The Afterlife

o_o Jedi Is a religion in NZ!?!

I had no idea...that is...I dunno what to say bout that now, I am too shocked XD

 

I was about to post that too. Yes Jedi is in fact a recognized religion, including in the US army. The US army doesn't recognize Pagan as a religion (just Wiccan) but yet now recognizes Jedi, go figure. The thing is I care really see Jedi as being a justifiable and legit religion, even if it is mostly meant as a joke. Just look at Pastafarians or even Scientologists for that matter.

So yeah, I can have a good and level headed discussion about religion with you guys, but I guess the thing with Derpy Hooves is a tougher subject. I guess maybe it is because with the Derpy Hooves situation it is a question of ethics that directly affects all of us and something that we can perhaps do something about.

 

I'd say it's more likely that we can't talk about Derpy because the internet still cares about that.

 

I agree with Flutterbee on this one.

And sorry for being off-topic, but DanSze, why everytime I see your avatar I remember of a wc3 map named Metastasis?

 

I will always believe in the Kingdom of heaven...Don't let what the Mega-churches do confuse you with finding Jesus Christ...it is the best feeling in thee world, and he asks less of you than you think...I could sit here and preach but I will just say, The best way to find him is to seek him out with an open, honest mind and heart and ask him into your life as savior...you will then discover things about yourself and people around you that ultimately, through your life, bring you closer to him and give you peace.

The best way I can show you him is to be as caring as i can without shoving myself down your throats...the journey of finding your answers isn't always easy, but it is worth it...I hope if any of you meet me more and more here, my attitude and the person I am will let you know that Christianity is far less viscous and hateful than it is painted...I am imperfect, but I hope I can brighten up your day any way I can in the name of Jesus, and I hope I can help bring people to realize him and what he's about.

To me, there is an afterlife...and I hope I can inspire people and encourage them to find it through him and by being the kind of person God wants me to be to the best of my ability, That''s all.

I won't bother you anymore about it, I've said my peace...I hope it was at least interesting and didn't come off as offensive or laughable. May God bless you all in whatever path you choose. ^_^

 

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No one here will find it offensive don't worry. I think it will be interesting if more Christians entered the debate. I'll be interested to see if your branch of Christianity is different in any way to mine.

 

Religion is something you put faith into.

I suppose "solipsism" is one instance of a way reality can be perceived (for comparison purposes between faith and belief).

 

I would, but I've managed in the past to offend people at the mere mention of Jesus. If I were a stronger Christian and was able to have more courage about expressing my faith I would, but I don't wanna put it out there with my limited knowledge of some of the major "Why's" and "Hows" of the way God works and make it seem like my belief is unfounded...I'm not a person who has all the answers, but I do know that accepting God as my personal savior changed my life for the better and I do not view it as a crutch. There is a difference between the stereotypical "Perfect" christian and what God asks of you... all he asks is for your love and acceptance. The rest is up to you to follow his example the best YOU can. Not to a T..what matters in the end is that you have the belief in him...then, as you study scripture, how god works in your life and how the world works...he will prove himself to you.

That's all meek me has the power to say...I know this is a touchy subject, but I hope and pray I didn't sound clueless. If you are interested in talking a bit more in depth about my views, shoot me a PM.

Remember, I am just a person. I don't claim to be better than anyone...maybe someone with a bit more courage can talk about what I'm trying to say. I could go on and on about my trials and tribulations...my life...but in order to be respectful, I won't force anyone to listen unless they want to.

I just hope God gave me the right words to say...^_^*

 

Scientology was created to avoid taxes.

 

Personally, as an agnostic, I am of the belief that there's likely nothing after death, though no one can really know for sure. Because of that, I find it more productive not to think about it. I find it difficult to entertain the idea of an afterlife, because our brain dies with us, and without our brain, we lose the ability to perceive anything. Therefore, it would be a bit misleading to say there is nothingness or a void after we die, since nothingness requires someone be present in order to perceive it as nothingness. I think it to be non-being in the purest sense. No life, no death, no time, no mind to perceive life, death, or time. Absolute non-existence. In a way, I find that easier to deal with than a void or eternal nothingness. Since I would not be, neither would my mind be to perceive the void. A large part of our fear of death is the idea that there is awareness in death.

"Death is nothing to us, since when we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not." ~ Epicurus.

 

Can I ask something about the christian afterlife?

You believe that non-christians are going to hell and will suffer for eternity. Many who are decent people like your fellow bronies. You also believe God is all powerful and by definition should be able to prevent it. God is also all good and should therefore want to. This God would just rehabilitate sinners, which makes me wonder why hell should even exist if God is really all that you claim.

