What makes people want to believe in the afterlife?

The only point that truly matters is/are my own, and hence I abide. It is impossible to be identical to another person. My thoughts are my own unless there is a leak. Then my thoughts are up for grab, do not delay they're going fast.
 

What makes people want to believe in the afterlife?​


Pretty natural inclination
Especially when older, and getting feeble.....if you have any love of life/living left at all
Otherwise......the 'hope' is for a quick painless death

I could cite biblical texts that proved some things to me,
but that's been pretty much beat to death (or 'the afterlife') already
 
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I for one am quite enjoying the discussion. While i have core beliefs that are unlikely to change due to how i arrived at them, there are a lot of 'details' about this life, this universe and how it all 'works' that i consider still open questions without firm finite answers. Bouncing notions and questions off each other, even if no-one expands anyones views or changes anyone's beliefs is a good mental exercise and for me at least interesting and enjoyable.
 

OneEyedDiva said:
Wow Gaer! I didn't know that you are an author. An author and an artist...that's awesome!!
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Oh, You are so sweet!
It's so much more important that I bring the words of the Angels to anyone who is open to receive these sacred messages.
Why listen to human opinions when THE HOLY ANGELS OF GOD are telling the truths to the world?
The mind is in the relative, field but Holy Angels are in the absolute, eternal realm and hold the ight of GOD!
Thank you so much!
 
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God is described as the creator but what if God is and was the essence of all and all. The bible portrays God in the image of a man so people can relate. I support the notion all that is is God and God is all that is. When we pray, prayer is received by all that is meaning God.

Not many people understand or agree with this concept but it makes sense to me.
 
Phoenix said:
We each decide what feels right to us. Just because someone else believes or does not believe something, doesn't mean I will. Debating it does no good. We each come away believing as we did when we went in. We need to respect others' rights to believe as they need to believe.
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Why would you say that we need to respect other's rights to believe as they need to believe, if you didn't think anyone was being disrespectful? I read it as a reprimand to some of us and worried that you were talking to me since someone else said something similar directly to me. The part about debating doing no good seemed like you were saying the whole thread was a waste of time. I like debates! I think they're good mental exercise that help us sort out our thinking by putting our position into words. I quit contributing to this thread because of these sort of warnings. They make me feel like a child being lectured by the teacher.
 
Alligatorob said:
Yep, that is me, I only believe in what I can see or see evidence of. For me it is hard to understand otherwise.

I don't deny, I just don't believe in what I can't see or understand. I am open to being proven wrong, would welcome it in fact. I do not see this world as "mundane" many amazing things here. I am happy to be having the chance to experience it!
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Guess you don't believe in electricity or love then, huh. Hey, you can't see it. Transcending is what is "amazing" but very natural. When you feel the "amazing" things then you are transcending, no need to see or understand...just bask in the experience and look forward to many many more. The grave is not the goal.
 
Della said:
Why would you say that we need to respect other's rights to believe as they need to believe, if you didn't think anyone was being disrespectful? I read it as a reprimand to some of us and worried that you were talking to me since someone else said something similar directly to me. The part about debating doing no good seemed like you were saying the whole thread was a waste of time. I like debates! I think they're good mental exercise that help us sort out our thinking by putting our position into words. I quit contributing to this thread because of these sort of warnings. They make me feel like a child being lectured by the teacher.
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Thank you Della! When I saw 6 members leaving "love" and "likes" for her 2 posts and no support at all for my reaction (similar to yours) I decided to leave the thread. It's nice to have one member who understands my reaction. You were brave to choose the road less traveled.

I don't usually count or compare reactions but this time it got me that no one understood it the way I did.
 
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Liberty said:
Transcending is what is "amazing" but very natural. When you feel the "amazing" things then you are transcending, no need to see or understand...just bask in the experience and look forward to many many more.
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An interesting idea. What do you mean by "transcend"?

To be clear when I said I "don't believe in what I can't see or understand" I was speaking in a very generalized way. I do believe in electricity, I can certainly "see" its effect and what we can do with it, not hard to believe in. Love on the other hand is a less clear thing. I have and do feel love for people and things like my country. I think that fits my definition of "see", even if not literally. I think love is a very real and important human emotion.
 
When I was two years old, my earliest memory was of suddenly existing. In front of me, say five feet, was a round ball of pure, white light. All around it was dark. When I was old enough, I decided this was God. Therefore, I believe in the afterlife.
 
Lara said:
When I saw 6 members leaving "love" and "likes" for her 2 posts and no support at all for my reaction (similar to yours) I decided to leave the thread.
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Keep in mind what you've said yourself, sometimes especially with short comments it is hard to ascertain the 'attitude' behind what they are saying and not everyone is precise with their language.
Truth be told i perceived your response to Phoenix as somewhat defensive, but understand your reaction since on social media it has become somewhat common to be dismissive and condescending toward religious/spiritual people. But i try not to get in the middle of others' personal disputes unless i know one of them well enough to know they are being misunderstood.
 
feywon said:
Truth be told i perceived your response to Phoenix as somewhat defensive...
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Della said:
Why would [Phoenix] say that we need to respect other's rights to believe as they want if you didn't think anyone was being disrespectful? I read it as a reprimand to some of us...The part about debating doing no good seemed like [Phoenix] was saying the whole thread was a waste of time.... I quit contributing to this thread because of these sort of warnings. They make me feel like a child being lectured by the teacher.
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`
feywon, you thought my response to Phoenix was somewhat defensive? ouch.

