|
Post by the Scribe on Sept 12, 2012 21:58:18 GMT -5
After years of experience and study I have come to the conclusion that regardless of and "in spite of" religion there is an order in the universe and what many believe to be "God" is what I call the "Ordering Force" of the Universe. No matter one's beliefs, religion, etc. there is a process we all go through. There have been some great books about this subject and last night another author was interviewed on Coast:Afterlife & Reincarnation Date: 09-11-12 Host: George Noory Guests: Richard Martini, Stewart Rhodes Journalist and filmmaker Rich Martini discussed his incredible journey finding evidence for the afterlife, life between lives, and "soul groups." He extensively interviewed Dr. Michael Newton, known for his pioneering work on life between lives. Newton put some 7,000 people under deep hypnosis over a 30-year period, and found a number of commonalities amongst his clients regarding reincarnation and the afterlife. For instance, he discovered that people had a specific color associated with them during their between-lives world that was related to their spiritual progression or age of their souls. Martini filmed a number of people's hypnotherapy sessions, including his own. One of the sessions was with a woman who experienced being a holocaust victim in a past life. During her between-lives state, she said she met with a Council of Elders, who surprisingly told her that "it was harder to play the role of a perpetrator than a victim."
According to Martini's research, while in the between-lives world, we conduct a planning session, often with members of our soul group, deciding who is going to play what role in the next lifetime. People typically have between 3 to 25 members in their soul group, and when they find each other, there is a sense that they are "home," he said. A commonality Martini found, is that when people are regressed they say their soul enters a new fetus at around the four months mark. Interestingly, only 1/3 of the person's soul goes into the body and the rest resides in the spiritual realm, and is only reunited at physical death, he continued.
He shared details of his own lengthy hypnotic regression, in which he experienced a previous life as an Indian Medicine Man, and attended a classroom about "energy reconstruction" during the between-lives state. For more, check out a trailer for his documentary, FlipSide. Martini also touched on his extensive research into the fate of Amelia Earhart. He interviewed a number of witnesses who saw her plane in a hangar in Saipan. He concluded that she was held prisoner by the Japanese (who probably thought she was a spy) from 1937-42, and was executed after United States shelled Saipan. www.flipsidethebook.com/Based on the book "Flipside: a Tourist's Guide to the Afterlife" this is a documentary film that explores the research of Michael Newton and the life between lives. It's available through flipsidethefilm com. It includes footage of past life regressions, interviews with hypnotherapists who are pioneers in this field. This is the trailer for the film.
Michael Newton's site:
www.spiritualregression.org/
Journey Of Souls Case Studies of Life Between Lives (1994) by Michael Newton, PhD Why are you here on Earth? Where will you go after death? What will happen to you when you get there? Many books have been written about past lives, but there has been very scant information about the ongoing existence of our souls as we await rebirth - until Journey of Souls was published in 1994. Now a best-selling classic, Journey of Souls summarizes Dr. Michael Newton's research and work with individuals whom he placed in a state of deep hypnosis during which they recalled their experiences between lives as eternal spirits.
When Dr. Newton, a certified Master Hypnotherapist, began regressing his clients back in time to access their memories of former lives he stumbled onto a discovery of enormous proportions: that it is possible to "see" into the spirit world through the mind's eye of subjects who are in a hypnotized or superconscious state. Moreover, clients in this altered state are able to describe what their soul was doing between lives on Earth.
In Journey of Souls, Dr. Newton narrates and comments upon the progressive "travel log" of 29 of his clients who movingly described what happened to them between their former reincarnations on earth. They revealed graphic details about how it feels to die, who meets us right after death, what the spirit world is really like, where we go and what we do as souls, and why we choose to come back in certain bodies.
Finding one's place in the spirit world initiates a deep process of healing for it provides understanding of the purpose behind significant life choices, and how and why your soul - and the souls of those you love - lives eternally. After reading Journey of Souls, you will gain a better understanding of the immortality of the human soul...and you will meet day-to-day personal challenges with a greater sense of purpose as you begin to understand the reasons behind events in your own life.
Table of Contents
1.Death and Departure 2.Gateway to the Spirit World 3.Homecoming 4.The Displaced Soul 5.Orientation 6.Transition 7.Placement 8.Our Guides 9.The Beginner Soul 10.The Intermediate Soul 11.The Advanced Soul 12.Life Selection 13.Choosing a New Body 14.Preparation for Embarkation 15.Rebirth
The Spirit World Our physical universe appears to coexist with other physical and mental dimensions. These alternative dimensions of consciousness may be layered within our own physical space, parallel to our space, or linked by unknown designs around our dimensions.
Contained within our universe are energy waves that appear to be guided both by design and wisdom from a higher consciousness. Our dimension is inhabited by the vibrational energy of immortal beings we call Souls who evolve by gaining knowledge and acquiring wisdom.
Souls exist multi-dimensionally, both within and beyond linear time and space. The natural domain of Souls who come to earth is the non-physical dimension that we call the "spirit world" where Souls go between their incarnations. The spirit world is a place of love, kindness and compassion as well as one of order, planning and direction. It is possible that a higher space of perfection (beyond the spirit world) may exist which is not accessible to Souls still incarnating in the human body.
Our human reality is a three-dimensional material universe that includes movement and, therefore, a passage of time with the aging of all things physical. Time exists as an expression of change. However, in the spirit world Souls exist in a Now time, which is not on one timeline and is not absolute.
The spirit world is characterized by the forces of creative energy, universal thought, and support for spiritual enlightenment designed for the apparent purpose of training and growth in all Souls' evolution toward perfection. At the same time the spirit world offers a space of quiet contemplation and reflection between lives.
The human body and physical brain contain the spiritual mind of an immortal Soul. Conscious thought consists of ideas generated by the human and Soul mind in association with each other. Indications are that unconscious intuition, insight and conscience are influences of the Soul.
Each Soul is part of a decision-making process in choosing a body for the next life to experience certain karmic lessons as an outgrowth of former lives. All information and experiences accrued through human bodies is retained by the Soul. The reservoir of these Soul memories and accumulated wisdom derived from experience is referred to as the Superconscious mind.
The Soul's prior history is retained in higher consciousness, the Superconscious mind, and may be released into human consciousness through various means, one of which is hypnotic regression. However, pre-existing amnesia may be a partial or complete blocking agent for some which may limit recovery of past life and between life information.
While Soul memory may be hidden from the level of conscious awareness, thought patterns of the Soul influencing the human brain may induce motivations for certain actions. We do not know the degree to which human choices or actions are influenced by the Soul since this variable is different with each person.
