You're too kind. I appreciate it but it was all an experience you couldn't help but learn from. No one ever forgets and some get driven pretty deep down the rabbit hole/s that they're led to because of it.

Not really sad that I've experienced or heard but I've not met many that have gone there. Some are driven deeply into religion, others far far away. I think I was fortunate as I was never either and came out of it to examine the experience from and with an open outlook... if that makes any sense. lol
I wouldn't trade the experience for anything and look forward to it again to be honest.
I must say, I admire what you posted, I try and do the same. You have a good and warm heart!

I think that the point of my dissertation was NOT to avoid paying estate taxes because it prevents a return to kings, kingdoms, Princes, and dictators, which NO ONE of any good faith wants. Joseph Stalin FORCED communists to be atheists.

"You should see/experience it in real life. I want to go back."


I can tell that you mean well and don't have any ill intentions toward me personally (unlike a few here ;) ), but nahhh, I think I'll pass on purposely wishing I was dead - even if it was only short & temporary. LOL

If you get the chance, you should really try to watch this weeks episode of 'The Good Doctor' I mentioned, as I think you would really enjoy the 'near death' story-line part of it.

I also hope that some of the usual suspects, don't jump on your "I want to go back" comment...as that would simply be mean and unwarranted.

Seeing Clapton does not prove God. It only proves Clapton. Sorry!

Disagree! Atheism is not a "religion". But, believing God does not exist is still "believing".

We revert back into stardust...Like everything else in physical reality.

A 'Belief' is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. To 'Believe' something is to accept something as true.

To believe in a negative is misinterpretation of meaning. It is simply NOT believing.

But if anyone wants to 'Believe' that Atheists are people who 'Believe' that God does not exist rather than people who don't believe there is a God, please feel free.

Should we also believe that Religion is believing that those who do not believe in God are wrong rather than just being belief in God? Okay, makes sense to me.

Thank you and I'm glad I got to meet you electronically.

Agree to believing in God. Organized Religion is dangerous. God is in our heart.

I didn't write about wishing to be dead. I will watch it. Ex34449 is the poster. I am never mean.

"A 'Belief' is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. To 'Believe' something is to accept something as true."
That's part of it. This is also from Merriam Webster
: something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion : something believed
an individual's religious or political beliefs
especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
the beliefs of the Catholic Church

"To believe in a negative is misinterpretation of meaning. It is simply NOT believing."
Not believing and choosing to not have a belief are two entirely different situations.

"But if anyone wants to 'Believe' that Atheists are people who 'Believe' that God does not exist rather than people who don't believe there is a God, please feel free."
haha Again from Websters... : a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods : one who subscribes to or advocates atheism

"Should we also believe that Religion is believing that those who do not believe in God are wrong rather than just being belief in God? Okay, makes sense to me."
It doesn't to me but who cares. = )

God is in our heart. Organized religion is man made and one of the causes of war.

We are God and God is in us. Most are not working on their life lessons. People live in fear or love. Most have trouble choosing the best option.

I am not being facetious, but I ask why you don't take steps to get back to "that place"? What is your reason for staying here if you would rather be there?
Again, serious inquiry.

Nope, valid question. I have a wife and dog I have to outlive to provide them safety, comfort, and security. I'd never take myself out of the picture but I sure miss the place greatly. I'll say this, when the time comes, I'll have a smile on my face.

To me, one can not simply choose to believe. Like Yoda said to young Luke, "you "do", or you "do not". There is no "try" (choose). Belief or lack of belief in God(s) is visceral.

Thank you. I feel the same way.

I've no idea as there is only one mind I'm sure of, mine. Whatever happens that makes a another believe or not to a God or anything for that matter is a trip they took.
To me, one can choose anything to believe in. Or not.

I know where I am going after I die and it is not due to religion. It is due to my faith and the grace of my GOD. Not everyone is going where I am going, but anyone that wants to can. The ONLY person holding you back from going to a better place when you depart this life, is YOU. So, if you do not arrive in the place you expected, you can only blame yourself.

Page 15, post 212. My question to that poster was a serious question. The answer I received was, imo, humble, caring, rational, and healthy.
As to your belief in reincarnation, there are those cases who seem to provide evidence toward that possibility that cannot be dismissed. I find those cases very interesting.

Would you tell me where that is?
I'm working on my Life Lessons to lessen how many I'll have to work on when I reincarnate.

Hopefully, I would become a Mother. Didn't want to in this life.
I lived in Phila, & I won 1st place in my office's "best resemblance to a dog" contest. I won as an Afghan at age 24.

What about you?

Sometimes I wonder if Earth is Hell, although I do not believe in Heaven or Hell?

"I know where I am going after I die..."

Actually, you have faith/belief of where/what you're going to after dying...you don't/can't really "know." It's akin to those who falsely say "I just tell it like it is," when in fact - they are only 'telling it as they see it.'

When you're dead, you don't know that you're dead. All the pain os felt by others. Same thing happens when you're stupid.

Yep, I have FAITH. Is that hard to believe? Do I really "KNOW?" I am just counting on the promise that Jesus/GOD gave us in the Bible. They call that "faith." Better to have faith than to die miserably with nothing to look forward to. I have not seen ANY indication that reincarnation exists. But I am counting on the promise that GOD gave us that we do not just cease to exist. Jesus said that where he was going there was many rooms and that he was going to prepare a place for us when we went (paraphrased). Christians call that heaven. I am counting on having one of those rooms. I think that I would rather live with GOD than be reincarnated as something that lives in today's world. But hey, everyone has their own preference. God never mentions anything about reincarnation but their IS reference to an alternative to Heaven. I am not trying to convince anyone to join me; just explaining my "faith" to you in response. It would be the easy way out to believe that when you passed, there was nothing on the other side. That way, there would be no threat of moral or ethical reckoning for sin. Unfortunately, GOD states that "all have sinned..." so if GOD is real and one passes, they have a reckoning whether or not they believe. The ONLY way to forgo the punishment is via Jesus, according to the Holy Bible. BUT, that is my belief/faith as you mentioned. Of course, if I am wrong and the non-believers are right, then I have lost nothing. If I am right and the non-believers are wrong, they have lost EVERYTHING. I am no better than anyone else. I just accepted GOD's promise/gift. I hate to see others suffer, but GOD does not force anyone to accept HIS gift. That's each individual's choice. Kind of like having a complete stranger walk up to you and give you a check for $5000 with a stack of old references stating that this person is an honorable and honest person. It is your choice as to whether or not you believe that check is legit or not. Until you cash it, you don't know. However, if there is an expiration date on that check you might lose that gift if you do not believe(have faith) it's legit and do not cash it while you can. Maybe that is not a good analogy.
By the way, the Bible is the most widely published book in the world. It is historically and mathematically accurate. Just an interesting fact.

"What do you think happens when you die?"
I believe that I will go to be with the Lord.

When you wake up, it's a "New Life" with oodles of "wake-up" calls so you can learn the Life Lessons you didn't in your last lifetime.

Interesting. So, where did you come from, previously? I've never met anyone that has been reincarnated. Or, is there some unwritten law that says you are not allowed to know anything of your past life?

So many beliefs, and not a shred of evidence too prove any of them!

Duh!! Ok, so you got me. I should have caught on from your first posts, but I went along with it. I actually thought you were being serious and that you really were a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Thanks for the laugh..............