Wisdom and Religion

[Lara]

The God who sits in judgement and punishes people for their "sins" while on earth is clearly created in man's image.

1. God does not punish people while on earth for their sins. Man punishes himself with natural consequences for what he has done. Sometimes, however, good people suffer but it's not a punishment from God. The punishment is from Satan. Could God stop Satan? Yes, of course, but sometimes there are a hundred+ reasons in the Bible why he doesn't, none of which are punishment. All of which are for the ultimate perfect plan for greater good.

2. God is not created. God is the Creator.

3. God is not created in man's image. Scripture states that "God created man in His image" ...not the other way around.

 

[Shalimar]

As I was dying, I was drawn to the shimmering light, and the sound of my grandmother’s voice. She was singing to me in that peerless Welsh soprano. As I floated closer, I could see her, surrounded by the pets who were waiting for me to journey to join them. I eagerly reached out toward the glow, only to be stopped by a clear voice (genderless,) inside my mind, which told me I

still had tasks to complete, and asked me if I would make the sacrifice, embrace the pain, and return to complete them. I could hear/feel the unconditional love and compassion radiating from this invisible being, I knew that I could survive whatever pain awaited me in the world. Weeping, I said goodbye to my grandmother and the pets, and floated back toward my body, the

last thing I recall was the purring of my favourite cat, long gone from this world. He followed me to the edge of the dark, then my gramma called him back. Zing, an electrical current ran through my mind, and I was back in my body. Oddly enough for a person with CPTSD, all sense of suicidality has been absent since that day. I believe this to be a gift from the Divine Feminine face of the Creator. I am grateful for my miracle.

 

[KingsX]

God does not punish people while on earth for their sins.

Apparently you have never read the Old Testament.

.

 

[Lara]

Apparently you have never read the Old Testament.

I have read not only the Old Testament...but then I went on to read the New Testament which changed everything regarding sins, punishment, and forgiveness. When Jesus was born and then suffered on the cross for our sins in the New Testament, He saved us. Thus, our "Savior".

It's now the New Covenant, so that believers can be forgiven, can now be counted worthy to enter the kingdom of God, and not be punished for their sins on earth but rather judged for their deeds on earth and rewarded, not punished.

"Believers will also be judged, at a different judgment called the “judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10), but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the Book of Life, we will be rewarded, not punished, according to our deeds."

 

[StarSong]

As I was dying, I was drawn to the shimmering light, and the sound of my grandmother’s voice. She was singing to me in that peerless Welsh soprano. As I floated closer, I could see her, surrounded by the pets who were waiting for me to journey to join them. I eagerly reached out toward the glow, only to be stopped by a clear voice (genderless,) inside my mind, which told me I

still had tasks to complete, and asked me if I would make the sacrifice, embrace the pain, and return to complete them. I could hear/feel the unconditional love and compassion radiating from this invisible being, I knew that I could survive whatever pain awaited me in the world. Weeping, I said goodbye to my grandmother and the pets, and floated back toward my body, the

last thing I recall was the purring of my favourite cat, long gone from this world. He followed me to the edge of the dark, then my gramma called him back. Zing, an electrical current ran through my mind, and I was back in my body. Oddly enough for a person with CPTSD, all sense of suicidality has been absent since that day. I believe this to be a gift from the Divine Feminine face of the Creator. I am grateful for my miracle.

What an extraordinary miracle and deeply personal gift to you from our Creator, Shali. Thank you for sharing it with us. My experience of our Creator is likewise one of pure love, acceptance and compassion. Some find their spirituality through organized religions of various sects, some through meditation, and some through other means.

I believe that all roads lead home.

 

[KingsX]

I have not only read the Old Testament...but then I went on to read the New Testament which changed everything regarding sins, punishment, and forgiveness. When Jesus was born and then suffered on the cross for our sins in the New Testament, that was a New Covenant, so that believers could be forgiven and not be punished for their sins on earth

The OT and NT are two parts of one book... they work together.

Jesus is the incarnation of the God of the OT. That means Jesus created the OT laws and punishments.