Reincarnation, or the transmigration of the Soul, is designed to advance Soul development through the choice of a specific body that will be involved in certain timeline events. This choice is governed by the special needs of the Soul to advance from lower to higher levels of learning based upon performance and desire, as well as karmic issues from former lives.
During physical incarnations on earth various possibilities and probabilities arising from karmic influences and Soul contracts are subject to the free will of the Soul. Thus, humans are not bound to a predetermined existence.
The meaning behind the existence of each individual has been planned in advance to allow all Souls to come into their physical incarnations with a purpose. Goals are originated, in part, by karmic patterns from former lives and, in part, by specific lessons relating to the ambitions of that Soul. These objectives are established in concert with a Soul's spiritual peers, personal guide(s) and a Council of enlightened spiritual Elders.
A new age of spiritual enlightenment has ushered in a period of human history where, with increasing frequency, people are seeking different approaches to exposing their immortal minds. A significant catalyst in this process is Life Between Lives Spiritual Regression utilizing hypnosis.
The Soul: based on the descriptions of Life Between Lives clients
The soul can not be defined because it has no limits that are perceived about its creation. The most consistent reports of its demonstrated essence is that the soul represents intelligent energy which is immortal and manifested by vibrational waves of light and color.
All human beings have one soul that remains attached to its chosen physical body until death. Souls play a part in the selection of their next physical body during their reincarnation cycles. The soul typically joins its physical body after conception between the fourth month and birth.
Each soul has a unique immortal character. When joined with the human brain this character is melded with the emotional temperament, or human ego, of that brain to produce one personality for one lifetime.
Souls reincarnate with human beings for countless lifetimes to advance through levels of development by addressing karmic tasks from former lifetimes. Souls grow in knowledge and wisdom through this learning process while pondering their thoughts and deeds in past lives with peers under the direction of teachers.
At the moment of physical death the soul returns to the spirit world, the source of its creation. Since part of a soul's energy essence has never left the spirit world during incarnation, the returning soul rejoins with that essence of itself. This, spiritual learning never ceases for the soul. The spirit world also offers souls the opportunity for rest and reflection between lives.
Souls appear to be members of specific spirit cluster groups to whom they have been assigned since their creation. The teachers of each group are the personal spirit guides of members of that group. Members of these groups reincarnate with the soul and assume meaningful roles during a soul's life on earth.
Rather than being defined as a place of ultimate non-action, or Nirvana, the spirit world appears to be a space of soul transition into higher forms of energy with capabilities for creation with advancement. The spirit world has an area of influence which is undefined except that it includes our universe and nearby dimensions.
No earthly religious deities are seen in the spirit world by returning souls. A soul's closest connection with the divine is with their personal spirit guide and members of a council of benevolent counselors who monitor the affairs of each soul. Souls from earth feel and sense the presence of a God-like Oversoul or Source emanating from above their counselors. The spirit world is composed of highly advanced non-reincarnating soul specialists who regulate the work of advancement for the souls in their care.
When incarnating souls develop to a high level of experience, performance and wisdom they will cease to incarnate and become advanced beings themselves who assist the still-incarnating souls.
The ultimate goal of all souls appears to be the desire to seek perfection and conjoin with the Source that created them.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Sept 13, 2012 17:50:34 GMT -5
I've always believed in reincarnation but at the same times, have always had some doubts as to the idea that we come back here (or to other worlds) to learn some kind of life lesson. What is there to learn here in the physical world that we couldn't learn over in the spiritual realm? Such an argument suggests we can't experience in spirit what we can experience here and I just don't think that's true. I also don't know about buying into another life when we do wrong to another person as most of the wrongs would strike me as being so trivial as to warrant another life to correct it. A serious wrong like murder or cheating someone, I could possibly see but not another life earned because of a minor offense, such as breaking up with someone.
No, my belief in reincarnation is that we come back here (and elsewhere) because for whatever reason, we want to come back to the physical world. Maybe physical life is some sort of merry-go-round ride for those in the spiritual realm and perhaps there are things we can only experience here that we can't experience in the spiritual because it's different in some way. But, I'd sure like to know about my previous past lives as there are certain eras and certain people of the past I've always had a fascination for, which goes all the way back to early childhood. I remember seeing a comment on reincarnation which said the things which resonate with us may be clues to our past lives, which if true, I must've lived in times more fascinating than the present time.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Sept 13, 2012 21:18:13 GMT -5
What is there to learn here in the physical world that we couldn't learn over in the spiritual realm?
It's been said that here, in this realm there is duality or rather good and evil, positive and negative and to learn one or both you must have the other. Supposedly the spiritual realm is only positive.
....for whatever reason, we want to come back to the physical world. Maybe physical life is some sort of merry-go-round ride for those in the spiritual realm and perhaps there are things we can only experience here that we can't experience in the spiritual because it's different in some way.
Bingo. This place has its allure and if one isn't careful you can get stuck on the Karmic wheel.
I remember seeing a comment on reincarnation which said the things which resonate with us may be clues to our past lives, which if true, I must've lived in times more fascinating than the present time.
There are volumes written about such things. It is possible you came to this life to fulfill one certain event that may take a full life just to get to that day when it happens. Personally I don't think there could be a more fascinating time than now.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Sept 13, 2012 21:40:16 GMT -5
Dolores Cannon is a fascinating expert in this subject:
Regression hypnotherapist Dolores Cannon talks about the souls who volunteered to incarnate on planet Earth at this time and DNA upgrades as evidenced by her regression hypnotherapy clients who have been reporting on future events while under hypnosis.
An old Coastam show interviewed a scientist who stated there is now proof our DNA is changing or mutating.
Everyone has one double helix of DNA. What we are finding is that there are other helixes that are being formed. In the double helix there are two strands of DNA coiled into a spiral. It is my understanding that we will be developing twelve helixes. During this time, which seems to have started maybe 5 to 20 years ago, we have been mutating. This is the scientific explanation. It is a mutation of our species into something for which the end result is not yet known.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Sept 14, 2012 2:00:47 GMT -5
It's been said that here, in this realm there is duality or rather good and evil, positive and negative and to learn one or both you must have the other. Supposedly the spiritual realm is only positive.
I've heard variations of that: you can't know good without knowing what bad is, you can't know happiness without knowing what sadness is, you can't know love without knowing what hate is, you can't know life without knowing what death is. But, if we have learned all of that over the course of hundreds - if not thousands - of lives and we keep coming back, does that mean we flunked the course? Of course, I choose to believe we come back because we want to, not because we have to.
