What will happen when I die?

[KaLi]

It's the same for everybody, no exceptions, so stop whining "It's SOO unfair" about going to Hell. If you do, you work off your negative Karma and get out eventually. Your friends just tell you it's forever for the same reason Priests do: be-good motivation!

What religion teaches that?

 

[PureX]

Excuse me, but you said:


So I stand by my response, not knowing personally any of these straw-man Christians you refer to, and would furthermore apply it to your second response as well.

And yes, I was following the conversation and read all the posts including your own, o/w wouldn't have said anything.

You will note that I was positing an opinion. If you disagree with the opinion, than say so and explain why. There's no need for you to get snotty and condescending. I believe that People who believe in a jealous and vengeful image of God do so because they want or need to. And I believe the reason they want or need to is because it helps them to feel special, and in control. I also believe they project their own desire for vengeance against those of us who don't believe as they do onto their God, and some of them actually relish the idea that their jealous and vengeful God is going to punish all of those of us who dared to scoff at their beliefs.

Now, you may not have met or are aware of any Christians who fit this profile, but I certainly am. And if you'd like to meet some of them, just drop me a PM and I'll send you the URL of a discussion site similar to this one where many of the Christians believe as I have outlined.

 

[Devil's_Chaplain]

When you die, your psyche will reconfigure to an intermediate state via a Judgement or recall of all your life's experiences, and then you'll "sleep" out of time. After that, you will then either descend to a lower plane or ascend to a higher one OR be compulsively reborn back into this realm immediately, in a new body with all memories of your previous lives buried in your subconscious. Okey-doke?

It's the same for everybody, no exceptions, so stop whining "It's SOO unfair" about going to Hell. If you do, you work off your negative Karma and get out eventually. Your friends just tell you it's forever for the same reason Priests do: be-good motivation!

You seem to have misunderstood. I am not whining about going to hell, I happen to believe that when I die there will be nothing; I am happy with that. What bothers me is my friends and their attitude towards my afterlife. Also I do not understand how such nice people can believe in such an unfair form of justice. I understand why they feel this way and I know that they themselves don't wish for me to go to hell. They love me and care for me; they just believe that my soul is eternally damned.

As for your first paragraph, ok..... You KNOW this do you?

 

[Hema]

What bothers me is my friends and their attitude towards my afterlife. Also I do not understand how such nice people can believe in such an unfair form of justice. I understand why they feel this way and I know that they themselves don't wish for me to go to hell. They love me and care for me; they just believe that my soul is eternally damned.

Why do they believe that your soul is eternally damned if you are trying to lead a good life?

 

[Devil's_Chaplain]

Why do they believe that your soul is eternally damned if you are trying to lead a good life?

Because the bible says so, or can be interpreted to.

 

[!Fluffy!]

Sorry, but in view of your own words here:

1.

I don't think they're thinking of it in terms of "fairness". I think they need to believe in a powerful and vengeful God, and to believe that they have a special deal with this God, so that they'll feel more in control of the big unknown: death.

2.

You should follow the discussion before you take offense, and begin scolding people.

My post was not a "sweeping generalization" because it was referring only to those Christians who believe that what they believe about Jesus matters more than what they do with their lives. This is based directly on an image of God as a "jealous and vengeful God" who does not forgive anyone who didn't "believe in him" while they were alive. This image of God is not concerned with what anyone does to anyone else in life, but is only concerned with whether or not we proclaimed our allegiance to this God-image and to the religious dogma that accompanies it.

3.

You will note that I was positing an opinion. If you disagree with the opinion, than say so and explain why. There's no need for you to get snotty and condescending. I believe that People who believe in a jealous and vengeful image of God do so because they want or need to. And I believe the reason they want or need to is because it helps them to feel special, and in control. I also believe they project their own desire for vengeance against those of us who don't believe as they do onto their God, and some of them actually relish the idea that their jealous and vengeful God is going to punish all of those of us who dared to scoff at their beliefs.

Now, you may not have met or are aware of any Christians who fit this profile, but I certainly am. And if you'd like to meet some of them, just drop me a PM and I'll send you the URL of a discussion site similar to this one where many of the Christians believe as I have outlined.