I thought I was very polite toward her warnings of "being disrespectful" and "debates are no good" in an otherwise friendly discussion that we were all enjoying. She only posted once in the whole thread and it wasn't about believing in the afterlife. 99 civil on-topic friendly posts and then hers. I thought I responded with kindness and self-control, considering.

This is why you don't find many Christians in religious threads. They don't find it worth it to be thick skinned against accusations like being defensive. Like another member said recently as he left the forum...It was fun, until it wasn't.
`
 
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Lara said:
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feywon, you thought my response to Phoenix was somewhat defensive? ouch.

I thought I was very polite toward her warnings of "being disrespectful" and "debates are no good" in an otherwise friendly discussion that we were all enjoying. She only posted once in the whole thread and it wasn't about believing in the afterlife. 99 civil on-topic friendly posts and then hers. I thought I responded with kindness and self-control, considering.

This is why you don't find many Christians in religious threads. They don't find it worth it to be thick skinned against accusations like being defensive. Like another member said recently as he left the forum...It was fun, until it wasn't.
`
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I don't know either of you very well. You may have had tense exchanges i'm unaware of...so i could be wrong about how i perceived both sets of remarks. i had no intention to offend you. i do feel you were absolutely right in pointing out that you, like most of us, were answering the question in the title not being disrespectful of others views just presenting your own.

But i constantly have to remind myself that many if not most people are less careful with their words than i strive to be. She could have meant 'We all, me included, need to respect other's views.' And phased it carelessly.

Personally i took more issue with her 'no point in debating' remark. If that's how one feels why comment on threads like this at all?

I have been blatantly criticized and chastised, lectured to by mamy people on line, because i have some 'out there' veiws and many times i'm caught in the middle between people at odds with each other, and being fussed at by both, because i can see more than one side to most everything.

Where i'm fortunate is, my upbringing and experiences help me to not take things personal In most cases even they are intended to be because unless i know the person well and have a deep respect for them (which takes time) their feelings toward and opinions of me simply do not impact how i feel about myself. Everyone gets baseline, fellow human respect from me for starters but over time that can increase or decrease. Even if it decreases i can still be civil to them.

Just a couple of days ago i had a contentious exchange with a pompous man on another thread, who tried to intimidate me. After making it clear he could not i put him on what i call 'mental ignore'. Life is too short especially at this end of it to allow random strangers in cyberspace to impact one's state and peace of mind.
 
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feywon said:
But i constantly have to remind myself that many if not most people are less careful with their words than i strive to be. She could have meant 'We all, me included, need to respect other's views.' And phased it carelessly.
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The written word does not convey body language. There's no eye contact, no facial expression no subtle nuances. Responding without such can often lead to, "light blue touch paper and stand well clear."

It's not deliberate of course, but as the argument progresses, sensitivities always seem to get trodden on. At least that's how I see it when reading the protagonists postings. In the end we get a situation like that of Aunt Marg, sadly her input is no more.

You are right feywon, carefully written comments, coupled with respect for others, goes a long way in avoiding spats.
 
horseless carriage said:
The written word does not convey body language. There's no eye contact, no facial expression no subtle nuances. Responding without such can often lead to, "light blue touch paper and stand well clear."

It's not deliberate of course, but as the argument progresses, sensitivities always seem to get trodden on. At least that's how I see it when reading the protagonists postings. In the end we get a situation like that of Aunt Marg, sadly her input is no more.

You are right feywon, carefully written comments, coupled with respect for others, goes a long way in avoiding spats.
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I've seen some of her posts but did not know her.

I try to ask clarifying questions if unsure of another person's meaning, but some people see that as confrontational when i'm just trying to be sure i understand their position, before responding.
 
Shalimar said:
Perhaps, at times, some view a difference of perception as a personal attack?
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You are probably right, but it is unfortunate. Its the differences that make discussion interesting. If we all agreed it would be pretty boring.

And as Feywon has said expressing ones point of view and engaging in the conversations can help us clarify our own thoughts.
 
I can only speak to my own experience. I am drawn to the Presence of the Divine Feminine in whatever form that may be. For me, this is a part of a universal consciousness, rather than a specific Deity. I have no reason to believe that will end when I die. I am going to forgo any discussion re what I believe my role might be at that time. What propels

my spiritual rather than religious beliefs is likely affected by some very strong experiences I have had during my lifetime. I would refer to them as “surprised by joy.”
 
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feywon said:
I don't know either of you very well. You may have had tense exchanges i'm unaware of...so i could be wrong about how i perceived both sets of remarks. i had no intention to offend you. i do feel you were absolutely right in pointing out that you, like most of us, were answering the question in the title not being disrespectful of others views just presenting your own....Personally i took more issue with her 'no point in debating' remark. If that's how one feels why comment on threads like this at all?
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I've never had any "tense" exchange in the past with Phoenix...nor any exchange. I don't know her. She used to be a member here and "left for awhile". She recently came back. I read that in her Profile of "Postings" and that's all I know. Thank you for your nice post.
 
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Shalimar said:
Perhaps, at times, some view a difference of perception as a personal attack?
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I have on other platforms on occasion been directly attacked, the person addressing me by my name and then calling me names and one fool tried to threaten me. It was in a discussion of a different hot button issue. I laughed and asked if that was best he could do, further stating "i have actually risked my life to live by my principles, do you really think some random bigot on the internet scares me?" Never heard back from him.
 

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