Bingo. This place has its allure and if one isn't careful you can get stuck on the Karmic wheel.
I wouldn't mind coming back time and time again but I've sometimes wondered if our choices on who we could be in our next life is limited by time? That is, the past truly is dead and one can never choose to live a life in the past and the future is yet to be born, so one must always choose a life that will be part of the here and now. Or is time like a flowing river for which it can not only take you to the present time but also to the future and the past if you so choose?
There are volumes written about such things. It is possible you came to this life to fulfill one certain event that may take a full life just to get to that day when it happens. Personally I don't think there could be a more fascinating time than now.
I have oftened wondered about the possibility that I came to this life just to fulfill one certain event, and seeing that it hasn't happened yet (not that I'm aware of), have wondered what happens when it does happen? Will that be the end of my current life at that point and then it will be back to the spirit realm I go to plan the next life? Or will I have gotten enough points to remain in the spirit realm, never to return to physical life again? I'd rather come back but I know there could be a point in the spirit time when the ride on the karmic wheel of life is over and done, and you may not be allowed to return, that you have to move on to the next stage of your evolution. But, I think life is always fascinating no matter whether it's past, present or future but who knows, the spiritual life could be far more than we will ever be able to imagine and life here might be worth giving up in order to have the spiritual life.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Sept 17, 2012 21:27:40 GMT -5
But, if we have learned all of that over the course of hundreds - if not thousands - of lives and we keep coming back, does that mean we flunked the course? Of course, I choose to believe we come back because we want to, not because we have to.There are many reasons we may come back that don't mean the course was flunked. For instance, Dolores Cannon and others say many advanced souls have agreed to come back to Earth as it is sinking into darkness and it humanity needs help. By their very nature these souls will tilt Earth back into the "light." Unfortunately many of these souls can't handle life here all that well and may opt out. Another reason is to help someone in your soul group with a lesson for advancement. There is always danger the advanced souls may pick up some karmic ties and get back on the wheel of life. I wouldn't mind coming back time and time again but I've sometimes wondered if our choices on who we could be in our next life is limited by time? That is, the past truly is dead and one can never choose to live a life in the past and the future is yet to be born, so one must always choose a life that will be part of the here and now. Or is time like a flowing river for which it can not only take you to the present time but also to the future and the past if you so choose?In a discussion (radio) with Paul von Ward over the weekend he stated that he thought we could only go into the future because of the "go into the past and kill your grandfather could you exist paradigm." Personally I would like to think that anything is possible. One of my take's or theory on it is that we are all connected and experiencing (subconsciously) all lives but happen to be consciously focused on one. All past, present and future lives are happening right now. Another thought I had is that all people,lives and experiences have already been created (continually running) and we (soul) can be inserted into any one of them in any time zone or dimension to gain the experiences we may want or need. I've not heard those theories from anyone else yet. I have oftened wondered about the possibility that I came to this life just to fulfill one certain event, and seeing that it hasn't happened yet (not that I'm aware of), have wondered what happens when it does happen? Will that be the end of my current life at that point and then it will be back to the spirit realm I go to plan the next life? Or will I have gotten enough points to remain in the spirit realm, never to return to physical life again? I'd rather come back but I know there could be a point in the spirit time when the ride on the karmic wheel of life is over and done, and you may not be allowed to return, that you have to move on to the next stage of your evolution. But, I think life is always fascinating no matter whether it's past, present or future but who knows, the spiritual life could be far more than we will ever be able to imagine and life here might be worth giving up in order to have the spiritual life. Paul von Ward, in his books has stated we have a choice as to whether we want to come back and how soon. He did however say that someone who has died accidently or before their time should have been up/prematurely that they will reincarnate sooner than later. He was also asked about the soul of an aborted human where he said it basically is treated like the termination of any other life and that it would probably come back quicker especially since the trajectory of it's life was quickly terminated. vonward.com/reincarnationexperiment.org/I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all oppression and shame; I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with themselves, remorseful after deeds done; I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying, neglected, gaunt, desperate; I see the wife misused by her husband--I see the treacherous seducer of young women; I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love, attempted to be hid-- I see these sights on the earth; I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny-- I see martyrs and prisoners; I observe a famine at sea-- I observe the sailors casting lots who shall be kill'd, to preserve the lives of the rest; I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like; All these--All the meanness and agony without end, I sitting, look out upon, See, hear, and am silent.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Sept 18, 2012 14:55:59 GMT -5
There are many reasons we may come back that don't mean the course was flunked. For instance, Dolores Cannon and others say many advanced souls have agreed to come back to Earth as it is sinking into darkness and it humanity needs help. By their very nature these souls will tilt Earth back into the "light." Unfortunately many of these souls can't handle life here all that well and may opt out. Another reason is to help someone in your soul group with a lesson for advancement. There is always danger the advanced souls may pick up some karmic ties and get back on the wheel of life.
I'm always dubious about claims of "advanced souls" coming back to Earth because it's sinking into darkness and humanity needs help. Granted, some of us seem to embrace the dark side but I think the majority of people on this planet are good souls, but we all have some dark side to us. But, it's not on the same scale of those who use it to hurt and harm others on a grand scale. As for helping someone within your soul group learn a lesson for advancement, again, I'm not big on the idea that we're here to learn some lesson and then move on elsewhere in the universe or in the spiritual realm in some soul-annihilating nirvana. We're here because we want to be here because in human form, maybe we experience things here we can't experience in spirit.
But, speaking of soul-annihilation nirvana, I have begun to wonder if those who revel in the extremes of the darkest dark side risk their souls being extinguished? I'm speaking of people who commit acts against humanity such as murder in all of its forms, including political murder?
In a discussion (radio) with Paul von Ward over the weekend he stated that he thought we could only go into the future because of the "go into the past and kill your grandfather could you exist paradigm." Personally I would like to think that anything is possible.
I think anything is possible as well, because the reality is we don't know with 100% certainity what happens over on spiritual side, whether we do reincarnate at some point or whether we reside in some spiritual heaven or hell forever or whether we cease to exist altogether when we die. But, if we reincarnate and time is only a physical manifestation and has no bearing in the spiritual side, then I see no reason why we couldn't live somewhere in the past or somewhere in the far future. With death said to be being but a sleep and a forgetting, there's very little chance we could affect the future in a significant way.
