Afterlife

[RamaRaksha]

I think this life is too brief to learn, experience, see, or do everything, don’t you? Just seeing all the variety of life and creation in this temporal world makes me imagine the endless beauty and creativity that will be taking place in the eternal heaven and earth. I don’t think it will be boring for a second with endless things to learn, places to explore, people to meet, adventures to enjoy and most of all living in the Presence and Love of God.

So it is like we are all retired - we get to enjoy ourselves - all free?
Where do we live? In a house? No rent, nothing?
And we get to go places? How do we travel? Air, bus?
All that good stuff waiting for us - no wonder people have killed themselves trying to get there and we mock them as cults
But why? What's all that about?
Is this God's Grand Plan? Billions of people just laying about doing nothing, enjoying themselves?
How does that make any sense?

There is no way for us to know exactly what we will be doing in Heaven, but I believe that if we were believers we will continue the work we were doing in this life. I don't know what nonbelievers will be doing, after they get over the shock of realizing that they are not dead.

“Those who have passed on through death, have a sphere of their own. It is not removed from ours; their work, the work of the Kingdom, is ours; but it is sanctified from what we call ‘time and place.’ Time with us is measured by the sun. When there is no more sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time does not exist for man. Those who have ascended have different attributes from those who are still on earth, yet there is no real separation.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, pp. 95-96

God doesn't need to get anything done but we might want to get things done. Otherwise we will be pretty bored, living forever with nothing to do.

What work though? we "work" just to keep us occupied?
The devil is in the details, isn't it?
Are we policemen directing traffic? Are there factories making cars?
Are we bankers handing out loans?
Are we working in restaurants as chefs, waiters?
What exactly is going on?
And if everything is free - why would anyone be working?

 

[RamaRaksha]

God is with the people (souls) living in this world as well as with people (souls) who have crossed over to the spiritual world.
God is not with dead bodies since the soul leaves the body after the death of the body.
According to my beliefs.

By that I meant God is with the people who need him
Why would anyone need God in Heaven - the way it sounds as if it is like having one big party
People seem to be enjoying themselves - who knew Death is the gateway to fun land?
And yet people blindly cling to life - no one celebrates a cancer diagnosis - odd, isn't it?
I know when I am at a party, dancing, drinking, eating - I am not thinking of God
And those on earth who are holding the hand of their sick child, am sure, are thinking of God
And God is with them
.
BTW do we think of our loved ones on earth?
If a bread winner dies, his family is sure to struggle
No income, the family might become homeless, the children going to bed hungry
We see so many tragedies, young children being abducted, lost in the forest
So being in Heaven means we care no more?

 

[RamaRaksha]

I was thinking this is why it is good to know what actually happens after we die so we are not shocked after we die and are not dead.

I was in agreement up until 3:28 in the video...........

I absolutely do not believe in reincarnation, not only because I cannot imagine anything worse than having to live life on this earth all over again, but because it goes against what my religion teaches.

81: REINCARNATION

Basically the idea of Reincarnation is that there is only ONE WORLD, this one
If you want life it is only here
There is no magic land in the sky - no billions of people just taking it easy
God is not a Sugar Daddy to billions letting them just sit around doing nothing
As a Kid you were taught that Santa is not true - no one gives away free presents
There is nothing free in this world or next
You have been taught that by God
But greed for the easy lazy life promised seems to have blinded you to the morals God taught you

 

[Trailblazer]

So it is like we are all retired - we get to enjoy ourselves - all free?

If you think you will be enjoying yourself the way most people enjoy themselves in this world I believe you are in for a big surprise.
According to my beliefs there is nothing physical in the afterlife (next world) so we won't be engaging in physical activities that bring people joy here..

Where do we live? In a house? No rent, nothing?
And we get to go places? How do we travel? Air, bus?

Nobody knows that answers to these questions as the afterlife is for the most part a mystery.
One thing I believe is that is not anything that we are able to imagine since it is so different from life in this world.

“The nature of the soul after death can never be described, nor is it meet and permissible to reveal its whole character to the eyes of men.........
The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother. When the soul attaineth the Presence of God, it will assume the form that best befitteth its immortality and is worthy of its celestial habitation.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 156-157

Is this God's Grand Plan? Billions of people just laying about doing nothing, enjoying themselves?
How does that make any sense?

I do not believe that there will be billions of people just laying about doing nothing, hoping to enjoy themselves.
What you just described is Hell, not Heaven.

Heaven is a reward for people who lived their lives on earth to serve God rather than living for self and this world.
Heaven is for people who desire to be close to God, not for people who live for the worldly pleasures.

Matthew 16:24-26 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 12:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I would not expect atheists to still be adamant about being atheists after they died and realized they were not dead.

I think it would be fair to call it a rude awakening.

 

[Trailblazer]

What work though? we "work" just to keep us occupied?

