Your belief of the afterlife

[LuisDantas]

You can cherish both.

Maybe you can. I can not. Nor do I want to.

Just in Buddhistic thinking it's all in the mind. So, this may help. If you think of it as a "helping technique from the mind" rather than supernatural, than maybe its easier to understand personally (rather than observation).

I guess I will never know.

That wheel has been very throughly poisoned by my experiences with reincarnationists. I just can't feel any appeal in the idea.

Odds are that I will die still disgusted of the abuses justified by afterlife beliefs.

 

[arthra]

In your religion, do you have distinct beliefs about what happens in the afterlife?

Baha'is believe the soul continues after this life and that we progress through spiritual worlds. The purpose of life on this plane is to acquire virtues and reflect some of the attributes of God. We do not become God but our highest station will be to be in the presence of God in the future. We can remain in contact with loved ones in the spiritual world.. We can pray for them and they.. our loved ones... can pray for us to ask God's mercy and forgiveness.

As the spirit of man after putting off this material form has an everlasting life, certainly any existing being is capable of making progress; therefore it is permitted to ask for advancement, forgiveness, mercy, beneficence, and blessings for a man after his death, because existence is capable of progression.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - p. 329

Our passage from this material world to the spiritual world has been compared to the life of the foetus in the womb of the mother... All the needs of the foetus are met in the womb... The limbs of the foetus are for the next life outside the womb... similarly in this life we are developing spiritual "limbs" and perfections to serve in the next life.

Abdul-Baha revealed a prayer for us facing the next life:

"I entreat and supplicate in the Threshold of the Almighty and ask for your confirmation and assistance, that you may be born wholly out of the physical world into the Realm of Divine, to seek after the eternal life and wish for the everlasting gift, so that you may shine upon ages and cycles like unto the morning star!"

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 555

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Maybe you can. I can not. Nor do I want to.


I guess I will never know.

That wheel has been very throughly poisoned by my experiences with reincarnationists. I just can't feel any appeal in the idea.

Odds are that I will die still disgusted of the abuses justified by afterlife beliefs.

Aww. I was commenting on someone else on the Jesus-death thread and looked up how many hours does it take for someone to decompose. From how they described it, I would not be a heck of a bit surprised (if I could be surprised) if that "was it." I think that's what we need to focus on, being comfortable with change. If anything, I'm more concerned with how I will die not the death itself.

 

[psychoslice]

The only life I cherish is this life, if there is such thing as an afterlife, then let it take care of itself.

 

[Acim]

Is your belief a part of a certain tradition?

Not that I'm aware of. But I did combine a few things I've heard over time, including Gnostic understandings.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Not that I'm aware of. But I did combine a few things I've heard over time, including Gnostic understandings.

Hmm. Yeah. It must have taken years to develop those beliefs. Very extensive.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

In your religion, do you have distinct beliefs about what happens in the afterlife?

For example, some people say we become mere consciousness. If you were to distinctively describe that, what does that mean?

Others say we will become back with oneness or with everything. Although I understand this, if you were to explain it to those who do not, what would distinctively describe that as an "afterlife belief"?

I have a distinct and very short view of the afterlife. We live, we our bodies die, our spirits live to take care of our loved ones. Whether I am aware of it or not isn't the point. That's my body. As long as I know I'm alive in spirit, that's afterlife to me.

I wouldn't call nibanna afterlife because it just focuses on our full understanding of rebirth. Once we get to that full understanding, if you'd like to reply to this thread, give a distinct or understandable place (position, thought perspective), we would be once we reach that state and if it's consciousness, how do you define that without the body?

If you don't believe in any form of the afterlife (for the "I'm the exception" folks), what would you like the afterlife to be? (This is interfaith so you don't have to down Christianity when the word afterlife pops up)

I do not know with certainty what happens after we die, nor does any other human being who has not died. Having said this, my best bet would be that consciousness ceases after physical death. After all, if "consciousness" were immaterial, eternal, and separate from the physical body, it seems logical to assume that it would exist prior to physical birth as well. How convenient that this mechanism that religious individuals refer to as the "soul" just coincidentally happens to come into existence at the same time as the physical brain does.

 

[lynnlynn97]

I believe that in the 'bad' afterlife there is eternal darkness were you are conscious but really sad. The 'good' one I think it would be similar to life now but with a deeper understanding of the universe.

 

[Ben Avraham]

In your religion, do you have distinct beliefs about what happens in the afterlife?