One of my take's or theory on it is that we are all connected and experiencing (subconsciously) all lives but happen to be consciously focused on one. All past, present and future lives are happening right now. Another thought I had is that all people,lives and experiences have already been created (continually running) and we (soul) can be inserted into any one of them in any time zone or dimension to gain the experiences we may want or need. I've not heard those theories from anyone else yet.
As a believer in parallel worlds, I believe we're already living multiple lives, but for whatever reason we are locked into the film that is this life. Another thought I've had with regard to a person having multiple lives is what if our spirits are capable of living multiple lives within the same existence all at once? That is, we are more than just us, that we may be someone else in another part of the world, possibly more?
Paul von Ward, in his books has stated we have a choice as to whether we want to come back and how soon. He did however say that someone who has died accidently or before their time should have been up/prematurely that they will reincarnate sooner than later.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on this. Some say right away, others say it could be a century or more before we come back. I saw one story back in my teens which related that we reincarnate after about 400 years and curiously, there was a completely different story I saw from around the same time that said ghosts disappear after about 400 years. Coincidence???
He was also asked about the soul of an aborted human where he said it basically is treated like the termination of any other life and that it would probably come back quicker especially since the trajectory of it's life was quickly terminated.
That's possible yet I think we all take a break or rest between lives because I think that for as much as we keep returning to physical life time and time again, I think it's a painful process that takes it out of our souls and that we must recharge the soul energies before returning. I think it's also possible an aborted human could've been someone who jumped the gun (so to speak) and had to return to the spiritual realm so that the life that spirit was going to have could be properly created. But, maybe there is a point where it's too late for the spirit to return to the spiritual realm and that spirit has to live out a life generally not worth living?
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Nov 30, 2012 13:49:56 GMT -5
This is probably the best treatise or at least one of the best on near death and the after(before)life experiences. www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=2037&category=EnvironmentIf you want to know or come close to knowing why we are here than this site is the place to be. I was excited to discover Dr. Alexander in the past 24 hours as a result of Linda Moultan Howe's interview with Eben. I am even more exicited to find he has dedicated this important work to Leo Buscaglia, one of my favorite people of all time. As I peruse through this site I am finding "backup" on so much of what I have come to as a "why we are here" conclusion to our existence. Our "soul-school." Dr. Alexander's website: www.eternea.org/more: www.eternea.org/Loving_each_other/Loving_each_other.htmOne of the things Eben mentioned in last nights interview that caught my ear was something near and dear to my own heart and life and that was a very brief mention about unconditional love, children and animal rescue. I just found this on his site: This is what life is all about if you can grasp it.What an inspiration!
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Nov 30, 2012 14:36:41 GMT -5
One of my absolute heroes of all time:
Don't be afraid of the poop. Dive in! (haha do I know about poop with all my rescue animals)
On children:
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was: 1. A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old Gentleman’s’ yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, ‘Nothing, I just Helped him cry.’ ********************************************* The Runners-up were:
2. Teacher Debbie Moon’s first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, ‘I know all about Adoption, I was adopted..’ ‘What does it mean to be adopted?’, asked another child. ‘It means’, said the girl, ‘that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy!’ *********************************************
3. On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League base ball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. ‘We’re behind 14 to nothing,’ he answered With a smile. ‘Really,’ I said. ‘I have to say you don’t look very discouraged.’ ‘Discouraged?’, the boy asked with a Puzzled look on his face… ‘Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t Been up to bat yet.’ ********************************************* 4. Whenever I’m disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he’d set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. ‘Guess what, Mom,’ he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me…. ‘I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.’ ********************************************* 5. An eye witness account from New York City, on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering With cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, ‘My, but you’re in such deep thought staring in that window!’ ‘I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,’ was the boy’s reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes.. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, ‘No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.’ As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her: ‘Are you God’s wife?’
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Nov 30, 2012 17:34:25 GMT -5
I've been meaning to check out Dr. Alexander's book for some time but haven't gotten around to buying a copy of his book. I was greatley disappointed in another book I bought on the subject of life after death or near death, "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven." I heard about the book on the radio and it was being promoted as a book by Kevin Malarkey, a psychologist or psychiatrist, with no pro-religious agenda, and about his son Alex, who survived a horrendous car crash (caused by his dad) which unfortunately left him crippled. I thought "Well, now, here's a book that will be difficult for the skeptics to dismiss," yet as I read the book, it was easy to dismiss as the father was a religious stage parent supreme in the fundamentalist mode. Their fundamentalist mentality permeates every page of the book and I had to wonder why it was being promoted as being written by someone who didn't have a religious agenda behind it? His son is the person who supposedly experienced the visit to heaven, yet he's limited to a few paragraphs or lines per chapter, while his dad's writing dominates the book. I wrote a review of the book in which I expressed my skepticism, noting that the decision to limit the son's contributions could've been intentional to keep them from being caught in a lie, and also noting that the dad came across as a religious version of a stage parent.
So, I've kind of hestitating on buying Dr. Alexander's book for that reason. I believe we survive death but I believe that too many people are turned off by superfundamentalist religious people, who think only their belief is right and all other religious or non-religious points of view are wrong. I'd like to see a book that would be hard for the skeptics yet I know the skeptics have already been heavily criticisizing Dr Alexander's book because his book doesn't meet their standards for proof. But, when it comes to those skeptics, their belief system is just as intolerable as that of the superfundamentalist. I believe someone could offer proof on anything and everything (near death, after death, ghosts, UFOs, time travel, parallel worlds, Bigfoot, et al) and they would still reject it because they don't want it to be real.. It would be a threat to their belief in an absolute reality in which what you see is what there is and anything else is a con. Why it should be a threat to admit there is something more going on than what we can see is something I can't quite fathom. Personally, I find comfort in the thought we survive death or that our world is beign visited by beings from another planet.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Nov 30, 2012 17:43:39 GMT -5
When I first heard Kevin's father interviewed on Coast I thought it was a joke because his last name was Malarkey and the more I heard him speak the less I bought the story. It may well be true but where was Kevin himself? And that agenda came through. I think Dr. Alexander is the real deal and just look at what he is doing with it but if it doesn't speak to you than it doesn't speak to you. One day it may.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Nov 30, 2012 18:28:15 GMT -5
When I first heard Kevin's father interviewed on Coast I thought it was a joke because his last name was Malarkey and the more I heard him speak the less I bought the story. It may well be true but where was Kevin himself? And that agenda came through. I think Dr. Alexander is the real deal and just look at what he is doing with it but if it doesn't speak to you than it doesn't speak to you. One day it may. I had the same reaction about the last name and part of my review noted the irony of Malarkey's last name coincided with my belief the book was just a bunch of malarky. Another thing I noted was no mention of how whoever was in the other car fared in the accident and also no real admission of fault in the accident. For a religious book, it was all about ME & MINE. I'll be buying Dr. Alexander's book here shortly, based on the reviews I've been reading. It upsets the religious skeptics because it doesn't adhere to their religious beliefs while the so called scientific and medical sleptics dismiss it with their usual reactions (such as he was dreaming or hallucinating). A closed mind on any subject, whether there's some religious reasoning or scientific or medical reasoning for it doesn't invalidate the experience of the person who had it. And that's what the skeptics don't get because they get wrapped up in their dogmas and egos, and get all angry and blow up because people choose to think for themselves and believe what they see, hear or read rather than believe them on a subject.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 3, 2012 11:54:09 GMT -5
I think Alexander and friends have an interesting movement going on here lifted by some very credible people. Not a religion, not a cult but are a bunch of truth seekers that are making an awful lot of sense to me similar to the way but more in depth than Joseph Campbell who was more of a historian of sorts.