And my replies:

1.
That's quite a sweeping negative assumption and says more about your beliefs than theirs.

Funny, I have a lot of Christian friends and none of them believes God is a big vengeful monster waiting to throw unsuspecting souls into the hungry mouth of a fiery furnace. What I hear is much, much different from what you think or imagine.

For God so loved the world he gave His only begotten Son to die for us, that whosoever should believe on HIm should not perish but have everlasting life, and that sort of thing.

Go figure.

2.

Excuse me, but you said:

So I stand by my response, not knowing personally any of these straw-man Christians you refer to, and would furthermore apply it to your second response as well.

And yes, I was following the conversation and read all the posts including your own, o/w wouldn't have said anything.

---------
Beyond objecting to the unfair application of assumptions to a group of people none of us (except the author of this thread) knows personally, my contribution was rather minimal here and in no way deserved the tone you have adopted towards me.

Judging by the harshness of your comments I'd have to assume you have some bone to pick with me personally.

Rather than distracting from the rest of the posts I'd just as soon let people decide for themselves who is mischaracterizing whom.

 

[Hema]

Because the bible says so, or can be interpreted to.

Ask them if the Bible says that God is forgiving, then why would he send you to hell for eternity? Wouldn't a forgiving God give you chances to correct your wrongs?

 

[may]

What will happen to me when I die?

Ok, this really bugs me. I think I'm a pretty good person. I mean I don't do nasty things or anything, I love my family and always try to not hurt people. I respect all other animals and try to never deliberately harm them blah blah blah. The thing is, according to books like the Bible and Koran I will go to hell or wherever and burn eternally. I don't think this is fair, please help me with this. I have friends who love me and care for me, but the same people believe that when I die I will go to hell forever. It really upsets me that my friends could follow a religion (they just so happen to be Christians) that says good Atheists go to hell and bad Christians go to heaven (if they repent or whatever).

I'm obviously no expert on the subject, I'm just looking for some insight. I put this in the discussion area because I don't want it to seem like I'm having a go or looking for trouble. I just want to understand why I deserve to suffer forever.

Thanks

when you die you will go to dust like the rest of us, but at a future time if you are in Gods memory he will bring you back by means of the resurrection ,
Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgmentJohn 5;28-29this judgement is not the things you did before you died , but how you live your life from your resurrection onwards.
and then you will have the wonderful hope of living in a paradise earth for ever,you will not go to hellfire that is a false teaching and not an accurate bible truth .if after your resurrection you are judged adveresly for being unrighteous after your resurrection,you will be cutt-off from everlasting life .no hellfire that is a bad manmade teaching .

 

[jewscout]

Because the bible says so, or can be interpreted to.

depends on whose bible your reading.

 

[PureX]

That's quite a sweeping negative assumption and says more about your beliefs than theirs.

It's not a "sweeping" negative assumption, it's a specific negative assumption based on a specific set of claims. And what exactly do you think this says about my beliefs, since you seem to imagine that it says so much?

Funny, I have a lot of Christian friends and none of them believes God is a big vengeful monster waiting to throw unsuspecting souls into the hungry mouth of a fiery furnace. What I hear is much, much different from what you think or imagine.

Well, I have met many a Christian who DOES believe in a jealous and vengeful God, and who revel in the idea (based on their interpretation of the Book of Revelations) that this jealous and vengeful God is going to severely punish all those of us who dared not to believe as they believe. And as I said before, if you don't believe they exist, I can introduce you to some of them.

For God so loved the world he gave His only begotten Son to die for us, that whosoever should believe on HIm should not perish but have everlasting life, and that sort of thing.[/I]

.... Thus clearly implying that those who DON'T "believe on him" WILL perish in everlasting death.

Beyond objecting to the unfair application of assumptions to a group of people none of us (except the author of this thread) knows personally, my contribution was rather minimal here and in no way deserved the tone you have adopted towards me.

Perhaps I was reacting to the crack about how my comments say more about me than them, implying some negative motive on my part, but then never clarifying this implication. When I posted my opinion about the motives of the people being referred to in the opening post, I stated that it was an opinion and I clarified why I held it. If you wish to impugn my motives, then I'd ask that you be honest enough to do the same, and not take vague pot-shots at me.

