Of course, humans are a bigger deal than a bug, or any other animal. They can't get a ressurection, right?
SO WHAT IF YOU GO TO HELL???
by minimus 27 Replies latest jw friends
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TheOldHippie
I've lived in constant, conscious fear of death, of non-existance, each and every day for the 40+ years since I was 7, and the fear seems only to be growing day by day. I don't know what it is that keeps from yelling out loud and going insane, but man, am I on the verge of catastrophe each minute of the day - not to speak about the night ..........
There is much comfort in good wine and good beer. And good whiskey. Etc. Etc.
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minimus
OLD HIPPIE, Are you just trying to be funny? Otherwise, this is sad.
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Navigator
Well said Francois! I have come to believe that Jesus died to show us that death could be overcome and not for any "ransom sacrifice". His sojurn here on this plane must have been to show us what the possibilities were if we could reconnect with the memory of who and what we are. His so called "bitter teachings" seem to have more to do with wasted opportunities in this world than in some sort of eternal punishment. I'm not discounting the possibilty that remembrance of our short comings might be somewhat painful in an after-life. There is a line in A Course in Miracles that says, "God's will is for you to be in heaven, and nothing can keep you from it or it from you." I vote for the concept of an infinitely loving Father/Mother God.
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Francois
Navigator, I'm with you 2.
All aspects of life must be a part of God: male, female, and other characteristics we don't even know about. And I do believe that Paul did get it right when he said, "God is Love." I think that realization is the most important that can be made; and along with it that Love is the most powerful force in the universe. I really believe it is, and that is why a soft answer turns away wrath. It is the force that Gandhi used to get the British Raj out of India after 300 years. Powerful stuff, that love.
And I'm with you on giving up the "ransom" sacrifice. What a detestable teaching. I could (and have) ranted on about that before, so I think I'll give everyone a break.
I do think Jesus had a specific reason for being here, and I think that reason is virutally unknown on this planet. But I'm as certain as I can be that he did not come here to die and ignominious death for my sins. I mean, think what that means about the nature and character of God, that ransom sacrifice. The JWs parrot it without spending one microsecond thinking about what that really says about their God - that primitive showboater who likes to impress ignorant savages by speaking from a fulminating volcano.
But, back to Jesus, I think his presence here was to accomplish three things:
1. To disclose God to Man. He who has seen me has seen the Father.
2. To disclose Man to God. To illustrate to God what a spirit-led perfect man would be like.
3. To disclose Man to himself. To illustrate to man what he could be if only he would try.I think he did a remarkable job on all three counts. And I think we're so conflicted on this planet, and have so many different definitions of religion and of philosophy, and are willing to allow the most hurtful and insane behaviors to take place in order to "protect" our organization, that we have lost sight of what it is that religion is and what it is supposed to do for us....not what we are supposed to do for it.
The way the JWs and others show up with their hands out, makes me think of the Red Cross showing up at a disaster scene and attempting to take up donations and collections and such. Religion has become a stern and immovable judge of orthodoxy. And if you ain't orthodox, you ain't shit. Ask any JW.
Well I've rambled on enough for this thread. I hope I made a point or two that does someone some good. I think I'll go take a short nap. See yas later.
Frank
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TheOldHippie
No fun, minimus, but truth. OK, perhaps taken to the extreme in the wording, but in principle correct. A few years ago, an author here committed suicide, and the newspapers wrote he had lived all his life with a "death awareness", and I think you can describe it like that - a constant awareness of one's own death, that one is on route to death. Nothing more, but definitely nothing less, either.
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minimus
So, if someone lives in fear of death, isn't that abnormal? Shouldn't such a person get some help or therapy?
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TheOldHippie
Definitely, minimus, definitely .............