I think we will work just because we like working, but it won't be the kind of work we are doing here, work to make money.
I believe it will be work serving God by helping other people.

The devil is in the details, isn't it?

Yes, the devil is in the details. You might like this thread I posted a few months ago. It was intended to be comical, but it also makes some serious points.

What are the best and worst things about heaven?

What are the best and worst things about heaven? I’ll start. There are a lot more things but these are my top 5. Best things about heaven: 1. No more cars or traffic. 2. No more houses to take care of. 3. No more physical ailments or physical pain. 4. No more grief when loved ones die. 5...

www.religiousforums.com

Are we policemen directing traffic? Are there factories making cars?
Are we bankers handing out loans?
Are we working in restaurants as chefs, waiters?
What exactly is going on?

No, none of those things. You are thinking of work in earthly terms, like work to make money to live on, but when there is no rent or car payments and no need for food, money is no longer necessary.

And if everything is free - why would anyone be working?

Because they enjoy working. I suppose people could be doing other things as well, whatever their heart desires, aside from physical pleasures.

 

[InChrist]

So it is like we are all retired - we get to enjoy ourselves - all free?
Where do we live? In a house? No rent, nothing?
And we get to go places? How do we travel? Air, bus?
All that good stuff waiting for us - no wonder people have killed themselves trying to get there and we mock them as cults
But why? What's all that about?
Is this God's Grand Plan? Billions of people just laying about doing nothing, enjoying themselves?
How does that make any sense?

I can’t answer your questions about details because details haven’t been revealed. But some of your assumptions sound like you think it will be no different than this physical, fallen world.
I envision a realm free of sin, pain, suffering, sadness, selfishness, laziness, etc. , but filled with beauty, productivity, creativity, ever-learning, growing In knowledge, wisdom, and love.

 

[Jimmy]

After physical death, I am going to heaven to be with the Lord…



For we know that if our earthly house, , is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Indeed. I love simple responses.

 

[Trailblazer]

By that I meant God is with the people who need him

God is with people who need Him and love Him, people who want to be with Him.
That is the case in this life and in the afterlife., in this life and in the afterlife.

Why would anyone need God in Heaven - the way it sounds as if it is like having one big party
People seem to be enjoying themselves - who knew Death is the gateway to fun land?
And yet people blindly cling to life - no one celebrates a cancer diagnosis - odd, isn't it?
I know when I am at a party, dancing, drinking, eating - I am not thinking of God
And those on earth who are holding the hand of their sick child, am sure, are thinking of God
And God is with them

As I said in previous posts, the afterlife is not like one big party, dancing, drinking, eating...
We need God more in this life than the afterlife since this life is much more difficult, but those who love God want to be with God in this life and in the afterlife.

BTW do we think of our loved ones on earth?
If a bread winner dies, his family is sure to struggle
No income, the family might become homeless, the children going to bed hungry
We see so many tragedies, young children being abducted, lost in the forest
So being in Heaven means we care no more?

That is a good question. I don't really know if those who are in Heaven are thinking of those they left behind on earth, but I would like to know, because my late husband who I was married to for 37 years was in a hurry to leave this world, and he was not very kind to be after he found out he was very ill. He did not fight to live at all since he wanted to die, and he did not care about leaving me behind with no children or any other family and no close friends either. I probably shouldn't say this but I hope he is remorseful. Of course I cannot know what he is thinking now and that is very painful not knowing, and not even knowing why he was suicidal for long time before his diagnosis. I believe I will see him after I die and maybe then I will know, but that could be a long way off, so I try to put this out of my mind.

 

[Trailblazer]

Basically the idea of Reincarnation is that there is only ONE WORLD, this one
If you want life it is only here

What a horrible thought. I guess it is not a bad thought for people who like their lives in this world but I have never been one of those people.
Moreover, I cannot believe a loving God would ever send anyone back to this world to live life all over again.

There is no magic land in the sky - no billions of people just taking it easy
God is not a Sugar Daddy to billions letting them just sit around doing nothing

No, as I said in my previous posts there is no such land.
Based upon the scriptures of my religion, as noted below, I believe that the afterlife will be joyful for those who were close to God, but I have no idea what the nature of that joy will be.

“Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.

“As to those that have tasted of the fruit of man’s earthly existence, which is the recognition of the one true God, exalted be His glory, their life hereafter is such as We are unable to describe. The knowledge thereof is with God, alone, the Lord of all worlds.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 345-346

As a Kid you were taught that Santa is not true - no one gives away free presents
There is nothing free in this world or next
You have been taught that by God

I never said that Heaven is for free. Everything in this life and what we get in the next life has to be earned, not only by belief but also by actions.

But greed for the easy lazy life promised seems to have blinded you to the morals God taught you

I have no greed or expectations of a lazy life although I wish life was a little easier than it has been.