Jesus kept His law perfectly. As Jesus said Himself, He came NOT to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17-18.
Both the OT and NT tells us that God wants His laws written in the hearts of His people. Jeremiah 31:32-34 is repeated
in Hebrews chapters 8 and 10. Once the laws of God are written in the minds and hearts of God's people... their past
sins are forgiven. But Hebrews 10 gives us a warning... "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire
that will consume all adversaries."

 

[Shalimar]

What an extraordinary miracle and deeply personal gift to you from our Creator, Shali. Thank you for sharing it with us. My experience of our Creator is likewise one of pure love, acceptance and compassion. Some find their spirituality through organized religions of various sects, some through meditation, and some through other means.

I believe that all roads lead home.

Qft. If I have gained any wisdom from that experience, it lies in the knowledge that sometimes, acceptance and gratitude are all that is required of us as we stumble along an often bewildering path. Perhaps that is Faith?

 

[Keesha]

As I was dying, I was drawn to the shimmering light, and the sound of my grandmother’s voice. She was singing to me in that peerless Welsh soprano. As I floated closer, I could see her, surrounded by the pets who were waiting for me to journey to join them. I eagerly reached out toward the glow, only to be stopped by a clear voice (genderless,) inside my mind, which told me I

still had tasks to complete, and asked me if I would make the sacrifice, embrace the pain, and return to complete them. I could hear/feel the unconditional love and compassion radiating from this invisible being, I knew that I could survive whatever pain awaited me in the world. Weeping, I said goodbye to my grandmother and the pets, and floated back toward my body, the

last thing I recall was the purring of my favourite cat, long gone from this world. He followed me to the edge of the dark, then my gramma called him back. Zing, an electrical current ran through my mind, and I was back in my body. Oddly enough for a person with CPTSD, all sense of suicidality has been absent since that day. I believe this to be a gift from the Divine Feminine face of the Creator. I am grateful for my miracle.

Your near death experience is like my near death experiences and I’ve had over half a dozen of them.
My breathing stopped, my heart stopped, my ego faded away but my conscious awareness was more accute than ever.
In fact the experiences were far more real than any other experiences I’ve ever had in this lifetime. There is an undeniable understanding that we are all connected to everyone and everything and always have been and always will be, forever.
( eternally) Past relatives and pets are there to greet us and there is a white light that’s is ‘all loving’ and doesn’t judge us.
These are the most REAL, loving experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life and I’ll never question where I’m going when I die ever again.

Most humans that have had these types of experiences share the same type of information yet there are always people (disbelievers) who have never experienced anything like this that will angrily state that it’s all BS. Some people claim that it’s merely the brain shutting down and malfunctioning.

There aren’t words in the human vocabulary to explain this type of phenomenon, except miraculous.
It definitely has made me realize that there is far more I don’t know about life and our universe than I do and I’m ok with that.

See Shalimar; I always KNEW we shared something special.
Namaste:heart:

 

[StarSong]

The OT and NT are two parts of one book... they work together.

Jesus is the incarnation of the God of the OT. That means Jesus created the OT laws and punishments.

Jesus kept His law perfectly. As Jesus said Himself, He came NOT to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17-18.
Both the OT and NT tells us that God wants His laws written in the hearts of His people. Jeremiah 31:32-34 is repeated
in Hebrews chapters 8 and 10. Once the laws of God are written in the minds and hearts of God's people... their past
sins are forgiven. But Hebrews 10 gives us a warning... "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire
that will consume all adversaries."

I'm sincerely and respectfully happy that the OT and NT bring you joy and comfort, KingsX and would never think of discounting or attempting to dissuade you from your beliefs.

We each find our own way to a relationship with our Creator. As long as those avenues don't physically or emotionally injure others, humans should find a way to encourage, respect and tolerate others' perceptions and pathways to that relationship.

 

[Shalimar]

Your near death experience is like my near death experiences and I’ve had over half a dozen of them.
My breathing stopped, my heart stopped, my ego faded away but my conscious awareness was more accute than ever.
In fact the experiences were far more real than any other experiences I’ve ever had in this life. There is an undeniable understanding that we are all connected to everyone and everything and always have been and always will be, forever.
( eternally) Past relatives and pets are there to greet us and there is a white light that’s is ‘all loving’ and doesn’t judge us.
These are the most REAL, loving experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life and I’ll never question where I’m going when I die ever again.

