| 1st Internet Question: DO YOU BELIEVE IN | | | | of, is that Hell is separation from God.6) |
| REINCARNATION? FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND | | | | Mary Jane says: Hell is other people. |
| REINCARNATION, IT'S A PROCESS WHEREBY YOU | | | | Separation from God? How can that be |
| LIVE A NUMBER OF LIFE-TIMES IN ORDER TO | | | | possible? How can there be anywhere or anyone |
| PERFECT YOUR LIFE THAT COULDN'T BE | | | | or anything that is not sustained by God's |
| ACCOMPLISHED DURING ONE LIFE-TIME BEFORE YOU | | | | will? In my mind it's a logical |
| ARE ACCEPTED IN THE GREAT BEYOND.The | | | | impossibility. So what am I left with? A |
| responses come from 2 Christian websites and | | | | reality that is chosen to be experienced in |
| 1 Hindu website1) Corbin says: I have some | | | | such a way by the belief systems of other |
| problems with this concept. Some say that all | | | | people, and by myself. These collective |
| living beings are reincarnated, but I don't | | | | belief systems can create nightmares out of |
| see how a cockroach can perfect itself to be | | | | waking reality: The Holocaust, apartheid, |
| a better cockroach to advance to a higher | | | | sexual slavery in the far east and eastern |
| stage in life. And just thinking in terms of | | | | Europe, starvation, and AIDS in Africa. Hell |
| human beings, I don't see how one can become | | | | is a here-and -now kind of thing that lives |
| perfect, no matter how many life-times you | | | | in our hearts when we fear and despair.7) |
| live because there will always be lessons to | | | | Edward says: Hell is nothing more than the |
| learn. Besides if this process were true, I | | | | grave and oblivion. There's no Biblical |
| would feel the world should be getting better | | | | evidence for a firey hell. And I also don't |
| and better over such a long period of time.2) | | | | believe in an eternal hell.4th Internet |
| Frank says: Maybe the cockroach can come back | | | | Question: HAVE YOU EVER HAD A NEAR-DEATH |
| to a higher form because I'm sure I've met a | | | | EXPERIENCE? AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE |
| few in my time.3) Mary Anne says: Hebrews | | | | BOOKS ON NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND OTHER |
| states that man is given once to die, | | | | PARAPSYCHOLOGICAL BOOKS ON THE EVIDENCE OF AN |
| otherwise Jesus would have had to suffer many | | | | AFTER-LIFE?1) Corbin says: I had one when I |
| times for us to put away our sin.4) Carlos | | | | was in primary school. I was hit by a car |
| says: I believe in reincarnation. I believe | | | | while crossing the street and was knocked |
| that when we were created we were created out | | | | unconscious. After that, I remember floating |
| of Diety and somehow we lost our way, but as | | | | bodily above my mother in the dining room |
| we relearn more and more of our lessons we | | | | while she was cleaning the room. For many |
| will become more and more of a Diety until | | | | years I just thought that this was a dream, |
| that time when we learn all of our lessons | | | | but after reading a number of books on |
| which will cause us to become a pure Diety | | | | near-death experiences, I believe that this |
| again. And you can't do this in one | | | | was mine, and this helped me in being |
| life-time. It will take | | | | convinced that there was life after death.2) |
| | | | Jim says: I would be careful with this stuff, |
| many life-times.5) Will says: I agree with | | | | because most of these books are into the |
| Chris, but I go even further. Before the time | | | | paranormal, and that's when I believe some of |
| of the current chaos, death was not. Spirit | | | | the lines get crossed.3) Mat says: I question |
| could change from form to form at will, that | | | | near-death experiences. I haven't found any |
| it might come to understand all things, and | | | | Biblical references for them. I saw a show |
| actions in the universe. After chaos began, | | | | once that explained them away as something |
| death became the new reality required to | | | | the brain makes up as it thinks it's dying in |
| become aware of the totality of the Cosmic | | | | order to calm itself. Pilots who go into |
| illusion which is now petrified. Before chaos | | | | training to handle g-force would also pass |
| the Cosmic illusion was fluid and spirits | | | | out and experience the exact same thing that |
| flowed through it like a river. I personally | | | | people with near-death experiences would |
| have no recollection of being an animal, but | | | | experience. I do believe in near-life |
| I do have a recollection of living as a | | | | experiences however.4) Ralph says: I believe |
