So, I'm Going to Hell

106

JillUser

on Apr 20, 2004

Sgsmitty, I don't follow you. Have I said something that condradicts that statement? I am not aware of it if I have.

107

dharmagrl

on Apr 20, 2004

Just because you profess it, doesn't make it true. I'd say that while I think you're on the path, you're nowhere near enlightened.

Now *you* are judging someone......

Errmm...did you see the "I think" I put in there? That's my opinion...I'm not saying that it's true. But, no, I don't think Dan is enlightened, not judging from his recent actions. If you want to consider that to be judgemental, then I'd say that's your problem.

108

JillUser

on Apr 20, 2004

Sgsmitty, what is your definition of Hell? If Hell isn't any worse than returning to an oversoul, maybe I won't get as upset when people tell me I'm going to Hell. I was under the impression that Hell, eternal damnation, is horrible. We are talking torture forever and ever aren't we? That is surely different than having your life energy combine with the rest of the energy of the world.

109

KarmaGirl

on Apr 20, 2004

Isn't this sort of attacking someone for *their* beliefs? Ridiculing them by telling them to clutch their bible tighter? I agree that you have your right to whatever opinion you wish to have but it seems like you are condemning someone because of their belief. I assume this is because they believe you will go to hell.

I'm not attacking anyone (why so defensive?). I'm not condemning anyone. I am saying that Christians put their entire faith in that book. It makes them feel better about "death". Nobody wants to believe that there is nothing past life. Who is "they" who is thinking that I will go to hell? And, why would I care? I don't believe in heaven or hell, so why would I care if somebody thinks I would go to hell? Why would I, anyway? Because I don't believe in Christianity?

So, do you find "merit" in Christianity?

I never said that I didn't find merit in it. You said that you didn't find merit in *my* beliefs, remember? I find merit in Christianity, I just don't believe in it.

Reply #108 By: JillUser - 4/20/2004 5:24:13 PM
Sgsmitty, what is your definition of Hell? If Hell isn't any worse than returning to an oversoul, maybe I won't get as upset when people tell me I'm going to Hell. I was under the impression that Hell, eternal damnation, is horrible. We are talking torture forever and ever aren't we? That is surely different than having your life energy combine with the rest of the energy of the world.

Yeah, Hell doesn't sound too scary if it's like that.......

But, whenever I hear what "heaven" is, it makes me wonder...it's no sorrow, no pain, no hunger, nothing bad.....sounds a lot like death to me. If you don't know that you ever existed, there is no sorrow, no pain, no hunger.........

As a Christian, I profess to have already found enlightenment.

Just because you profess it, doesn't make it true. I'd say that while I think you're on the path, you're nowhere near enlightened.

If he is truly enlightened, I will now call him "Buddha"

110

dharmagrl

on Apr 20, 2004

If he is truly enlightened, I will now call him "Buddha"

Me too!

111

Marvin Cooley

on Apr 20, 2004

JillUser.............I guarantee, you are not going to hell. God isn't anything like religion portrays him to be. If the mainstream Christian world knew how i see God, they would call be a heretic and damn me to the pitts of hell for all eternity. I'm serious.

112

dharmagrl

on Apr 20, 2004

If the mainstream Christian world knew how i see God, they would call be a heretic and damn me to the pitts of hell for all eternity.

So, write an article about it, Marv. I'm interested. I'll read it.

113

JillUser

on Apr 20, 2004

I'm interested too Marv. I wrote this article hoping to hear how people envision God, Heaven and Hell. I found Sherye's interpretation of Heaven and Hell very thought provoking.

114

Dan Kaschel

on Apr 20, 2004

Announcement: in response to overwhelming request, I will, from now on, be referred to as "Buddha."

I wonder if some of the tenets of Buddhism are not so directly opposed to Christianity. Now I don't believe in the eight-fold path (or x-fold path) or any of those things, but meditation strikes me as a healthy practise that could do a lot of people a lot of good.

~Buddha

115

dharmagrl

on Apr 20, 2004

wonder if some of the tenets of Buddhism are not so directly opposed to Christianity

A lot of them are the same, Dan. I can draw many paralells between Buddhist and Christian teachings. I'll write an article explaining them sometime over the next couple of days.

116

MyViewsAndMuse

on Apr 20, 2004

Errmm...did you see the "I think" I put in there? That's my opinion...I'm not saying that it's true. But, no, I don't think Dan is enlightened, not judging from his recent actions. If you want to consider that to be judgemental, then I'd say that's your problem.

I stand corrected, you did specify that you "think" which is not a statement of fact.

Sgsmitty, what is your definition of Hell? If Hell isn't any worse than returning to an oversoul, maybe I won't get as upset when people tell me I'm going to Hell. I was under the impression that Hell, eternal damnation, is horrible. We are talking torture forever and ever aren't we? That is surely different than having your life energy combine with the rest of the energy of the world

Some believe that hell is eternal damnation and torture. Others describe hell as being completely out of the presence of God. A presence which we all benefit from regardless if we believe it or not. As for which I believe I have to say I never have given it much thought in a long time.
As for heaven, the lack or sorrow, pain, despair sounds like a plus to me, not death. Just my opinion.

You said that you didn't find merit in *my* beliefs, remember?