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Dec 3, 2012 12:06:06 GMT -5
I've always believed in reincarnation but at the same times, have always had some doubts as to the idea that we come back here (or to other worlds) to learn some kind of life lesson. What is there to learn here in the physical world that we couldn't learn over in the spiritual realm? Such an argument suggests we can't experience in spirit what we can experience here and I just don't think that's true. I also don't know about buying into another life when we do wrong to another person as most of the wrongs would strike me as being so trivial as to warrant another life to correct it. A serious wrong like murder or cheating someone, I could possibly see but not another life earned because of a minor offense, such as breaking up with someone. No, my belief in reincarnation is that we come back here (and elsewhere) because for whatever reason, we want to come back to the physical world. Maybe physical life is some sort of merry-go-round ride for those in the spiritual realm and perhaps there are things we can only experience here that we can't experience in the spiritual because it's different in some way. But, I'd sure like to know about my previous past lives as there are certain eras and certain people of the past I've always had a fascination for, which goes all the way back to early childhood. I remember seeing a comment on reincarnation which said the things which resonate with us may be clues to our past lives, which if true, I must've lived in times more fascinating than the present time. Not sure about reincarnation but I did watch something on this person who died and came back, you've seen those white tunnel type shows, anyway, during his journey his description of heaven or hell was more of an emotional.. which made a lot of sense, in other words, he actually felt things bad things he did to people or animals in his case, shooting a mother bird. he felt the starvation of her babies as if it were happening to him.. just weird, that made a lot of sense to me.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 3, 2012 13:09:52 GMT -5
Dianna, that is called the "life review" each of us must go through during our "death" process. One is supposed to experience what our deeds have wrought on others through their eyes, feelings, emotions, pain, joy, etc. as well as others affected by that act indirectly. There is no escaping it. For some I suspect it would be hell to experience and others great joy if they did wonderful things with their lives. It is like "soul school!"
Speaking of soul school of another kind:
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 4, 2012 17:46:16 GMT -5
Not sure about reincarnation but I did watch something on this person who died and came back, you've seen those white tunnel type shows, anyway, during his journey his description of heaven or hell was more of an emotional.. which made a lot of sense, in other words, he actually felt things bad things he did to people or animals in his case, shooting a mother bird. he felt the starvation of her babies as if it were happening to him.. just weird, that made a lot of sense to me. I think it's possible that in the afterlife, your every action is judged and you get a sense of what it was like for the person or animal you did it to - you live it from their perspective. I'm just not so sure that it's God judging you as much as it may be you judging yourself. As it relates to reincarnation, I still believe that most of our human offenses are so minor that in and of themselves, they would hardly be grounds for reincarnating and trying to right what was done wrong in the previous life. What if, rather than reincarnating for bad deeds in a past life, reincarnating can also be a reward for the life you led, a better life the next time around as opposed to what you may feel was a so-so life, but you made the best of it without too much complaining? It may be a scary thought for some in the afterlife that they will face their deeds and experience it as that person or animal, and what that person felt. I kind of wonder how something like that would make a Charles Manson or John Wayne Gacy or Hitler feel? To be the persons you killed or had killed, to feel their pain as they died and experience it over and over again, would they feel remorse and guilt or indifference and not caring at all for the harm they did? Manson shows no sign of guilt for those he had killed, so I rather imagine that in the afterlife, he would remain unrepentant. Would it do any good to allow him to reincarnate and let him repay for his crimes by letting him be the victim next time around? Or would it be better just to extinguish his soul altogether, permanently dead and gone forever? (The trouble I have with that last line above is that I believe it's impossible for a soul to be annihilated. That even nonexistence would be some sort of existence, maybe just not accessible for those who are there to be in contact with those on a higher spiritual plane or in the physical life plane.)
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 4, 2012 18:37:34 GMT -5
(The trouble I have with that last line above is that I believe it's impossible for a soul to be annihilated. That even nonexistence would be some sort of existence, maybe just not accessible for those who are there to be in contact with those on a higher spiritual plane or in the physical life plane.)