| tree.6) Mat says: I believe in reincarnation | | | | in near-death experiences. I was once dead in |
| too because more and more pyschologist are | | | | 1987, and my life hasn't been the same since. |
| finding evidence of its existence, usually | | | | I believe God gives the ones that have had |
| through hypnosis.7) Tom says: I don't believe | | | | the so called NDE's, their experience so that |
| in reincarnation for a number of reasons. | | | | some of us will know that their is life after |
| These are as follows, that in reincarnation. | | | | death. My only question I have 15 or so years |
| 1) Evil doesn't really exist. 2) Whatever | | | | after my experience is, "Can there be life |
| happens in life should be accepted as being | | | | before death?". It is written that man cannot |
| good. 3) There is no moral standard for right | | | | live by bread alone, but by every word that |
| and wrong. 4) It generates no social | | | | comes out of the mouth of God.5th Internet |
| compassion. 5) Over such a long period of | | | | Question DO YOU FEEL YOUR PET WILL BE WITH |
| historic time, the world should be improving. | | | | YOU IN THE AFTER-LIFE, OR WHAT DO YOU THINK |
| 6) | | | | WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR PET WHEN HE OR SHE |
| | | | DIES?1) Jim says: This is based on the |
| No explaination as to where evil really came | | | | assumption that we will be in heaven. Basic |
| from. 7) Then Jesus must have been | | | | Christian doctrine asserts that when we go to |
| reincarnated too. 8) Sins cannot be forgiven. | | | | Heaven, we will be reunited with our loved |
| And 9) you have to work for your Salvation, | | | | ones. Since for many "our loved ones" include |
| whereas in Christianity Salvation is a free | | | | our pets, then our pets would indeed be in |
| gift.2nd Internet Question: IF YOU DON'T | | | | Heaven. This, therefore, clearly indicates |
| BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION, DO YOU BELIEVE IN | | | | that the pets, and all animals for that |
| LIFE AFTER DEATH, AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU | | | | matter, possess a soul/spirit.6th Internet |
| ENVISION IT?1) Eddy says: The Resurrection. | | | | Question: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A |
| This is what we are promised.2) Mathew says: | | | | JUDGEMENT IN THE AFTER-LIFE AS TO WHO HAS THE |
| The difference between the resurrection and | | | | GOOD AFTER-LIFE OR THE BAD |
| reincarnation is very little, if not at | | | | |
| all.3) Otto says: First, death is the | | | | AFTER-LIFE? HOW DO YOU FEEL THE JUDGEMENT IS |
| separation of the soul from the body. While | | | | REALLY MADE? What about babies or small |
| the body sleeps, the soul is given a | | | | children, cruel dictators, suicides, suicide |
| foretaste of what is likely (but not certain) | | | | bombers where the people involved feel they |
| to be its eternal state; this is often called | | | | have good intentions, the mentally sick or |
| the "intermediate state". At the | | | | handicapped who commit violence, those adults |
| resurrection, the soul and body (in its | | | | who grew up as unwanted children who commit |
| spiritual state) are reunited for the | | | | crimes as a result, and those who have |
| judgement which determines one's eternity.4) | | | | accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, but |
| Sally. Says: I think that heaven and hell are | | | | have really made some bad choices that have |
| here on earth. It is all a state of mind and | | | | harmed many people because of their |
| how people look at you. For example, when you | | | | intolerence and segrational attitudes.3 |
| die, it depends on how people see you and | | | | people stated that they believe in |
| think about you, and they will never forget | | | | reincarnation so that there would be no |
| that image, and this is eternity. And I also | | | | judgement involved in that each individual |
| believe in a heaven and a hell, where every | | | | would be in charge of improving themselves, |
| event will be judged as being good or bad, | | | | no matter how many lives it takes, until they |
| which will also determine how we live in | | | | reach the state of perfection that God |
| eternity.5) Mat says: Yes. No idea.6) Brad | | | | expects them to reach. In this case, I feel |
| says: I can hope for a life after death, | | | | they don't really need Jesus Christ for |
| particularly one that might let me make some | | | | Salvation.1) Steven says: Jesus says that not |
| amends for sad decisions made in this life. | | | | everyone that says Lord, Lord, shall enter |
| However, I have no reason to expect it. Under | | | | the Kingdom. (Matt 7:21) I think one must |