For example, some people say we become mere consciousness. If you were to distinctively describe that, what does that mean?

Others say we will become back with oneness or with everything. Although I understand this, if you were to explain it to those who do not, what would distinctively describe that as an "afterlife belief"?

I have a distinct and very short view of the afterlife. We live, we our bodies die, our spirits live to take care of our loved ones. Whether I am aware of it or not isn't the point. That's my body. As long as I know I'm alive in spirit, that's afterlife to me.

I wouldn't call nibanna afterlife because it just focuses on our full understanding of rebirth. Once we get to that full understanding, if you'd like to reply to this thread, give a distinct or understandable place (position, thought perspective), we would be once we reach that state and if it's consciousness, how do you define that without the body?

If you don't believe in any form of the afterlife (for the "I'm the exception" folks), what would you like the afterlife to be? (This is interfaith so you don't have to down Christianity when the word afterlife pops up)

Nothing happens in the afterlife. That's exactly as we have in Ecclesiastes 9:5,6. Nothing happens at all. One has simply gone and, once dead, no one will ever return from Sheol aka the grave. Neither return nor gone anywhere else from there. That's exactly as it says in II Samuel 12:23; Psalm 49:12,20; Isaiah 26:14; Job 7:9; etc.That's exactly as the word "afterlife says," death aka the end.

 

[syo]

I believe in reincarnation.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Nothing happens in the afterlife. That's exactly as we have in Ecclesiastes 9:5,6. Nothing happens at all. One has simply gone and, once dead, no one will ever return from Sheol aka the grave. Neither return nor gone anywhere else from there. That's exactly as it says in II Samuel 12:23; Psalm 49:12,20; Isaiah 26:14; Job 7:9; etc.That's exactly as the word "afterlife says," death aka the end.

Sorry it was not "Nothing when i died for 3 days, so my nDE proved to me ..
We go to a quiet place , we may meet our ancestor, re live our lives in a life revue.
decide lessons for the next and move on.

 

[Ben Avraham]

Sorry it was not "Nothing when i died for 3 days, so my nDE proved to me ..
We go to a quiet place , we may meet our ancestor, re live our lives in a life revue.
decide lessons for the next and move on.

I proved to you with Ecclesiastes 9:5,6 that there is nothing in the afterlife and you contested for the opposite. Show me in the gospel of Jesus aka the Tanach that there is and we have a deal, at least to review my views.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

No.

When I do think about 'afterlife' it's to ponder how such a stupid concept ever gained so much traction to begin with.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Nothing happens in the afterlife. That's exactly as we have in Ecclesiastes 9:5,6. Nothing happens at all. One has simply gone and, once dead, no one will ever return from Sheol aka the grave. Neither return nor gone anywhere else from there. That's exactly as it says in II Samuel 12:23; Psalm 49:12,20; Isaiah 26:14; Job 7:9; etc.That's exactly as the word "afterlife says," death aka the end.

Psalm 139:8 ►

King James Version
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Psalm 139King James Version (KJV)
139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I just hope to be with my ancestors, my loved ones.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

I just hope to be with my ancestors, my loved ones.

Yes St. Frank, i met my Grandfather up there, (and forgave him for dying when i was 14)

 

[Ben Avraham]

I just hope to be with my ancestors, my loved ones.

Yes, you will meet your ancestors, your loved ones but, because no one is conscious of him or herself in the afterlife, it will make no difference whether you meet them or not. Sorry if I have to be blatant. I am simply speaking according to Ecclesiastes 9:5,6.

 

[Ben Avraham]

Psalm 139:8 ► King James Version. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Psalm 139King James Version (KJV)
139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

Psalm 139 is only an euphemism to describe the presence of the Primal Cause aka the Creator of the Universe to be everywhere.

 

[YmirGF]

I am not fond of any afterlife concept. I would rather concentrate on attaining the best possible quality of life among the living.

I'm actually surprised that is such a minority position.

Although I certainly believe in a rather loopy and non-standard "afterlife" sans god, heaven, etc... I am certainly more focused on the here and now.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Yes, you will meet your ancestors, your loved ones but, because no one is conscious of him or herself in the afterlife, it will make no difference whether you meet them or not. Sorry if I have to be blatant. I am simply speaking according to Ecclesiastes 9:5,6.

I don't believe in the Bible so I don't care what it has to say about this topic, or what you think it says.