For those that don't believe in God....
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): For those that don't believe in God....
First off, I am not here to debate anything, in fact I probably won't even respond, but I figured that this was the best place for my question. I just wanted to know from the people that don't believe in God, what do you think happens to you when you die? Once again, I don't want to argue a point, I really want to know the answer. (chalk it up to my sheltered life! LOL)
I believe our spirit lives on. It either just lives on in an alternate world (like the Christian Heaven), or if there is a reason it may stay here (to protect someone, because it feels there was something unfinished, if it has a message) I also believe they can go between the "worlds".
Here's two examples.
1. We lived in an apartment above my great-grandparents house. I was dreaming that he was dying, but had come to say goodbye, and he'll always love me. During the dream, my cousin woke me up to say grandpop had been taken to the hospital and I was being taken to my Aunt's house. He was DOA, and we all believe he died in his bed before the ambulance even got there. A couple weeks later, while alone in the house, I heard him whistling the song he used to whistle when we'd work in the garden together. I remember both incidences like they were yesterday, and I was 8 years old.
2. Nate was recently driving along a back road on Ft. Hood, doing about 75 mph, radio blaring, alone in the car. All of a sudden her hear "NATHANIEL JAMES APING (no one calls him that, it's either Nate or Nathan)!!! SLOW DOWN!", and glanced to his left, and saw his grandmom in the window. He stopped the car to catch his breath, got back in, and slowly proceeded on the road. about 10 feet from where he stopped, there was a bend. There are protected cattle allowed to roam the training areas of Ft. Hood, and right past that curve was a full grown longhorn, probably 2tons of bull just standing in the middle of the road. Had he not stopped he would have been killed instantly. His grandmom died in July 2003, but she had always been the matriarch, and especially close to Nate.
Ok, one more, I promise. I was driving a curve road here, N in the passanger seat. I wasn't speeding, but he just said "be careful, slow down". I did, and a family of deer ran across the street about 20ft in front of us. He didn't tell me until later, but he heard his grandmom tell him to be careful, prompting him to ask me to slow down.
So, some are guardian angels, there have been more than a few incidents that I've encountered spirits, and although people may not believe in them, nothing can change what I've seen and heard with my own eyes and ears.
My beliefs are similar to Crystals. I think there is something, but no one truly knows what it is. I was raised Roman Catholic, but haven't been to church in years.
Dh - also raised Roman Catholic - believes that no one knows, but I think he leans towards we turn to dust and that's the end of everything. This may stem from the traumatic death of his brother when he was younger. I believe what I believe because I do NOT want to believe that there is nothing after this life. I think if I lost one of my children and I knew that there was nothing after this life and that they were just rotting in the ground I would lose my mind.
The atheists I know tend to think that when you die, that's it. The body decomposes and provides nutrients for animals and plants but the person stops being with the end of physiological processes.
I used to think that was a bleak outlook but not anymore. I think the fact that our bodies break down to nurish life is another way of living on.
Hoping this will post. Nothing I've posted in the last couple of days is appearing.
My *logical* side tells me we turn to dust and that's IT. My *spiritual* side tells me our spirit lives on and we will live again in another body - as in reincarnation. I certainly HOPE that's the case. There's a lot I want to do in my next life. Haven't any of you ever felt you've lived before, in another time - like having a sense of deja vu, as in having lived a previous life?
Bottom line - who really knows?????
My beliefs are very similar to the movie What Dreams May Come.
I consider myself a hopeful Agnostic. I'm not sure of anything about the hereafter, but I hope there will be something.
I believe that we live on. I believe that we can/will be together as families in the hereafter. I look forward to reuniting with loved ones that have already passed. Of course I hope that doesn't happen until I'm old and gray 
I believe that there is more than dying and going to "heaven". I, like Karen, fully believe in reincarnation. We will all have to wait and see, won't we now?? Hopefully we don't have to find out none to soon...
PS What Dreams May Come is an awesome movie and one of DH and my favorites.. That is how I want to believe it is also..  It is a sad movie but depicts the way I personally perceive life and death..
Oh and I do believe in God.. But not in a traditional sense..
I believe in God, and have never given a single thought to what happens after I die other than to make sure my "earthly" affairs are in order to minimize the hassle for my children. I will say, whatever heaven may be, I know a lot of Godly people on this earth whom I'm sure will go to heaven - for various reasons I tend to avoid some of those people here and sure hope I don't have to spend time with them "there".
LOL Ginny! I have a joke along these lines. I need to find it and post it
I edited this post in order for it to make sense...sorry Ginny
Kaye - ??? I don't understand.
George Bush: Heaven or Hell ?
While walking down the street one day, George "Dubya" Bush is shot by a disgruntled NRA member. His soul arrives in heaven and he is met by St.Peter at the Pearly Gates.
"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem: We seldom see a Republican around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in; I'm a believer." says Dubya.
"I'd like to just let you in, but I have orders from the Man Himself: He says you have to spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven. Then you must choose where you'll live for eternity." "But, I've already made up my mind; I want to be in Heaven."
