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Does Heaven Exist?
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Spirituality & Faith
Does Heaven Exist?
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1">Talk scripture or get meditations from your peers. We can all help each other feel good.</font>
Everyone has an opinion about the afterlife. Take a look at this article and tell me what you think. http://www.aarp.org/personal-growth/spirituality-faith/info-07-2011/does-heaven-exist.html
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Cat:edeb10e3-fb61-498e-99ea-390824fc4299Forum:3721f26c-eb7c-4338-a6bc-6d8e6913dc38Discussion:74e95117-c21d-44fa-9ac0-826c472e644b
Forums » Personal Growth » Spirituality & Faith » Does Heaven Exist?
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Does Heaven Exist?
posted at August 18, 2011 4:08 PM EDT
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Posts: 7
First: May 25, 2010 Last: August 18, 2011 |
Everyone has an opinion about the afterlife. Take a look at this article and tell me what you think. http://www.aarp.org/personal-growth/spirituality-faith/info-07-2011/does-heaven-exist.html |
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at August 30, 2011 9:31 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: August 30, 2011 Last: August 30, 2011 |
In Response to Does Heaven Exist?: Everyone has an opinion about the afterlife. Take a look at this article and tell me what you think. http://www.aarp.org/personal-growth/spirituality-faith/info-07-2011/does-heaven-exist.html Posted by lrgray1570 Amen...the Bible gives us a full description on Heaven, as well as hell. I pray that the veil be removed for those who don't believe God's Word! God bless you! |
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at November 1, 2011 11:36 PM EDT
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Posts: 90
First: May 11, 2009 Last: December 19, 2011 |
Hello all,
Belief systems are self justifying.
Once a person chooses a belief, that belief system in itself may dictate what is true (to be accepted) and what is not. This is a basic, essential step in spirituality. Many conflicts of today are at this level. Those conflicts keep people from progressing to the next essential step. The middle east, for example is a battle ground of three such belief systems each claiming exclusivity of one kind or the other.
As of Heaven and hell, the idea may be traceable to mythologies that goes further back than the Quoran, Bible or Torah .. to a time when people visualized their God as exclusive, with human emotions such as pride, vengeance and such. Earthquakes and such were misunderstood as sent by an angry God. The same with ideas of reward, etc.
However there are ancient religions that do not emphasize Heaven as a final destination. For them it is a place (or reward zone) through which a soul may pass. They see finite actions leading to finite rewards or punishments . These belief systems may also have elaborate rituals but in the end the idea is to transcend their starting belief itself. It is much like reading a map and then setting aside so that one can reach the destination.
I have no persuasive argument to make anyone believe or accept anything one way or the other. It is just that in a global forum such as this, many different philosophies are represented. The idea then is to be aware them so that we may be able to calm all the angry warring parities of this beautiful planet.
Das
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at November 4, 2011 4:28 PM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: November 4, 2011 Last: November 4, 2011 |
God says if we seek him we will find him. It's been a long journey for me...I've visited many 'religions' over the years and I have found that the only 'book' to give me truth was the Bible. I've tested it and tested God and I can only speak for myself when I say, I have found him, he's real, he's awesome and I will never serve any other god. If any one spends time with his word, praying to him, getting to know him, you won't have a head full of doubts or confusion. Seek him and see for yourself. |
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at November 10, 2011 7:01 AM EST
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Posts: 260
First: May 3, 2009 Last: November 10, 2011 |
"Osho – Heaven and hell are not realities but ways of living. You can live in jealousy — that’s how people live. You can live in competition, you can live in conflict, you can live in ambition. That’s how you have been brought up to live. This is the way to hell! A Zen Master was asked by the Emperor of Japan…. The Emperor had come and asked the same question, Krishna Deva. Maybe you are the reincarnation of the same Emperor! Because the Japanese tend to be reborn in India — this is the land of their Master, Buddha. Every Japanese keeps the desire to come to India some day. If they die without coming in this life, they are reborn here. They die with the desire. The Emperor reached the Zen Master and asked him, “What is hell and what is heaven?” The Emperor was enraged! He had not expected such a thing from such a great saint. You don’t know great saints! You know only small, puny saints. A real saint is not a cat, he is a tiger. The Emperor was so enraged that he pulled his sword out of its sheath. He was going to cut the head of the Master. Just as the sword was coming closer, the Master said, “Wait! You are entering hell. This is the gate to hell.” The way the Master said “Wait!” was so powerful that the Emperor’s hand was stopped in the middle, and he understood — “True!” He threw the sword away, fell at the feet of the Master, and the Master laughed and said, “This is the way to heaven! You have already experienced both within a single moment. The distance is not far.” Whenever you are surrendered to existence, whenever you live in trust, love, prayer, joy, celebration, you are in heaven. But what I am doing here is to help you to go beyond both — because the person who lives in heaven can fall into hell any moment. They are not far away, they are very close by…just a small fence and that too is tattered because it is very old. And for centuries there has been an argument as to who should repair it. The Devil is not ready. Why should he be worried about it? Nobody wants to enter hell! If it is God’ worry that hell people may enter into heaven, then he should repair it. But God is a miser, and they go on quarreling. One day it happened: God said, “If you don’t repair the fence — which has really been destroyed by your people and your nuisance on the other side, our people have not done anything — I am going to court!” The Devil said, “You can go, but where are you going to find an advocate? They are all here on my side! Go to court!” Hell is a state of mind when you live in plenty and yet you live in poverty, when life is such a blessing and yet you live in sadness. When the flowers bloom you don’t bloom. When the stars shine you don’t shine. When the clouds are in the sky floating in freedom don’t enjoy the freedom. When the cuckoo calls from a distant wood and you remain deaf. When the peacock dances you don’t dance. This is hell! And you are the creator of it." |
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at December 19, 2011 4:16 PM EST
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Posts: 90
First: May 11, 2009 Last: December 19, 2011 |
. Every human being has a belief system that he or she wishes that all others had. Ask anyone in any country about the best Doctor. It will be the one they visit. Our School, our pace of worship, our religion, our doctor, lawyer, psychologist, mom, dad, girlfriend and all are special to us. To think that one idea will fit all humanity is very naive. Great emperors and all have tried it many times. It does not work except to condemn a vast number of humans while including all others in a religion's Grace. Singular belief for a group needs much enforcement. That is how an army works. First free will is destroyed and then a new singular belief inserted. That way, every army has a singular purpose and marches in unison and to tune. Religion should never allow that to happen. Das
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Re: Does Heaven Exist?
posted at December 20, 2011 1:08 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 20, 2011 Last: December 20, 2011 |
In Response to Re: Does Heaven Exist?: i pray as though it does. I'd rather live my life as though heaven exists rather than die and find out it does but because of the way i have lived my life I can't get in and must go to the other place. |
Forums » Personal Growth » Spirituality & Faith » Does Heaven Exist?