Judging by the harshness of your comments I'd have to assume you have some bone to pick with me personally.

I have no bones to pick with you or anyone. I respond to what I read in the posts as I believe appropriate, and I don't know a thing about you or anyone else who posts, here, personally. If my comments seem harsh perhaps it's because your own comments were not as amiable as you had intended them to be. Or perhaps I misunderstood them. It's easy to do when all we have are words on a computer screen to go by.

Rather than distracting from the rest of the posts I'd just as soon let people decide for themselves who is mischaracterizing whom.

I don't see any need for anyone to be mischaracterizing anyone. I offered a negative opinion about the possible motivations of some Christian's beliefs, and resultant behaviors. That is not a mischaracterization of you, of them, or of anyone else. It's an opinion. And so far, the only argument you seem to have to counter my opinion is that you personally have not met any Christians who believe God is jealous and vengeful and who LIKE that image of God. And all I can say to you in response is that I have met them, and I can introduce you to a web site where you can meet them, too, if you really don't think they exist.

 

[Shabazzi30]

God is a god of love as it brings out in 1john 4:8 if everyone suffered eternal hell fire when they died what need was there for Jesus ransom? There would be none. On the other side God gives all humans free will to serve him or not just as he gave Adam the command not to eat from the tree he chose to eat from the tree Gen 2:15-17 so him and his wife are now in sheol which is mankinds common grave. So this is why we are in the imperfect state we are in now. Back in the days of Noah Luke 17:26 Moreover just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man. They were eating they were drinking, men were being given in marriage until that day when Noah entered into the ark, and the flood arrived and destroyed them all. So we have a choice to serve god and come to an accurate knowledge of bible truth John 17:3 and learn who the true god is Psalms 83:18 or you can be left over in this dying world 1John 2:17

 

[love]

Don't let the "reiligions" of this world be your judge and a truly Godly man knows better than to judge you, because we have all fallen short of the Glory of God. Millions of people exited before the birth of Christ, and I don't think they are doomed to hell. God, in his perfect wisdom is the discerner of mens heart. If you love and respect his creation, He will know. Questioning these things is beginning of understanding. Seek the true God. The God of love, and the answers and more questions will follow.

 

[YmirGF]

You seem to have misunderstood. I am not whining about going to hell, I happen to believe that when I die there will be nothing; I am happy with that. What bothers me is my friends and their attitude towards my afterlife. Also I do not understand how such nice people can believe in such an unfair form of justice. I understand why they feel this way and I know that they themselves don't wish for me to go to hell. They love me and care for me; they just believe that my soul is eternally damned.

Sadly, to this wee lump o' flesh, it sounds like your dear friends and yourself are using each other almost like little science projects or “pet” projects. In a way, the so-called "Christian" friends are telling you that you will burn to a cinder for eternity for not agreeing with their narrow views on reality. Otoh, you seem to be looking for ammo to respond to them. (I take it that you have not made much progress in changing THEIR thinking, lol... hence you came here to ask.)

I must admit that I am puzzled why someone who does not believe in any afterlife at all would even be remotely interested in talking to people who were utterly convinced of eternal damnation. Such a pleasant little sadistic vision of God they have, eh? I do hope it works for them.

Imho, the "Hellfire" fans are simply using a rather large impending "stick" to get the individual to hunker down, with humility, to grovel to their self-adoring “gawd” whilst begging for forgiveness. The "carrot" is simply the silly concept of enjoying some Nirvanic, robotic bliss standing beside their stunted vision of god for eternity. You do understand how these attitudes are geared towards “little children”, metaphorically speaking, of course. :slap:

The price would seem to be free will, after all, when one starts doing "god's will" then everything apparently gets oh so hunky dory. Don't you find it odd that these folks expect one to essentially throw the greatest gift of all right back in the face of the giver? Now how is THAT for a respecting attitude, eh? If I were He, I wouldn't be particularly impressed with such people. Forgive my windy rant, but you might want to find better friends or are you somewhat masochistic?

As for your first paragraph, ok..... You KNOW this do you?