Most humans that have had these types of experiences share the same type of information yet there are always people (disbelievers) who have never experienced anything like this that will angrily state that it’s all BS. Some people claim that it’s merely the brain shutting down and malfunctioning.

There aren’t words in the human vocabulary to explain this type of phenomenon, except miraculous.
It definitely has made me realize that there is far more I don’t know about life and our universe than I do and I’m ok with that.

See Shalimar; I always KNEW we shared something special.
Namaste:heart:

Namaste to you also, sister-survivor. It is almost beatific to realise that often it is the most broken and despairing of us who are touched by the limitless Grace of the Divine Pattern. Who am I not to accept a Love which surpasses all understanding? If such a Being finds me worthy, then it must be so, truly, we are Children of the Light. Blessings to all.

 

[Keesha]

I'm sincerely and respectfully happy that the OT and NT bring you joy and comfort, KingsX and would never think of discounting or attempting to dissuade you from your beliefs.

We each find our own way to a relationship with our Creator. As long as those avenues don't physically or emotionally injure others, humans should find a way to encourage, respect and tolerate others' perceptions and pathways to that relationship.

YES! Post of the year.
Exactly ! We should all respect each other’s right to find our own way of having a relationship with our creator, however different they may be as long as we aren’t hurting ourself or others.
Beautifully written Starsong.

 

[Keesha]

Namaste to you also, sister-survivor. It is almost beatific to realise that often it is the most broken and despairing of us who are touched by the limitless Grace of the Divine Pattern. Who am I not to accept a Love which surpasses all understanding? If such a Being finds me worthy, then it must be so, truly, we are Children of the Light. Blessings to all.

All shucks. Major goosebumps.
Thank you Shali :love_heart:

 

[Lara]

KingsX, I think we're pretty much on the same page but I never said the NT replaced the OT. Yes, they work together of course. The Bible, OT and NT, is a progression of God's revelation of Himself to us through historical events and his relationships with people throughout history. God doesn't change but forgiveness entered into the picture in the New Testament for those who believe in the sacrifice that His Son made for us in order to save us from eternal punishment for our sins.

"Because of God’s righteous and holy character, all sin—past, present, and future—must be judged. Yet God in His infinite love provided a payment for sin and a way of reconciliation so that sinful man can escape His wrath. We see this wonderful truth in verses like 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Only envisioned in the Old Testament, the ultimate expression of God’s love, the sending of His Son Jesus Christ, is revealed in all its glory in the New Testament. Both the Old and the New Testaments were given “to make us wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15)."

 

[Sunny]

1. God does not punish people while on earth for their sins. Man punishes himself with natural consequences for what he has done. Sometimes, however, good people suffer but it's not a punishment from God. The punishment is from Satan. Could God stop Satan? Yes, of course, but sometimes there are a hundred+ reasons in the Bible why he doesn't, none of which are punishment. All of which are for the ultimate perfect plan for greater good.

2. God is not created. God is the Creator.

3. God is not created in man's image. Scripture states that "God created man in His image" ...not the other way around.

Lara, in order to believe that, you have to believe in the divine origin of the Bible. Not all of us do. I believe that it is a book full of fascinating stories, but just a book, written by humans. Attaching the name "God" to all the stuff in both testaments does not prove anything at all. I do not believe anything simply because other people have told me to believe it.

I am not ignorant about the Bible and its teachings; I grew up in a religious home and spent many hours studying, reading, and thinking about all this. And my human common sense tells me that it was all
conceived and written by other people. So if it says that some day, the God depicted in that book is going to punish me for my "sins," that sounds to me like a lot of ancient nonsense, full of boogey-man
stories designed to scare people into behaving themselves.

No one yet has been there and come back to tell us what happens. So, with all due respect, my opinion is just as valid as yours.

We should do good on this earth, be kind to other people, animals, and the planet, just because. Not because we are afraid of a tyrant out there punishing us after death.

 

[Lara]

No worries. I only post for the purpose of biblical clarity, not for changing your opinion or anyone else's.

You were created with an ability to choose what you want to believe.

When my thoughts are unwanted then there's no more to say *handshake*