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Amigo42

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  1. Well, the only thing is that some "New Age" ideas aren't clearly defined. During the time of Jesus, the pharisees may have considered in New Age to expect that they should love their enemies and treat others as they want to be treated. It was acceptable at that time to look down upon the "dogs" or pagans, gentiles, and Samaritans. So that was kind of radical at that time.
  2. The only problem is that the passage you quoted basically makes the argument that I was making which is that some thing Jesus said were not meant to be taken literally. This passage is certainly not literal as no one really thinks that someone could bring someone a drop of water in hell to cool their suffering. Here's another example of a symbolic and not to be take literal passage in the Bible. In Jeremiah 17:27 it states "But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses." Jerusalem was burned to the ground and destroyed several times throughout history, and yet the gates of Jerusalem are not still burning to this day.
  3. I'm simply speaking from documented experiences and accounts for those who have had near death experiences and those who claim to have connected with their higher spirit. Even the passage that you stated says "It will not leave behind for them root or branch." That sounds like complete erasure and not eternal torment. It seems like the God that Jesus describe seems like a completely different being than the jealous, wrathful one described in the Old Testament. I think that it seems to show that humans have applied their characteristics to the Creator as a way of justifying their choices such as wars, slavery, etc. I believe Jesus came to gently correct the record of God's true character which is love.
  4. Well, I'd agree most New Age thought is kind of sketchy. However, there are concepts that I think actually fit quite well with some things that Jesus said. For example, Jesus's main message was that God is love. People who had NDEs claim that is exactly how God presented himself. Do all paths lead to heaven. If one is a strict literalist then that'd be no if one has Christian beliefs. However, if you believe of heaven in that it is simply going home then there is a different perspective. This is actually hinted at in the Bible. In the Bible it says that man's spirit returns to God.
  5. What about people who live in the Amazon or other jungles and never heard of Jesus or seen the Bible but live more Christ-like than some churchgoers?
  6. Thank you for your thoughts, and I respect your viewpoints. I will ask though does the God of love that Jesus described really sound like someone who'd punish ANY of his children even the worst ones with eternal torture? That sounds more like a Satanic and sadistic person who'd even think of that. God is love, and it might surprise people that God might not actually judge like people think he might. In fact, during the life review process it appears instead that he allows souls to judge themselves based on how well they did guiding their human self.
  7. Indeed, he has done that countless times. There's a plethora of stories about such even on youtube.
  8. I agree. I just meant that some people may have NDEs that a pertinent to their culture. It doesn't mean that every aspect of NDEs is literal or true necessarily.
  9. That is true. A lot do not. For example, a lot seem to affirm the concept the reincarnation which is considered only an eastern belief concept. It definitely takes an open mind. I would say that the Bible doesn't give the answer to every single spiritual question. It is the best guide we have in this world.
  10. I can completely understand. It's a complicated principle. It's also complicated by the fact that on the other side, there is sometimes what I can "benign deception" which seems like an oxymoron. In other words, sometimes God will show us things that in themselves may not be literally true but it is the truth we need to hear or so at that point in our lives. For example, as you mentioned NDEs aren't always literally but the experience is real. Some people might see buddha or even Krishna, but most western NDEs state that they see Jesus or God. Some simply experience a being of light and love. It appears that on death, initially, it is important that the expectations of the human mind are validated. After that, various layers, of the human pysche are slowly removed as the soul gets further along in the tunnel. After all layers of humanity are gone, the only thing that is left is spirit. Once this is achieved, the soul reconnects with an all-knowing knowledge that has been provided by God. Once we return home, the feeling may be akin to someone who has just jumped out of an airplane and landed like "wow, that was a rush!"
  11. Sorry, NDEs are Near Death Experiences that millions of people today and in ancient times have had. These were widely accepted until relatively recent because many people who've experienced these were afraid they'd be thrown in an insane asylum. With these experiences, people state their soul or spirit leaves their body on near death. Some of these people were declared clinically dead and had no heartbeat for minutes. These people report that during this time period they were able to travel around the room, visit heaven, communicate with relatives who passed on, etc. Some of these are veridical NDEs that have essentially been confirmed by medical and family members and even documented in medical journals.
  12. Hi @Figure of eighty I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I know it's tough living in this life sometimes. It seems like everyone goes through it at times. However, be encouraged that you're not truly alone even though it can feel that way sometimes. Sometimes God, angels, and what some people call guides speak to us all the time. If you've ever had a strong inclination, idea, thought in a time of need or distress, and even during your daily life, in a lot of these cases, these are these beings attempting to guide you. Sometimes it's the most simplest things that God uses to speak to us that people so often ignore. Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for these little moments that don't seem like much but can be God speaking. Sometimes God speaks by putting roadblocks in our path to keep us from a certain direction. For example, one may be about to make a decision that they shouldn't, and they suddenly realize they left their keys at home. That may not seem like much, but believe that's how God speaks to us. It's not always some grand display that we may expect. I don't recommend that you harm yourself as that could set back your spiritual development in terms of your soul and it could have a ripple effect on your children and family. People are shown these things during their life review which takes place after death on the spiritual plane.
  13. This is indeed an interesting topic, and one that I think has been sadly distorted by dogma and church leaders through the years. To start this topic, one must understand the origin of the idea of hell, which is remarkably absent from the ancient Hebrew and Old Testament thought. The idea of hell especially a place of eternal torment is only viewed as doctrinal after the Hellenization of the Jews. Why is this important? Well, the Greek myths of hades (a cruel place of eternal torment) was mixed with Jewish religious thought and further expanded in Christian thought. Now some might say well, didn't Jesus talk about hell. Yes, but one must also remember that Jesus spoke in many parables and also attempted to speak in references and ways that people could understand at that time. Most Jews at that time were illiterate and unschooled. The only reference to the topic that made sense was the Valley of Gehenna, which was a trash heap outside of Jerusalem where refuse was constantly burning. This was used as reference point, but should not be considered as literal. Now, with questions like this, everyone should use common sense that God gave all of us. Does it really make sense for a God in particular a God of love to punish his own creation endlessly for trillions of years for a few years of mistakes and sin? How is that just or right. No, it makes no sense, but hell fire baptist preachers would say otherwise. I'm more interested in the truth, and according to our God-given common sense that makes no sense. The punishment must fit the crime. Even sinful humans are fairly good at making sure the punishment fits the crime, so even more so a God of infinite love and compassion would do so. Taking some parts of the Bible too literally can be a major stumbling block for many people unfortunately as this is not what God intended. Now, there is another view of life that some may not agree with. It is akin to universalism. It is that as opposed to saying that one will go heaven after receiving salvation that all souls are actually just "returning home." Home is where all souls must go when they leave this planet. There is no literal hell as religious dogma teaches, but there may be certain spiritual planes of existence where correction occur for souls whose human sides messed up badly in life. However, even for these souls, they eventually go home to the Creator who brought into this world. In other words, God's judgment for the human being who has a temporary existence is different from how he views the originally perfect soul that inhabited that body. All souls are created perfect and sinless. It only the human side that is sinful and the spirit or soul may not always be able to properly guide the human side away from darkness. Once the human side dies, it is gone completely, but the souls retains the lessons learned from that human experience. Again, this is just a theory, and no one should state that this is complete truth. Only God knows the complete truth.
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