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Why would you expect God to do better in another world than he has done in this world?

The problem with this world is not God, but fallen, sinful man. All the terrible things that go down are caused by sin: hate, prejudice, war, lust, envy, theft, child abuse, violence, unbelief, et al. The spiritual realm (heaven, God's dwelling place) where the righteus will live in eternal bliss is the realm where the angels cry: "Holy, Holy' Holy is the Lord God of Hosts." No sin, no death, no unbelief - just the rest of eternal peace - the way it was meant to be, until man sinned and ruined Eden.

Become part of the solution to sin: repent and believe on the atoning death of Messiah and be saved.

I have pondered this blog posting since it was posted. What happens (personal thoughts) after (at) death? Christians search the scriptures seeking comforting answers, yet, the living have no true idea. All that the living have are what is written in scripture. For me, I think of the writing attributed to Paul; "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord [God]" (II Corinthians 5.8). Yet, I am cautious when using/referencing writings attributed to Paul.

There are other factors to consider when discussing what happens at death regarding Christian thought. Then other faith traditions have other beliefs as well. And each of us must remember that this is a RELIGION blog, not just a CHRISTIAN blog. One may not agree with others, yet one must respect the right of others to have a voice in the conversation.

Shalom

" . . . yet one must respect the right of others to have a voice in the conversation."

So who's preventing anyone from voicing their views and opinoins on t his blog space? Just because one person has a firm belief doesn't prevent anyone else from chiming in. What meanest thou?

"I am cautious when using/referencing writings attributed to Paul."

And why is that? Because he is boldly Messianic, well-educated in Jewish relgion and Greek philsophy, enlightened, went to the "third heaven" - or is it because he is mucho un-PC?

People stop/cease posting when some people are so strong and emphatic, condemning, and condescending. Some continue to post regardless of this just to tease/harass the previous. Still others post because they choose to be the voice of "one crying in the wilderness."

Shalom

Do you expire and come back as a cricket?

Is the afterlife full of virginal women who have no value except to serve as pleasure slaves for cowards that don't have the guts to stand and fight, but blow themselves and innocents up?

Does your soul unite with the God who created you?
Do you just rot in the earth?

Sorry, Darrell- I believe the words of Paul and John.

"People stop/cease posting when some people are so strong and emphatic, condemning, and condescending"

Yeah, I know what you mean, Darryl. I started to "stop/cease posting" a while back when folks began using all sorts of invective and put-down towards me; but I decided, like you, to persevere in the face of bitter oppposition.

Hmmm. "Strong, emphatic" I've been called worse. "Condescending" I'll ponder that one. It may just be that "strong and emphatic" people APPEAR condescending, but in fact are just boldly asserting the divine viewpoint of Scripture. And often the opoposition to biblical views and principles is so strong and emphatic on this blog that it precipitates like responses.

Jesus, himself used very stong language against the scribes and Pharisees at times: "white-washed sepulchres . . . brood of vipers." Not to mention the Prophets. But I demure to compare my meager efforts to such exalted company.

My goal is to resolutely uphold the truths and principles of Scripture in a time of rejection, weak-kneed compromise, hostility, and spiritual darkness.

But, you do have a point - we could all use a little more humility. I'll work on it.

The end of life is just that: the end. There are no "mulligans," no award ceremony or trial in some supernatural arena. You exist exactly as much after death as you did before birth.

I used to wish that there was more to life than the average of 70 to 80 years. But becoming reconciled with the world as it is, and keeping fantasy locked into its proper place in life, is a necessary thing, I think. Part of the process of growing up.

Doubtless, some will take this in an insulting light, but as I told a friend today, I prefer to look at the facts and check to see if the shoe fits. And if it does, I wear it.

"I used to wish that there was more to life than the average of 70 to 80 years."

I used to, as well; but that wish deminishes the old I get: aches, pain, limitations, ugliness, et al. I opt for Paul's view: "It is far better to go to be with the Lord." There is something deep in the human spirit that yearns for God and total fulfillment which is beyond "fantasy;" it is rooted in the imago dei. How earthbound and unidimensional man's existence wihtout it.