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to an elevator and he goes down, down, down, all the way to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a lush golf course; the sun is shining in a cloudless sky, the temperature a perfect 72 degrees. In
the distance is a beautiful clubhouse. Standing in front of it his dad...and thousands of other Republicans who had helped him out over the years: Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Jerry Falwell.... The whole of the "Right" was there...everyone laughing...happy.... casually but expensively dressed. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had getting rich at expense of the "suckers and peasants". They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.
The Devil himself comes up to Bush with a frosty drink, "Have a Margarita and relax, Dubya!"
"Uh, I can't drink no more, I took a pledge," says Junior, dejectedly.
"This is Hell, son: you can drink and eat all you want and not worry, and it just gets better from there!"
Dubya takes the drink and finds himself liking the Devil, who he thinks is a really very friendly guy who tells funny jokes and pulls hilarious nasty pranks, kind of like a Yale Skull and Bones brother with real horns.
They are having such a great time that, before he realizes it, it's time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves as Bush steps on the elevator and heads upward.
When the elevator door reopens, he is in Heaven again and St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit Heaven," the old man says, opening the gate.
So for 24 hours Bush is made to hang out with a bunch of honest, good-natured people who enjoy each other's company, talk about things other than money, and treat each other decently. Not a nasty prank or frat boy joke among them; no fancy country clubs and, while the food tastes great,
it's not caviar or lobster. And these people are all poor, he doesn't see anybody he knows, and he isn't even treated like someone special! "Whoa," he says uncomfortably to himself, "Pat Robertson never prepared me for this!"The day done, St. Peter returns and says, "Well, then, you've spent a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Now choose where you want to live for eternity."
With the 'Jeopardy' theme playing softly in the background, Dubya reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have thought I'd say this -- I mean, Heaven has been delightful and all -- but I really think I belong in Hell with my friends."
So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down, all the way to Hell.
The doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren scorched earth covered with garbage and toxic industrial waste.. kind of like Houston. He is horrified to see all of his friends, dressed in rags and chained together, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. They
are groaning and moaning in pain, faces and hands black with grime. The Devil comes over to Dubya and puts an arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers a shocked Dubya, "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a clubhouse and we ate lobster and caviar...drank booze. We screwed around and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and everybody looks miserable!"
The Devil looks at him, smiles slyly, and purrs, "Yesterday we were campaigning; today you voted for us."
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
Hilarious!
I've seen it before, Kaye, and love it every time. Thanks.
I posted that on my blog, Kaye, I love it!
I am a Budhist and my belief is that when you die your energy and karma goes on to rest for awhile (kind of like recharging a battery) because your spirit gets tired and needs to rest or it goes to a certain hell to repay bad karma if it was a bad person. Then depending on your karma, you are reborn. Maybe as a human or an animal or a Buddha, or a heavenly god, or a bug, or whatever your karma has is store for you.
Latonya,
Don't Budhists believe you continue in reincarnation until you've learned all that you are supposed to learn, or something to that effect? Like a journey, and each life is a leg of the journey?
Hmmm... I am studying Buddhism and Hinduism in my Religions class right now. A lot of people confuse these two. In fact, both are very similar. Both do believe in reincarnation, but Hinduism believes in reincarnation over and over and over again until one reaches a point called Moksha which means "liberation from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth through Yoga, the spiritual practice to unite Atman and Brahman (I won't go into that).
However, the ultimate goal of a Buddhist is the liberation from the cycle of rebirth (reincarnation) and the cessation of desire. This is what they call Nirvana. And to reach this, one must know the "Four Noble Truths" and Follow the "Eight Fold Path".
So I guess ultimately, Buddhists don't want to continue to reincarnate. They want to reach Nirvana which is freedom from the cycle of reincarnation.
And from what I have studied, reincarnation in both religions is based on karma from your past life. Your soul will be reincarnated into a new body, animal or person, determined from your deeds and behavior in past lives.
Now, just as people practice Christianity and such differently, I'm sure there are different ways to practice Buddhism differently. This is just what I learned from a class which is totally different from living it in life.
Some of that is true in what I believe. You have to remember just like Christianity, Buddhism has many different sects. I am a Nichiren Buddhist. Yes, the ultimate goal is to overcome the cycle of birth and death but before we can accomplish that we have to help as many people as we can come to that same place. I believe that one day everyone can become a Buddha. A Buddha is not a god but one who has reached enlightenment. I chant and teach other peolpe what I can about buddhism and that is the most important thing you can do while you are here in this life.
I believe that Christ died for my sins so that I may live in Heaven when I die.
But I don't believe that God wants me to live a boring life. I love to have a good time. I know what you mean, Ginny about "holy" people, I used to go to a church many years ago with a bunch of people like that & I was miserable. I believe God has a sense of humor and doesn't want us walking around like a big bore, preaching his kingdom to everyone but being miserable themselves. I think the best way I can witness for God is by being happy and not walking around like I just sucked on a lemon! LOL!
Latonya, aren't there Christian Buddhists as well?
Crystal that made me get goosebumps lol = )
Being a Christian does not mean that you have to live a boring life. My life for the most part, is very full and entertaining. If all there is to dying is going to Heaven, then I am all for it!
I'm hoping to come back as a cat... I need more sleep. ;)
Crystal, LOL!!!
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