Lets talk about death. As probably the oldest here, It would be reasonable to assume think about it a lot. No, not so much. Not after I figured it all out: the convictions to follow...
But I'll start out with a question to those who wish to discuss the subject:
Why would someone who believes they are going to heaven be fearful of death?
"Oh death, where is thy sting?"
Or, from "Porgy and Bess' "Tired of livin' afraid of dyin' "
Jesus is quoted as saying that he came that we have life and live it more abundantly.
Here's an interesting take on the theme of Eternal Salvation/Eternal Damnation I came across recently. Hell IS eternal!" It must be because it guarantees human freedom and human ability to make a choice. Without choice there is no love. God is Love - eternal Love. And... we must have the freedom to choose God, but also to not choose God, or else we're not doing so willingly and not out of Love! Hell guarantees our freedom. It is our freedom, maybe! This line of thinking leaves open the question...
Here's an interesting take on the theme of Eternal Salvation/Eternal Damnation I came across. Hell IS eternal!" It must be because it guarantees human freedom and human choice. Without choice there is no love. God is Love - eternal Love. We must have the freedom to choose God but also to not choose God or else we're not doing so willingly and not out of Love! Hell guarantees our freedom. This line of thinking leaves the question... "does anyone spend eternity in Hell?" I guess theoretically, maybe.
Stephen Levine, a Buddhist teacher, said that hell is wanting to be somewhere different than where u truly r. Being constantly agitated (nonaccepting) about that situation. Refusing to love because u want the endgame to be different than what it is. U don't want to give urself to something u will eventually lose. So ppl escape by food, alcohol, or other drugs. It is also called dying b4 u die. U so do not want to be shattered by this that u shatter urself first.
Most churches use their signs to generate interest and conversation. Given the number of posts on Chansen's topic, it certainly worked for Sandford United Church. It also raises a question I don't recall hearing answered here on the Cafe; does Heaven, Hell, the "afterlife" exist? Where do we go when we draw our last breath?