BTW: Godlike’s comments are actually both quite distorted but also fairly accurate imho. I realize that sounds absurd but he has hit on a few features that are correct and then “lost it” from there. :flirt:

 

[Stairs In My House]

I care what the Bible says about me, and the people who believe it. The Bible is very clear about what happens to non-believers, is it not?

Apparently it's not: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_reconciliation

I have to ask, have your friends actually said they believe that you are going to hell, or are you assuming they believe that because they profess a belief in Christianity?

Because if it's just the latter, then they may not believe it, or they may believe you will be given a last chance after death to accept Christ, or they may believe that you'll only spend a little while in hell, or they may believe that hell is not a fiery pit of torture but just an empty existence totally separate from God.

Also, they may believe that since you are a good person you will come around to their beliefs eventually, so in their minds you won't really go to hell. Or they may not have thought about the issue much. I'm not a Christian but I find it hard to believe that for most reasonable Christians, WARNING: HELLBOUND is the first thing that pops into their heads upon seeing a non-Christian.

As someone else already stated, you should really have this conversation with your friends if you're that worried about what they might be thinking.

 

[Anti-World]

If I had a dime for every person that a christian said would go to hell I would be able to climb out...

 

[Rough_ER]

Hehe, I have the same friends I'm afraid. They are otherwise perfectly nice people who I care for very much. They often come out with corkers such as "I love you man, but you are going to burn in hell for all eternity for your sins". I try to see the funny side.

 

[Random]

BTW: Godlike’s comments are actually both quite distorted but also fairly accurate imho. I realize that sounds absurd but he has hit on a few features that are correct and then “lost it” from there. :flirt:

I suppose it can seem that way when you tell the truth as plain-in-front-of-your-face as is possible to do. I do not fancy that I "lost it" @ all, Paul; but cheers for verifying my work from afar. :flirt:

 

[Stairs In My House]

Hehe, I have the same friends I'm afraid. They are otherwise perfectly nice people who I care for very much. They often come out with corkers such as "I love you man, but you are going to burn in hell for all eternity for your sins". I try to see the funny side.

Possible response: "One of my favorite things about universal salvation is that I get to see the look on your face when we both wind up in heaven."

I don't really believe in heaven and I don't really have a concept of "salvation", but I would probably say this anyway. Heck, it's probably just another metaphor for the same thing anyhow.

 

[athanasius]

What will happen when I die?

Purgatory hopefully.

 

[Super Universe]

I think what you really want to know is this, will you go to heaven? Most assuredly, but heaven is not the next step. Heaven is many, many, more schoolhouses away. How could you go to heaven after the earth when you don't even know where heaven is?

Now to answer your question directly. You will go to the place you have earned, not where you think you will go or even want to go. Do not see the choices as either heaven or hell, there are many levels between.

When Christ described hell He was describing the annihilation of a soul by a form of energy that is best described in our words as fire. Christ described this because at the time Lucifer was making trouble in the universe and this was meant as a warning to him.

This type of annihilation is the only way to end a being who's unique personality has already fused with their soul into a mature universal sovereign being.

This punishment does not happen to humans. The universe does not annihilate it's immature children.

The punishment of annihilation of your soul is only given for the penalty of "Denial of Diety". You must have enough maturity and knowledge of the universe and God that you accept Him but then for selfish reasons you turn away and deny Him. This judgement and punishment is not given by God but by high and powerful angels known as the Ancients of Days. Even Lucifer was given the chance to repent but he refused.

Before you can enter heaven you must repair your karma because it is a universal law.
In the next levels you must forgive others who have done wrong to you and ask and receive forgiveness from those you have harmed. You must learn a universal language and be able to communicate without thinking of words (very difficult, try it sometime).

You will be introduced to the universal heirarchy, beings who do much of the work directing, teaching, and guiding universal beings on the path of ascendence.

You must learn about the true balance of energy and matter. You will be taught about other forms of energy unknown to humans. You will be taught an advanced theory of the Prime Creator.

You might choose to do work for the universe for a while, you might choose to join with a biologic and have another life experiment, or you might choose to continue on your path of learning and ascendence toward heaven.