| the circumstances, envisioning it would be | | | | first realize that not all who claim to be |
| fruitless speculation.7) Corbin says: I don't | | | | Christian are.2) Corbin says: And the |
| believe in reincarnation, but I know there is | | | | opposite might also be true. Those who we |
| life after death, and even though I enjoy | | | | feel might not be Christians, or profess not |
| this life very much, and do not really know | | | | to be Christians, might very well be the |
| the specifics of the after-life, I know it's | | | | people God wants in heaven.3) JB says: I |
| going to be better than the present life.8) | | | | believe there will be a judgement of all the |
| Michael says: I think it's impossible to | | | | people once they die, determined by who's |
| conceive of - clearly it won't be an | | | | found in the Book of Life. (Rev 20:12-15) |
| existence in the same way as we | | | | Those who are found unworthy to be with God |
| | | | will experience their second death.4) Will |
| know it now, as it will exist in the | | | | says: I believe that if there is a judgement, |
| spiritual parallel rather than in a bodily | | | | God wil be fair about it, and I will trust in |
| sense. But I have some sympathy with what | | | | His judgement..5) Corbin says: I believe that |
| Bran said - is there really any point in | | | | there will be some sort of judgement after |
| thinking about it, when there is so much life | | | | death, and I agree with Will, in that God |
| to live now? It can give us hope, but I think | | | | will certainly be fair about it.THE |
| there is a genuine danger of becoming so | | | | AFTER-LIFE IN PERSPECTIVENOBODY REALLY KNOWS |
| other-worldly, that we forget about being | | | | WHAT THE AFTER-LIFE WOULD BE LIKE, BUT I |
| Christians today.3rd Internet Question: DO | | | | BELIEVE IT WILL HAVE FANTASTIC SURPRISES FOR |
| YOU BELIEVE IN A HELL IN THE AFTER-LIFE, AND | | | | MANY, AND BE A GLORIOUS HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO |
| IF SO, HOW DO YOU ENVISION THIS? OR DO YOU | | | | GOD FAVOR.The names of the commentarians have |
| BELIEVE THIS HELL IS HERE ON EARTH WHILE WE | | | | been changed, except for myself, to protect |
| LIVE?1) Shirley says: Neither. Hell is not a | | | | the privacy of the Internet contributors, but |
| place of torment. It is simply the common | | | | the comments are accurate.AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL |
| grave of all mankind. No one is conscious of | | | | SKETCHI was born in New York City in 1931, |
| being in hell. It is a place of darkness, | | | | grew up on Long Island, graduated from |
| silence, and total inactivity. (Ecclesiastes | | | | Roanoke College in Virginia with a BA in |
| 9:5,10, and Psalm 146:4)2) Ralph says: The | | | | Political Science, and from New York |
| Old Testament shows little, if any, knowledge | | | | Theological Seminary with a Masters Degree in |
| of the type of hell populated by mainstream | | | | Religious Education. I became a committed |
| Christian religions. It seems to me that hell | | | | Christian in 1958, and after a number of |
| - along with the concept of a devil and the | | | | years became a committed Ecumenical |
| after-life - was an idea evolved over time, | | | | Christian. I worked as an accountant in |
| probably greatly influenced by the | | | | various companies for about 25 years in New |
| Hellenistic concept of the underworld. I | | | | York City, then moved down to Argentina and |
| don't see the Hebrew scriptures dealing with | | | | worked for about 21 years as a Business |
| this concept much at all.3) Saul says: Hell | | | | English Conversationalist Teacher with some |
| is the effects of believing in and | | | | of the top managers. My greatest |
| consequently experiencing oneself as separate | | | | life-changing experience occurred in the |
| from God.4) Jack says: Lowest common | | | | early 70's when I became very active for |
| denominator is hell. It is a place where God | | | | about 3 years in a social nudest (both |
| is not, so I don't want to be there. God is | | | | sexes) camp. I also became a Stephen |
| light and love, so Hell will have none of | | | | Minister (trained counselor) while down here. |
| either. Can you imagine how life would be in | | | | I have been married twice (the last to an |
| total darkness and total hatred.. Not a place | | | | Argentine), widowed once, and have no |
| I wanna experience whether there is fire or | | | | children, but one cat. If you want to contact |
| not. I don't think you have to be a rocket | | | | me, you |
| scientist to make that decision.5) Alice | | | | |
| says: I've often wondered if hell is here on | | | | can do so via (). |
| earth. The only thing I'm reasonably certain | | | | |