaw]

I believe our soul, spirit, conscious energy or the self, activates the brain and brings the mind to life. The spirit infiltrates the brain with it's electrical activity and the brain controls the body that becomes the physical you.

[David Maes]

Originally Posted by mkirkpatrick Just as a matter of interest David,are you one of these people who actuallly believe in life after birth? regards michael.

I have no idea.


But as far as I know, scientists tried to 'find' someone inside the brain; the result was they found nobody in the brain, nobody in the cortical regions of the brain and nobody in the subcortical or the limbic regions of the brain.

But I also believe in the following, something Einstein said and which I find very powerful: "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
This may sound negative for both of them, but that's not my intention.

I believe they're both very important; the problem however is, they often conflict with eachother.
I think that's because science only believes what it can prove, they only kind of believe in what they see.
However I consider this to be very important.

Religion wants us to have trust, sometimes even when we don't see it.

I try to use just an example as a metaphor; for example when you're married, you can trust your wife or not.

You can take a "scientific" approach, and constantly pursue her to check whether she's cheating or not; cause that's the only way to know for sure. But I don't think this would always be in your advantage.

You can also take a "religious" approach, and blindly trust her. I think this neither is always a good approach, cause it could also be in your disadvantage.

It's really a pitty they conflict with eachother.

But I think they are both very important; but they use another perspective.

I do agree that for humanity it's sometimes better religion doesn't interfere with science; but I also agree that sometimes it's better science doesn't interfere with religion.

I also agree sometimes it's better they do mix up.

I think it all depends what's best.

Maybe it's good to kind of 'label' ideas, concepts or theories, so we know which perspective is being used?

I do believe life is a very relative thing.