Read more: www.ronstadt.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=591#ixzz2E84K8VLT
There wouldn't be much point in existing if we were only to be annihilated. I don't think there is a Hell per se and the life review is the beginning of the discovery process where we get to not only experience what we did in our life but all of the consequences that go with it. What a wonderful, joyous and painful way to learn but it all stays with us recorded on our soul or akashic records. We may even be experiencing several lifetimes at the same time.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 5, 2012 6:25:14 GMT -5
There wouldn't be much point in existing if we were only to be annihilated. I don't think there is a Hell per se and the life review is the beginning of the discovery process where we get to not only experience what we did in our life but all of the consequences that go with it. What a wonderful, joyous and painful way to learn but it all stays with us recorded on our soul or akashic records. We may even be experiencing several lifetimes at the same time. I've never been able to wrap my head around the idea of a hell either, as a punishment and torture for all eternity for not embracing the Christian religion or worshipping God. To me, it just made more sense that for a truly bad soul, beyond any hope for repentence or remorse for deeds committed in the flesh. it would be better to put that soul out of existence immediately rather than having that soul spend an eternity being tortured. Spending an eternity in hell being tortured sounds like the penultimate learning school, yet the end game according to Christian teachings, I think, is that at some point, the soul in hell will die again, permanently. So why not end the existence of that person? Another line of thought is that the person who goes to hell isn't there forever and that they will eventually leave there...sort of like being paroled Of course, Christian funnydamentalists have a problem with that idea because they think who goes to heaven and who goes to hell are absolutes and there is no parole from hell for anyone who goes there. I can't see anything being that absolute but if it is, I think there will be more Chrisians in hell for their various hypocrises than other sinners who are sent there for being a nonbeliever or having committed minor offenses in human flesh.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 5, 2012 12:44:30 GMT -5
In order to understand the meaning of life and existence you have to put religion out of your mind. It only confuses the issue with so called spiritual politics and a bunch of insane nonsense. Mix some factual data in with spiritual power grabbing and you have a bible or at best a docudrama. There is (secular) order in the Universe despite man made religions.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 5, 2012 16:57:06 GMT -5
In order to understand the meaning of life and existence you have to put religion out of your mind. It only confuses the issue with so called spiritual politics and a bunch of insane nonsense. Mix some factual data in with spiritual power grabbing and you have a bible or at best a docudrama. There is (secular) order in the Universe despite man made religions. I don't think you have to put religion out of your mind to understand the meaning of life, but I think you do have to use religion in a rationalized way if it's to have any meaning. The problem is that with most extremely religious people, they don't rationalize. They use their religion as a bully stick, to justify their hatred of different races, gays, and people whose politics put them at odds with the politics of protecting religious bigotry. I have to wonder about the religious bigots who think they are going to step foot in heaven, still seething with their hatred and contempt for others, and thinking they are going to stay in heaven. It doesn't seem t6o occur to them that the God they claim to worship might find their hatred and contempt objectionable, and that he (or she or they) might not allow them in. Not every religious Christian (or Muslim, for that matter) person is an extreme fundamentalist, but the extreme fundamentalist Christian isn't that much different from the extremist Muslim or the Taliban extremist, even though they think they are. And yet they are the ones who give all the other Christians (and Muslims) an undeserved black eye.
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Dec 5, 2012 18:20:00 GMT -5
Slide, i don't think you have to put religion out either to understand but it's like you said, many have twisted it up so badly that I can see how many would think that or be turned off by it. And it's funny, what is the right religion anyway? I had that conversation once with a family member who is a born again, and as usual that person thinks she will saved and the non Christian won't and... if you live a gay lifestyle, you won't be saved. As for being a Christian or non what if you were raised athiest or another religion outside of christianity, is that your fault? I personally feel, we all have certain needs or that some of us have lessons we might need to teach here on earth, tolerance/hypocrisy and being judgemental are my favorites traits which many many of these so called born again's have. As for Manson and those other types, you have to wonder, it's obvious they're crazy or a bad seed.. and often times, good does come out of the horrible ..or from it brings some kind of an awareness.. or laws may change.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 5, 2012 19:00:16 GMT -5
Slide, i don't think you have to put religion out either to understand but it's like you said, many have twisted it up so badly that I can see how many would think that or be turned off by it. And it's funny, what is the right religion anyway? I had that conversation once with a family member who is a born again, and as usual that person thinks she will saved and the non Christian won't and... if you live a gay lifestyle, you won't be saved. As for being a Christian or non what if you were raised athiest or another religion outside of christianity, is that your fault? I personally feel, we all have certain needs or that some of us have lessons we might need to teach here on earth, tolerance/hypocrisy and being judgemental are my favorites traits which many many of these so called born again's have. As for Manson and those other types, you have to wonder, it's obvious they're crazy or a bad seed.. and often times, good does come out of the horrible ..or from it brings some kind of an awareness.. or laws may change. I don't know what the right religion is, if there even is one. Spiritually, I'm a deist: I believe there is a God (or gods and goddesses), but I have dealt with the Christian fundamentalist variety who thinks their way is the right way and everyone else who doesn't subscribe to their way is on the road to hell. It's funny because I once dated a girl whose father was a preacher and he was of the opinion that if you weren't a Christian (of any sort), you were forever lost. I asked that girlfriend to ask her dad a question about the people who lived and died long before Jesus, including people mentioned in the Bible or were born outside of the Christian religion and never knew about it at all. Would they be in heaven or would they be lost forever, missing out on heaven because of having been born to soon? His answer was that they were lost souls. I couldn't see that because their only crime was being born too soon or being born outside of the Christian belief system, nor could I see someone's soul being lost afterwards because they didn't subscribe to a particular Christian religion. I like to tell such Christians a story I read in Fate magazine about science fiction writer Issac Asimov, who had a dream of dying and going to heaven not long before he actually died. Asimov was famous for being an atheist and who didn't believe in God or heaven and hell, yet he had this dream about it. And in that dream, he was at the Pearly Gates and was let in by St. Peter, who showed him around heaven. Asimov recollected his reaction in the dream, telling St. Peter he didn't believe in God and heaven and didn't belong in heaven. St. Peter's responded by telling Asimov that it wasn't up to him (Asimov) or any many or woman as to who was or wasn't admitted to heaven, that it was God's call. (I still have the copy of that magazine around somewhere with that article, I'm just not sure where.) Anyway, that's what I think certain Christians think: that they're going to get a say as to who will and who won't be admitted into heaven and who will go to the other place, if anyone. But, it's amazing how many people hate in the name of their religion and who think such hatred scores them extra brownie points with God and an extra loftier place in heaven because of it.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 6, 2012 11:11:43 GMT -5
All souls are a pure. Hitler, Manson (not Marilyn if you've heard his music), etc. Who is to say they didn't choose a mission here (or were assigned one by a heirarchy) playing the bad guys so others could have the horrendous experiences here that they came to this time zone on Earth to experience? A soul willing to accept that heinous existence to help others experience would indeed have to be special and dare I say advanced.
And why would we come from a higher (spiritual) realm to a lower realm just to get religion to explain and hopefully become part of the higher realm we just came from? I don't think Godever (hybrid of God and Whatever?) is looking for worshippers. I think souls (we) are sent here to "experience" a wealth of learning with the ultimate goal of living, loving, learning... with love as the ultimate goal to find. If you can find, experience, share, spread love in the face of terrible adversity you have succeeded and will progress.
It is difficult sorting things out under this veil. You gotta take the veil off to truly see.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 6, 2012 12:06:39 GMT -5
All souls are a pure. Hitler, Manson (not Marilyn if you've heard his music), etc. Who is to say they didn't choose a mission here (or were assigned one by a heirarchy) playing the bad guys so others could have the horrendous experiences here that they came to this time zone on Earth to experience? A soul willing to accept that heinous existence to help others experience would indeed have to be special and dare I say advanced.