What really disturbs me is that according to the christian criteria for salvation, the ponies we all know and love would be hellbound for very petty flaws simply because they have not given themselves to a particular God. This makes God seem like an evil tyrant to me.

I do not mean to be offensive, this just perplexes me. I hope you guys have a good explaination.

The catholics once had purgatory, a place to be cleansed of sins and eventually become worthy of heaven, which to me is far more fair than eternal torment.

 

I think nothing to be honest, but i'd love for a massive 'GAME OVER' screen to pop up, and the option to reload from a previously saved file :derpe:

 

Well I'll tell you. You are right. Our God want's no one to perish in the hell pit. In fact it says in the bible that there is rejoicing in heaven whenever just one person gives their life to God.
Yes God definitely wants all people to be able to go to heaven.

Hell was not created for us but for Satan. Satan was once a beautiful angel but he defied God and said that he would be more powerful than God. God then with much regret built a hell and cast Satan and all his followers down into hell. Like you said. Many people who are decent so do go to hell. However that is because they did not take Jesus as their saviour. Yes I can see why that would perplex you but My God is a very Jealous god. He wants us to love him and him only. He always makes sure that before a person dies that they always have a chance to find out about Jesus. Whether it is through another Christian or whether he just sends them a message in the form of a vision or dream. The bottom line is that when someone doesn't take Jesus as their saviour it is like giving someone a present and then that person throws it on the floor and stamps on it. God feels the way most people would feel after witnessing that.

That is why I personally want to try to get as many people to give their lives to him as possible. The last thing he wants and the last thing I want is for another person to have to die and go to hell.

As for the evil tyrant part...you have no idea how much good and happiness will come into your life after you give it to Jesus. Yes there will still be hardships in your life but if you stick with God he will help you through all of it. Plus what kind of evil tyrant sends people to heaven when they die just because they believe in him and that he saved him? Heck what kind of evil tyrant puts his own son out to die on the cross to give us all the chance to go to heaven? That is the thing. People ask why God will send people to hell just for not believing in him...I THANK God for putting his son on the cross to give me the chance to go to heaven. Because if he hadn't We would all surely go to hell because we are all sinners. And to all those who thinkd that all what I have typed is a load of rubbish My reply is: "Hey it's gotta be better than some dark lifeless void right?"

I hope that this answers your question Prince Darkmoon.

Lol I am now late for school after typing this but I feel that it was worth it!

 

Haha. Just imagining this is funny. xD

 

Lol 'clicks on cheat code button* *types in God Mode* *enter*

Look out world!! XD

 

This does not really adress my concern. An omnipotent and omnicient being cannot have a thing not going according to its will by definition. This means God could save everyone if he so desired, but instead chooses only to save some and let billions of perfectly good people suffer. With great power comes great responsibillity, God has ultimate power and therefore is responsible for everything, good or bad. There is no way people burning in hell is not his will, unless...

God is not omnipotent and can only save people who believe in him.

Or if there is another being with omnipotence, an Anti-God if you may. Who wishes nothing but the suffering and eradication of the world.

Or we are simply wrong about God's intentions and the nature of Hell, it may not be forever at all.

I ask you one more thing, would I be accepted into paradise with my current belief? I do believe in God in my own way and I do have respect for Jesus, but as a man, not as a divine being. Would I get a chance to accept him after my death when he stands before me?

Think of this, God is love, Jesus is God. Jesus says the only path to heaven is through him. Does he not really mean the only path to heaven is through Love, To accept Love into your heart is to accept God? That would mean everypony who lives by love and tolerance is welcome to heaven, does not this sound better?

 

If everyone thought like this, or similar, then the world be a much better place.

If we're still on the topic of games, you could possibly see it like this. Earth is like a purification process so people learn to be good, your goal is Heaven. Religion is kind of like a walkthrough, it tells you what to do, how to do stuff and other things like that. However, you don't need the walkthrough to complete the game.

 

That's the thing with a walkthrough: It only tells you one way to beat a game. If you choose not to use the walkthrough, you have ultimate freedom to think.

My way of thinking goes somewhat like this: I need to understand it to believe it. I do not understand God, the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, any sort of faith or supernatural force, therefore I do not believe them. I cannot understand how there can be a soul, when science has proved so much against it.

That's my mind of realism.

If I were idealistic, then I might just believe in some sort of happy afterlife. But no. It hasn't been proven or described accurately, thus I cannot accept its existence.