Life after death.

Some say this is hell.((so if you believe in God as I do or not. Or God being wholly the universe or light whatever....)))then if we become to believe in either...then do we in effect die and get reborn? Changing who we once were and become ....

We think we are good..
Or.....does a truly good person not know they are good..thus becoming truly good?

When the bible says to fear God...does it not really mean to become curious? To embrace fear is to become curious? Hense to learn?

We can't take it with us.
So... why so much importance in what we have? We come in with nothing. We leave with nothing.

We truly learn by example and experience.
Isn't that what the bible tries to teach us? Not what I say but, what I do?
By embracing change...we become open to new things. Why is it so hard to do that? When something isn't working...then should we not change it?

I had something else to add, but I forgot it.

Kat

So many questions!! I only have a few minutes but the one I have been thinking about again recently is materialism. Why do we seem to need so many "things"?

You wrote:

"We can't take it with us.
So... why so much importance in what we have? We come in with nothing. We leave with nothing."

I wonder if the impermanence of life is part of the motivation for acquiring physical possessions for many people. People want security and some sense of control but they actually have no control over what will happen in the really important senses- when they will die, health, safety of them and their family and friends, etc. So they seek something that they can control, some security that they can achieve. They can achieve financial security. Some even seek to use their money to prolong life or cheat death, e.g. cryogenics, potions and vitamins, etc. Just ways to try to live forever. So maybe their possessions make them feel secure and in control.

But then for others the need for many material possessions is pretty clearly part of their own insecurity. A way to prove their worth to those they know, society, etc. The whole "the one who dies with the most toys wins" competition mentality.

It seems that materialism is rarely publicly embraced by a religious group and yet acquiring wealth seems to be a goal for many religious leaders and groups.

It seems that materialism is rarely publicly embraced by a religious group and yet acquiring wealth seems to be a goal for many religious leaders and groups.


Maybe I should have said leaving religious groups out of this?

I am leaving to work right now. I will return around 10:00.

Kat

Well fine then.
Kat

There is another materialism too. I never buy the "latest" of anything, I do not feel any drive to keep up with anyone. I do however like to buy things like MP3 players, new guitar, harmonicas, books, etc... That is also some type of materialism that you don't think about as much. Abra really got me thinking about in a different thread when he said something like how many things were bought with high hopes and now collect dust. Somehow the fact that we can buy something means that it is ok to, and maybe in this country sometimes it is a patriotic act.

Shalom

I agree we can not take it with us.

I thought you might be interested in a study that was done about death and sleep.

What they found was that at the point of death a chemical is released in your brain. Your brain also releases this same chemical at a certain point right after you fall asleep.

I found this very interesting when everyone was crying and saying Lazarus is dead and Yahshua said no he sleeps..Blessings..Miles

RE Materialism- Even though in the abstract I don't think I need or want a lot of things I can never really stick to this plan. We all have our "weaknesses" I guess... I hate to be stereotypical but I love to buy clothes and shoes... I love to shop. I don't feel like I need to keep up with anyone but I even like the process. Is my desire to shop a gathering instinct? I know I do the same things when I have house or even just dinner guests- buy WAY too much food and drink. I need to feel my guests are completely comfortable and have everything that they would want. I don't think this desire is bad but it can lead to a lot of waste when I make enough food for 10 and there are only 4 of us...

But Rabbit when you talked about things being bought with "high hopes" I thought of 2 things right away- 1. Shoes that were comfortable in the store but kill and blister in real world conditions- but I can't bear to get rid of and so gather dust in my closet. 2. Exercise equipment. Every garage sale has some, how much is bought with these good intentions that only last a short time?

Also, when you mention the technological gadgetry this a difficult one for me. Records to tapes to CD's to MP3's. Seems like such a waste- and with movies too. Now I understand everything is going to high definition so we will have to get rid of DVD's and get HD-DVD players? I don't even want to know...

Peace.

I wrote a song inspired by the posts in this thread. I do this just for fun and practice. So I may as well share the results whilst I’m at it. I added bongos to this one. I only just started playing the Bongo since December. So I’m not very good. But like I say I just do this for practice. I added the bongos on a second track after playing and singing the song with acoustical guitar. (I’m getting better, but still not good)

JSH Blues: (it’s the third song down on the following web page)

http://www.csonline.net/designer/ideas/rainbow.htm

the Songs are good. Go Bongo Go. I listened to the other new one too. cool

Awesome music Abra!! (How do you do bongos and guitar at the same time?)

JB

I record the guitar and singing first, then play the bongos over that recording. That was my first attempt to play the bongos over a song. I have a long way to go yet with the bongos. I bought them especially because I can't drum a good beat!

I think the best thing you can do in life is find what you are terrible at and tackle that head-on. Then the things that you have a natural talent for will seem like a piece of cake in comparison.

I only wish I had taken on that mindset when I was younger!

Back on topic,... I've often wondered if the skills we learn in life (like playing musical instruments) will carry over into the spiritual world. Are there pianos, violins, guitars and bongos in heaven, or does everyone have to learn to play a harp?

I imagine that I have been incarnating on this earth for centuries and I have spent many lives learning different creative pursuits. (I am learning to paint pictures in this one.)

I almost decided to learn the guitar and took two lessons. I decided that it was a huge undertaking, and that it would detract from my learning to paint. I did not think I could spread myself so thin as to learn two huge things at once. Besides after two lessons my fingers were killing me. LOL.

I am amazed at people who have multiple talents. If I were not an artist I would love to be a writer of books or musician. So many things to do, so little time.