"Part of the process of growing up." Growing up is pictured in the Scriptures as "growing up into Christ;" i.e. maturation in spiritual knowledge and godly love so as to be and live like the Master. It is NEVER portrayed as denying God, and one's eternal destiny in His presence.

How can one entertain a truly rational, demonstrably, provably true idea about anything (or nothing) persisting in one's consciousness after the fact of the death of one's own body?

The very thought of "thinking" itself seems to be negated by and in the fact and moment of death. When the brain dies, so doth thought.

But, is that "nothing"?

Well, for each particular person who takes that last breath, it doesn't seem that "nothing" would register as something to be identified...Just suddenly still at least somewhat or quite very much alive...and then, not. But I do not foresee a clear sense of "nothingness"...but this is hard to say, not having had the experience and not wanting it for some time yet.

Oh, sure, we wonder and ponder, mostly, I posit, because we observe other bodies die and then try to speculate about their "fate", since we still exist here and sincerely wish they continue to exist somewhere else. That way we might see them again. No matter the state of the body we see dead before us. No matter the logic or ill of brainless thoughts or consciousness. Strange thoughts indeed. But understandable in their consolation.

Whatever happens, my brain and hence my thoughts and all that counts as "me" will one day be dead and degrading unto dust. So, death then won't affect "me". More important, to live now. To love and care for others. To die, one hopes, with dignity.

Leave death and its aftermath to the dead. Let the dead bury the dead.

"Let the dead bury the dead." In this passage Jesus was not saying that physically dead folks were to bury their dead. That would be absurd. He was obviously saying that people who are not spiritualy "alive" are actually the walking dead (not zombies). Jesus was appealing to the man to leave behind all the lesser things of life, which detract from the most important thing of all: to know and follow Him, the fountain of life eternal.

For the twice-born child of God the very fact of being born from above/again is so inwardly demonstrable, and powerfully transformative, that the supernatural becomes natural: an elusive God has become an intimate and joyous reality. All of life then become an "intimation of immortality" The biblical term, "eternal life" is not just meant to convey life after death, but that divine life imparted by the Spirit to the redeemed. Walking with God from that moment on, knowing His blissful presence, seeing Him answer prayer, save loved ones, and reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom creates a kind of familiar knowing that sees death and everlasting, conscious life with God as a small step beyond the door of death. No biggie!

Without this inward reality it is a big question mark, an often scary one. If one has some inkling that he is a sinner, and God a righteous judge, it can be a horrible prospect. Even if one consciously denies this truth, it is inevitably etched in the very core of one’s being. Interesting, that those who deny God and his redeeming truth also vehemently deny the afterlife. Who wants an afterlife that holds judgment and hellish estrangement from one’s Creator, anyway. But then, there is no expectation of a continuing life of transcendent bliss either.

Nothing Nikos describes sounds any less absurd than dead burying dead. "Obvious" as the born-again interpretation may be to Nikos, it strikes the rationally-minded empiricist as quite strange, indeed. If Jesus or the Christian god wants everyone to be saved, why not dispense with cryptic language and spell it out? Why rely on metaphorical speech at all? And if one can live a decent, moral life without believing in a god, why punish someone eternally, behaving toward them worse than the worst human ever could? Is this god then infinitely more vengeful for feeling slighted by some puny human not believing in him than the most bloodthirsty killer on earth, who cannot bit murder another person once, rather than inflicting eternal pain?

Let the living live life fully. Death is inevitable, yes. Hence this life is more precious.

This is wierd! Take life as it comes. Dont be so condecending and mean. What happens will happen. Why do you need to know right now? Let people believe what they want to believe. Unless its hurting you, dont bother.

This is wierd! Take life as it comes. Dont be so condecending and mean. What happens will happen. Why do you need to know right now? Let people believe what they want to believe. Unless its hurting you, dont bother.

This is wierd! Take life as it comes. Dont be so condecending and mean. What happens will happen. Why do you need to know right now? Let people believe what they want to believe. Unless its hurting you, dont bother.