I've read the writings of some who advance this theory, or that it's a switching of roles: that in the previous life, they were the murder victim and the present day murder victim was the murderer in the previous life. I don't know about that as to me, would the current one cancel out the past one? Or would they just keep recycling in the same life path, never to break free? Part of the problem I have with a heirarchy or any god or goddess assigning someone to play that kind of role is that would mean we are their pawns, and I'm not sure I like that idea at all. Same for accepting it as a mission. That again just suggests we are pawns of the gods or actors in shows they are producing, writing and directing and that we really have very little say in the deal.
And why would we come from a higher (spiritual) realm to a lower realm just to get religion to explain and hopefully become part of the higher realm we just came from? I don't think Godever (hybrid of God and Whatever?) is looking for worshippers. I think souls (we) are sent here to "experience" a wealth of learning with the ultimate goal of living, loving, learning... with love as the ultimate goal to find. If you can find, experience, share, spread love in the face of terrible adversity you have succeeded and will progress.
It's funny to me how so many of us put our time on earth as a learning experience, that we are in a school so to speak, and that the ultimate end game in that is to some degree, the same belief system as Christianity, that we will end up in some heaven with God or the soul will become part of the nirvana and be annihilated in the process. I believe we come back - here and on other worlds - because we want to come back, not because we have to come back. I believe in God but think we come to flesh because of what we can experience here or elsewhere in the physical. Why we wouldn't be able to experience the same in the spiritual, I don't know. One would think everything we can experience here on this side of the veil, we should be able to experience on the other side of the veil. But, maybe there are some limitations there just as there are limitations here.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 6, 2012 13:41:06 GMT -5
There is a difference between the higher and lower worlds (with us being in the lower) and that is duality. i.e. good bad, positive negative, etc. It isn't like that in the higher where it is just positive so the motives are not using souls as pawns but are just as a way of enriching souls, which of course are all connected as part of the whole so the motivation would be a good one. Here is an interesting take on religion from Bettye Eadie who died and came back to life here on Earth. She is coming from a Christian perspective. She has many valuable insights which I can apply being a non-Christian as well: I wanted to know why there were so many churches in the world. Why didn't God give us only one church, one pure religion? The answer came to me with the purest of understanding. Each of us, I was told, is at a different level of spiritual development and understanding. Each person is therefore prepared for a different level of spiritual knowledge. All religions upon the Earth are necessary because there are people who need what they teach. People in one religion may not have a complete understanding of the Lord's gospel and never will have while in that religion. But that religion is used as a stepping stone to further knowledge. Each church fulfills spiritual needs that perhaps others cannot fill. No one church can fulfill everybody's needs at every level. As an individual raises his level of understanding about God and his own eternal progress, he might feel discontented with the teachings of his present church and seek a different philosophy or religion to fill that void. When this occurs he has reached another level of understanding and will long for further truth and knowledge, and for another opportunity to grow. And at every step of the way, these new opportunities to learn will be given.
Having received this knowledge, I knew that we have no right to criticize any church or religion in any way. They are all precious in his sight. Very special people with important missions have been placed in all countries, in all religions, in every station of life, that they might touch others. There is a fullness of the gospel, but most people will not attain it here. In order to grasp this truth, we need to listen to the Spirit and let go of our egos.
I wanted to learn the purpose of life on the Earth. Why are we here? As I basked in the love of Jesus Christ, I couldn't imagine why any spirit would voluntarily leave this wonderful paradise and all it offered - worlds to explore and ideas to create and knowledge to gain. Why would anyone want to come here? In answer, I remembered the creation of the Earth. I actually experienced it as if it were being reenacted before my eyes. This was important. Jesus wanted me to internalize this knowledge. He wanted me to know how I felt when the creation occurred. And the only way to do that was for me to view it again and feel what I had felt before.
All people as spirits in the pre-mortal world took part in the creation of the Earth. We were thrilled to be part of it. We were with God, and we knew that he created us, that we were his very own children. He was pleased with our development and was filled with absolute love for each one of us. Also, Jesus Christ was there. I understood, to my surprise, that Jesus was a separate being from God, with his own divine purpose, and I knew that God was our mutual Father. My Protestant upbringing had taught me that God the Father and Jesus Christ were one being. As we all assembled, the Father explained that coming to Earth for a time would further our spiritual growth. Each spirit who was to come to Earth assisted in planning the conditions on Earth, including the laws of mortality which would govern us. These included the laws of physics as we know them, the limitations of our bodies, and spiritual powers that we would be able to access. We assisted God in the development of plants and animal life that would be here. Everything was created of spirit matter before it was created physically - solar systems, suns, moons, stars, planets, life upon the planets, mountains, rivers, seas, etc. I saw this process, and then, to further understand it, I was told by the savior that the spirit creation could be compared to one of our photographic prints; the spirit creation would be like a sharp, brilliant print, and the Earth would be like its dark negative. This Earth is only a shadow of the beauty and glory of its spirit creation, but it is what we needed for our growth. It was important that I understand that we all assisted in creating our conditions here.
Many times the creative thoughts we have in this life are the result of unseen inspiration. Many of our important inventions and even technological developments were first created in the spirit by spirit prodigies. Then individuals on Earth received the inspiration to create these inventions here. I understood that there is a vital, dynamic link between the spirit world and mortality, and that we need the spirits on the other side for our progression. I also saw that they are very happy to assist us in any way they can.
I saw that in the pre-mortal world we knew about and even chose our missions in life. I understood that our stations in life are based upon the objectives of those missions. Through divine knowledge we knew what many of our tests and experiences would be, and we prepared accordingly. We bonded with others - family members and friends - to help us complete our missions. We needed their help. We came as volunteers, each eager to learn and experience all that God had created for us. I knew that each of us who made the decision to come here was here was a valiant spirit. Even the least developed among us here was strong and valiant there. We were given agency to act for ourselves here. Our own actions determine the course of our lives, and we can alter or redirect our lives at any time. I understood that this was crucial; God made the promise that he wouldn't intervene in our lives unless we asked him. And then through his omniscient knowledge he would help us attain our righteous desires. We were grateful for this ability to express our free will and to exercise its power. This would allow each of us to obtain great joy or to choose that which will bring us sadness. The choice would be ours through our decisions.
I was actually relieved to find that the Earth is not our natural home, that we did not originate here. I was gratified to see that the Earth is only a temporary place for our schooling and that sin is not our true nature. Spiritually, we are at various degrees of light - which is knowledge - and because of our divine, spiritual nature we are filled with the desire to do good.
