brinkster130
Riley's BFF
I believe in both; but I don't have even the slightest idea what either of them would look or feel like. IMO opinion life is just far to complex for it to just end with us rotting in the ground.
Do you believe in heaven and hell?
- Thread starter Ripper666
- Start date
WileyDairyGnome
Strong like an Amazon
I like the way they described Heaven in BtVS. They didn't go into too much detail because everyone has their own idea of what Heaven is like, so what they explained on the show was very open to interpretation which is good.
But do I believe in Heaven and Hell? I honestly don't really know because I think that you need to believe in God to believe in Heaven, and I struggle with my beliefs in God. I don't even know what my religion is to be honest. 😛
But do I believe in Heaven and Hell? I honestly don't really know because I think that you need to believe in God to believe in Heaven, and I struggle with my beliefs in God. I don't even know what my religion is to be honest. 😛
Cast No Shadow
You are my world.
I'd love to believe in things like that, but I find it really difficult.
However, my grandmother is 86, and she is the most rational, and plain speaking woman you would ever meet. Last month, she said she was just falling to sleep, and that a white woman, dressed all in yellow, with a yellow headdress (similar to what traditional African ladies wear) was in her dream, telling her that everything was alright.
She subsequently woke up, and the woman was still there, smiling at her. She closed her eyes, and then them again, and the woman was gone.
I'm not sure if this is just a trick of the mind, but it was comforting to her. She said that she thought it was someone coming to tell her it was her time to go.
It was also interesting, because she said that despite this woman not looking like her daughter (my aunt) who died ten years ago from cancer, it did resemble her, the lady was wearing bright colours, which my aunt loved and always wore, and she had her head covered, which she did after losing her hair.
Perhaps it wasn't real, but if it makes her (and me) feel better, then it can't be a bad thing.
However, my grandmother is 86, and she is the most rational, and plain speaking woman you would ever meet. Last month, she said she was just falling to sleep, and that a white woman, dressed all in yellow, with a yellow headdress (similar to what traditional African ladies wear) was in her dream, telling her that everything was alright.
She subsequently woke up, and the woman was still there, smiling at her. She closed her eyes, and then them again, and the woman was gone.
I'm not sure if this is just a trick of the mind, but it was comforting to her. She said that she thought it was someone coming to tell her it was her time to go.
It was also interesting, because she said that despite this woman not looking like her daughter (my aunt) who died ten years ago from cancer, it did resemble her, the lady was wearing bright colours, which my aunt loved and always wore, and she had her head covered, which she did after losing her hair.
Perhaps it wasn't real, but if it makes her (and me) feel better, then it can't be a bad thing.
W
Willow My Love
They say that when it's your time, someone comforting appears to you to help you cross over. My grandfather kept seeing his brother, Lee, before he passed. It comforted him. He saw him for quite a while.
L
Living Dead Boy
Guest
I had these elaborate, detailed thoughts about Heaven and Hell when I was little. I'd picture Heaven as this beautiful, cloud covered paradise, where all of my dead relatives were, and we'd hang out on clouds and chill with God and drink "heavenly juice". Hell was like "Anne" times a million, with the Devil torturing us day in and day out, paying for our sins forever. I got so upset at myself because if I did something wrong, I immediately thought I would go to Hell. Then I snapped out of it. As I grew up, I found myself distancing further and further away from Christianity, and the standard notion of "Heaven and Hell." Life's too complex for simple explainations. But some people need that to survive, to get through the day, and there's nothing wrong with that. But that just isn't me. So no, I don't believe in it. I have no idea what's going to happen when we die, and to be quite frank, no being on this earth does either.
Willow My Love
Scooby
I believe in reincarnation, but between this life and the next, it's anyone's guess. I like to think we're held in a place that Buffy described until we're used again.
I do believe in ghosts though. And I hate that terminology "believe in ghosts". I've seen them. It's not something I choose to believe. So I feel like those are spirits that had something pulling them here. Something or someone keeping them in this realm, instead of crossing over.
I do believe in ghosts though. And I hate that terminology "believe in ghosts". I've seen them. It's not something I choose to believe. So I feel like those are spirits that had something pulling them here. Something or someone keeping them in this realm, instead of crossing over.