Did I say that? Maybe I did, however there is merit in your beliefs especially since it causes you to attempt to be a better person. That I think they are silly and shallow and not unlike believing in "The Force" is not relevant to the fact that it makes try to be a better person. As for there being nothing after life but returning to the oversoul I find that thought not frightening but making our lives pointless.

117

KarmaGirl

on Apr 21, 2004

Did I say that? Maybe I did, however there is merit in your beliefs especially since it causes you to attempt to be a better person. That I think they are silly and shallow and not unlike believing in "The Force" is not relevant to the fact that it makes try to be a better person. As for there being nothing after life but returning to the oversoul I find that thought not frightening but making our lives pointless.

Do you actually listen to yourself? You say that my beliefs have merit but then you say that they are silly and shallow. Now, my dear Christian, who is doing the judging here? You just got done blaming Dharma for judging somebody, now *you* are being judgmental. Or, is that a "do as I say not as I do" type thing?

Why would anyone's life be pointless just because their is no "afterlife"? The point in life is to make life on Earth the best life it can be, and to share that joy with all those you touch.

It's impossible for me to take you seriously after the comments you make. You obviously have blinders on to other religions, and the only thing you can do is try and belittle other people's beliefs because you have such little understanding of other religions. Instead of making ignorant statements, why not try and learn about other religions? You don't have to believe in them- just learn about them so that you can have a logical, non-insulting conversation.

118

Poetmom99

on Apr 21, 2004

"No, Of course not. Maybe your Jewish friend needs to read his book a little more. Ask him about Job, the serpent in genesis, stories in ezekiel, etc."

Just to clarify...Orthodox Judaism does not recognize a specific entity known as Satan or the Devil, but they do recognize the forces of evil.

119

JillUser

on Apr 21, 2004

Sgsmitty, if heaven is just the lack of pain, sorrow and despair, how is that different than nothingness? If I just blink out of existence, I'm not in pain. No suffering, despair, no more anything. How can you have regard to heaven and not hell?

Since I was about 5yrs old, I thought Heaven sounded really boring the way everyone described it. Hell was definitely described as something unmaginably horrible. I have never been able to wrap my brain around the idea of anyone doing anything so horrible that they deserve eternal torture. I mean really, let's say someone goes pyscho, just totally out of their mind, they kill and mangle some people not caring what God or Jesus think. Do they deserve to be tortured for longer than any of us can even concieve? I tend to think not. I tend to think that person should just be put to sleep.

120

MyViewsAndMuse

on Apr 21, 2004

You obviously do not listen to yourself. Below are your *first* quotes on this article:

What is you are not Christian? What if your religion does not believe in Jesus? What if the Christian interpretation is wrong? (*gasp*...but, that can't be, could it?) What if the humans that are interpreting the bible for you are wrong in what it means? Will that "I now believe in Jesus" save you then?
.
.
I didn't grow up being told what to think by any church. I have read the bible, and it reads like a bunch of stories if you don't have somebody "interpreting" it for you. I have also learned about many religions and tried to learn about life in general. (I think Buddhism is the closest thing to religion that I can believe in, though....maybe Buddhism with a transcendentalist twist....but that is a whole different topic)

It was a response to LovesBlessing's response, A response that did not belittle or make fun of anyone's beliefs but simply outline their's and why. I think it is obvious that you threw out ignorant statements and *attacked* first.

It's impossible for me to take you seriously after the comments you make. You obviously have blinders on to other religions, and the only thing you can do is try and belittle other people's beliefs because you have such little understanding of other religions. Instead of making ignorant statements, why not try and learn about other religions? You don't have to believe in them- just learn about them so that you can have a logical, non-insulting conversation.

Just because I fail to buy into the "oversoul" theory does not mean I have blinders on, and I think I have proven that *you* belittled first. You are just inflamed because you received a dose of your own medicine. And seriously, do you really care if *I* take you seriously? I certainly do not feel likewise.

Just to clarify...Orthodox Judaism does not recognize a specific entity known as Satan or the Devil, but they do recognize the forces of evil.

Yes, a adversary, a enemy. Whether Satan is a name or a title is up for debate. Evil is evil and it is a force in our world.

Sgsmitty, if heaven is just the lack of pain, sorrow and despair, how is that different than nothingness? If I just blink out of existence, I'm not in pain. No suffering, despair, no more anything. How can you have regard to heaven and not hell?

Imagine your life now with its' mixture of joy, happiness, contentment, love and so on that has pain, suffering, sorrow, worry, etc. mixed in. Take out the pain, suffering, despair and you have something left. With nothingness, you have, well nothingingness.

Since I was about 5yrs old, I thought Heaven sounded really boring the way everyone described it. Hell was definitely described as something unmaginably horrible. I have never been able to wrap my brain around the idea of anyone doing anything so horrible that they deserve eternal torture. I mean really, let's say someone goes pyscho, just totally out of their mind, they kill and mangle some people not caring what God or Jesus think. Do they deserve to be tortured for longer than any of us can even concieve? I tend to think not. I tend to think that person should just be put to sleep.

I understand why you feel this way. Remember, some people describe hell has being completely seperated from God and not a bunch of demons stabbing you with pitchforks. Is the seperation from God idea torture? I don't know, but that sounds unenjoyable as well.