Our earthly selves, however, are constantly in opposition to our spirits. I saw how weak the flesh is. But it is persistent. Although our spirit bodies are full of light, truth, and love, they must battle constantly to overcome the flesh, and this strengthens them. Those who are truly developed will find a perfect harmony between their flesh and spirits, a harmony that will bless them with peace and give them the ability to help others.
As we learn to abide by the laws of this creation, we learn how to use those laws to our own good. We learn how to live in harmony with the creative powers around us. God has given us individual talents, some more and some less according to our needs. As we use these talents, we learn how to work with and eventually understand, the laws and overcome the limitations of this life. By understanding these laws we are better able to serve those around us. Whatever we become here in mortality is meaningless unless it is done for the benefit of others. Our gifts and talents are given to us to help us serve. And in serving others we grow spiritually.
Above all, I was shown that love is supreme. I saw that truly without love we are nothing. We are here to help each other, to care for each other, to understand, forgive, and serve one another. We are here to have love for every person born on Earth. Their earthly form might be black, yellow, brown, handsome, ugly, thin, fat, wealthy, poor, intelligent, or ignorant, but we are not to judge by these appearances. Each spirit has the capacity to be filled with love and eternal energy. At the beginning, each possesses some degree of light and truth that can be more fully developed. We cannot measure these things. Only God knows the heart of man, and only God can judge perfectly. He knows our spirits; we see only temporary strengths and weaknesses. Because of our own limitations, we can seldom look into the heart of man.
I knew that anything we do to show love is worthwhile: a smile, a word of encouragement, a small act of sacrifice. We grow by these actions. Not all people are lovable, but when we find someone difficult for us to love, it is often because they remind us of something within ourselves that we don't like. I learned that we must love our enemies - let go of anger, hate, envy, bitterness, and the refusal to forgive. These things destroy the spirit. We will have to account for how we treat others.
Upon receiving the plan of creation, we sang in rejoicing and were filled with God's love. We were filled with joy as we saw the growth we would have here on Earth and the joyous bonds we would create with each other.
Then we watched as the Earth was created. We watched as our spirit brothers and sisters entered physical bodies for their turns upon the Earth, each experiencing the pains and joys that would help them progress. I distinctly remember watching the American pioneers crossing the continent and rejoicing as they endured their difficult tasks and completed their missions. I knew that only those who needed that experience were placed there. I saw the angels rejoicing for those who endured their trials and succeeded and grieving for those who failed. I saw that some failed because of their own weaknesses, and some failed because of the weaknesses of others. I sensed that many of us who were not there would not have been up to the tasks, that we would have made lousy pioneers, and we would have been the cause of more suffering for others. Likewise, some of the pioneers and people from other eras could not have endured the trials of today. We are where we need to be.
As all of these things came to me, I understood perfection of the plan. I saw that we all volunteered for our positions and stations in the world, and that each of us is receiving more help than we know. I saw the unconditional love of God, beyond any earthly love, radiating from him to all his children. I saw the angels standing near us, waiting to assist us, rejoicing in our accomplishments and joys. But above all, I saw Christ, the Creator and savior of the Earth, my friend, and the closest friend any of us can have. I seemed to melt with joy as I was held in his arms and comforted - home at last. I would give all in my power, all that I ever was, to be filled with that love again - to be embraced in the arms of his eternal light.www.near-death.com/forum/nde/000/93.html
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 6, 2012 21:28:17 GMT -5
Eadie has an interesting take but I'd guess the Christian religion rejects what she has to say because it doesn't fit into their belief system. Even when the message is written from within a Christian beleif system, if the message differs in anyway from what is written in the Bible, it's false and not to be believed. Still, there are undiscerning Christian people who will believe some of the books (like the Malarkey book) because the person invokes the name of Jesus or God. They may not realize the person could be conning them and is just using the names to get you to buy their book. Pity they don't give some books the same scrutiny they give others.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 7, 2012 10:47:15 GMT -5
Still, there are undiscerning Christian people who will believe some of the books (like the Malarkey book) because the person invokes the name of Jesus or God.
You see the same thing with today's Republican Party. Mention Jesus (aka W Bush) and you get their vote and de"votion." Meanwhile Bush used his supposed faith as a scam to attain the White House. The interesting thing about Bettye is that while she mentions Jesus in her writings she also says Buddhists will see Buddha and others will see their religious icons which all leads me to believe it must be planned that way by "someone or some thing" meaning we are led to experience what helps to move us along. I have heard that if you believe in Hell than you may experience that as well. Given all that I think I would want to choose my religion carefully...haha.
|
|
|
Post by sliderocker on Dec 7, 2012 13:05:06 GMT -5
You see the same thing with today's Republican Party. Mention Jesus (aka W Bush) and you get their vote and de"votion." Meanwhile Bush used his supposed faith as a scam to attain the White House. The interesting thing about Bettye is that while she mentions Jesus in her writings she also says Buddhists will see Buddha and others will see their religious icons which all leads me to believe it must be planned that way by "someone or some thing" meaning we are led to experience what helps to move us along. I have heard that if you believe in Hell than you may experience that as well. Given all that I think I would want to choose my religion carefully...haha. That's definitely true about the Republican party, and it's especially weird that supposedly Christian people would buy into the Republican lie, as I remember Christians are supposed to be leery of wolves in sheep's clothing. Yet, all a Republican has to do to win them over is mention Christian, Jesus and family values and he or she is in with the Christians who don't think because the usage of those code words turns off their thinking process. I agree with what Betty Eadie says about the other religions as I think all paths lead to God or Buddha or whatever creative force we believe in. And we come to God in the way that we can understand. As for hell, I don't believe in that, at least not as envisioned by the Christian belief system, but if it does exist, I think a lot of hypocritical Republican politicians, radio/tv talk show hosts and tv preachers are in for an extremely hot reception after death.
|
|
|
Post by the Scribe on Dec 7, 2012 13:59:08 GMT -5
Whether I am going to Hell or not I am in training here in Arizona. I heard that by the end of this century average daily temps will be 7 degrees above todays average temps. ugh!
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Dec 7, 2012 14:06:11 GMT -5
well ms eadie makes a lot of sense. As far as hell, who knows? but there has to be a need for that too or the horror of the serious repercussions.... I better not do that or else I'm going to hell.. we all have free will, you know.. some people have that auto inner sense of doing the right thing.. but were not perfect.. and some don't.. I'll admit to having shades of grey and thinking.. I better do the right thing because I don't want to go to hell. lol
|
|