I am curious of how other's feel about the "afterlife". If you believe there is one or isn't.
I am a believer that we are living in the midst of going to a wonderful, fullfilling afterlife or come back until we get it right...what do you think?
I'm curious if anyone has read the book "left behind" by Jerry B. Jenkins? And, the series?
I've read all of them and found some frightening and some beautiful. I'd love to hear what anyone has to say about these books or their insight of "lifeafter".
Frustrated
YES
It can be marvellously good or it can be a range of not good to quite terribly awful. I will be interested in the yes and no votes. Perhaps later a discussion on what it might be like. Do we want honesty or just comfort in our adversity?
Doc!
I just pondered this discussion as we were talking about this similar conversation in another message via you and myself.
Myself, I would like truth, honesty. Just comfort so one isn't afraid or fearful of what may happen, to me, that's not good for either.
So, please be brutelly honest!
Frustrated 
If we come back to get it right, then how would you know as I can't recall my previous existence, so if we keep coming back with no knowledge of the mistakes made, then we will never get to the afterlife.
Hi Mark ~
Mark, have you ever had "deja vu" moments? Or, something seems "familiar" but you don't know why? Or perhaps this is your "first" life?
I don't know how to explain if but I feel there are other lives I've lived. Once, a pirate, one time a little girl lived to 5-6 yrs old. My belief is, sometimes we aren't here to learn a lesson, but to deliver a message. That I could go into detail but won't unless anyone is interested.
So, not sure I answered your quest, Mark, but you've opened up for discussion! Thank you.
Frustrated
karma draws us back til we get it right...then we can choose the god realm or continue to come back to help others...who is helping you??
who are the bodhissatva s around you ?
Hi
This topic sounds interesting, please continue..
I believe there is something on the other side, sure hope its better than this painful one.... Regards... Anne...
Hi frustrated.
I take my belief and substance of the 'next life' from the Bible. The Old Testament had a limited view called Sheol. All the dead, good and bad, waited there for judgement on the last day. Then Jesus came and clarified the position. He taught that Sheol had two parts with a great unpassable gulf between. Those blessed by God went to the part of bliss. Others went to the other part and disliked it intensly. The Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ is that those who turn away from their own views of right and wrong and trust that Jesus Christ's goodness is suffient for them to be counted by God as if perfectly good will reside in new perfect resurrection bodies with Jesus Christ in the part of bliss.
I hope, frustrated, this over brief account of good news will help, Doc!
Hi Mark
I agree. If we foul up once, why not again and again every time. Besides there is no evidence that such a thing happens. The universe we know is one of cause and effect. One of the effects is that it will run down to cold inertness. We won't do much in that state.
Hi anne,
I think that is one of the points I was trying to wrestle with above. We do get an awful lot of pain and trouble in this world. Almost all humans have an inate belief that this life is not all that there is. There must 1001 (code for an unknowable huge number) ideas about the afterlife. There is one man who knows. That is Jesus Christ. He was killed. Yet he brought himself back to life. By overcoming death as he said he would he authentiated that what he taught is true. But we are not puppets. The choice is ours.
Why, Marey, I believe you just helped me . Not too sure about Karma, she gets the bad rap for all the bad done in the world. Also, we are all bodhissattva's. Until we aren't.
Anne ~
It's all in and what you believe. I believe God forgives all...if they ask. Those who suffer on earth are going to enter the kingdom and sit as kings and queens. (figuratively speaking) w/o pain (can you imagine that?).
Hang in there, Anne, sounds like you are in need (in our life) a huge hug and know things will get better.
I believe it's "faith"? Doesn't faith give us a reason to go on? There is evidence that we cannot explain except that we do return. And, that doesn't have to be by not doing right. Take the child that remembers falling from a tall building as it burned. He screamed and screamed nightly from dreams he was having. He also had a different name. He remembers smelling the fuel from a jet engine, yes, he parished from 9/11. How can you argue the fact when this particular child is 3 and had no reason or no knowledge of 9/11. Or the other child that kept dreaming of falling from the sky (as it was, he flew a fighter in WW2 and his plane was shot down). Or, the orphan trains in the 1850's a child in 2013 describes her time on the train and where she was taken and who adopted her. This child at the time of describing the "train" was no older than 7. The parents did go to the archives where data was and there it was, her name and adopted parents.
This, to me, is proof that one can return and the business doesn't have to be that "we didn't get it right" but rather, we may just have left our lives too early. Make any sense?
Frustrated
Yes, Doc,
You know I admire you!! I do believe "free will" is what sets us all apart which is what I believe you meant when you said "the choice is ours", right? Just because one doesn't believe in say, abortion, yet one believes it is within ourselves to decide, that doesn't mean that person is pro abortion, rather, for "free will" as we are not here to judge anyone, that's for you and your own savior to work out.
I think if everyone would just remember that "free will" is set up so no one has to be the Judge (with some exceptions as those sent to prison, another topic altogether) our world just may be a better place. Just my thought on that.
Frustrated
I'm not sure I explained that clearly.
Anne,
Please join in as no one is right or wrong, it's our opinions, right?
Marey ~
Just another thought about "karma", doesn't karma give us a chance to ask for forgiveness?
to put emphasis on "free will and judge". If we trust (faith) and know (belief) that your maker (my case, God and his son Jesus Christ) will render the burden of everyone' mistakes (free will) and has the power w/i to forgive all of us, but we must ask for his forgiveness and the forgiveness of who we did wrong to. False pride makes all the above impossible. Right?