Not at all. I think we just cease to exist, like falling asleep. And that's pretty frightening. Honestly, I've never been scared of the concept of Hell, but the thought of just going into oblivion used to keep me up at night. It's not something I want to believe in--it would probably be easier if I believed in some kind of afterlife, with or without a God--but something inevitable and irrefutable. I'm pretty anti-religion, though.
Anyway, I found it interesting how some people in this thread believe in a Heaven but not a Hell. Elaborate?
Anyway, I found it interesting how some people in this thread believe in a Heaven but not a Hell. Elaborate?
I don't think I exactly believe in heaven and hell but I believe something happens to us after we die. But I don't know what. Although honestly it's probably less 'believe' and more 'hope' because I just can't stand the idea that we just cease to be. It really freaks me out. I know if you think about it scientifically and all that it's probably that way, but I just... I don't quite grasp how you can just not be there. You're always there, in your head, thinking away, I just can't get my head around the idea of just being a body and not being there anymore. It honestly scares the crap out of me.
This conversation reminded me of this quote from Looking For Alaska:
I think that's a neat way to think of it. The idea that we change shapes and sizes and manifestations but we're not completely removed from life. I dunno. It helps me sleep better at night to think there is something out there for us even if I don't think it's exactly like Heaven and Hell.
The idea of ghosts and what not really intrigues me though. I guess some part of me must believe because, although I can't say I've seen one, I've been in a situation where I've been absolutely petrified and I don't think I would have gotten that scared about something like that if I didn't sort of believe it it, y'know? I think if ghosts do exist, there's some kind of hope that it's not the end too.
This conversation reminded me of this quote from Looking For Alaska:
I think that's a neat way to think of it. The idea that we change shapes and sizes and manifestations but we're not completely removed from life. I dunno. It helps me sleep better at night to think there is something out there for us even if I don't think it's exactly like Heaven and Hell.
The idea of ghosts and what not really intrigues me though. I guess some part of me must believe because, although I can't say I've seen one, I've been in a situation where I've been absolutely petrified and I don't think I would have gotten that scared about something like that if I didn't sort of believe it it, y'know? I think if ghosts do exist, there's some kind of hope that it's not the end too.
SlayerFest
[No message]
Appelsapientje
Potential
No, I don't. I don't believe in an afterlife..
I am an atheist, and I like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris a lot.
I am an atheist, and I like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris a lot.
JCoatsworth
Dawkins rules :)
tbessie
Demonic Monstrosity
I was raised without religion, though I wasn't ever told it was wrong, either. When I was around 14 I read a lot of books about fear of death, the history of world religions, etc.
In the end, I decided that it made far more sense that people would have invented the concepts of gods, heaven, hell, etc. than that they should actually exist.
So I consider myself an atheist. No heaven, no hell, no god or gods or angels or spirits or any of that.
A good book on the subject is Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World".
- Tim
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
In the end, I decided that it made far more sense that people would have invented the concepts of gods, heaven, hell, etc. than that they should actually exist.
So I consider myself an atheist. No heaven, no hell, no god or gods or angels or spirits or any of that.
A good book on the subject is Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World".
- Tim
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
JCoatsworth
[No message]
You know I'm a fan of Dawkins and I do love reading his books and listening to him speak, but even as an atheist myself I have to say that he does come across as a bit of a pushy know it all a lot of the time, which personally I find rather annoying.
As for the question, no I don't believe in heaven and hell. Sometimes I wish I did, it seems to give comfort to some, but it just goes against everything that makes sense in my head so I can't wrap my mind around it. The whole construct of the afterlife is ultimately too 'man-made' for me. One can never know of course 😉 but even if Blaise Pascal himself gave me his wager I'd still fall on the side of not believing. It's just not in me.
We can't know, so I'm on the agnostic side.
The question is like, what happens to the football match once the game is over?
or
What is South of the south pole?
Both broken questions from the start, just like:
Why is the universe here? and other existential questions.
Anyone who is arrogant enough to say strongly that they're sure one way or another, is not being truthful to themselves, or others IMHO.
There are some things that we will never know about this universe, as proven by the famous Godel incompleteness theorem, so I stand optimistically but not expecting of an afterlife.
Would I like for Heaven & Hell to exist? In a way, yes, I struggle to imagine anyone who wouldn't.
The question is like, what happens to the football match once the game is over?
or
What is South of the south pole?
Both broken questions from the start, just like:
Why is the universe here? and other existential questions.
Anyone who is arrogant enough to say strongly that they're sure one way or another, is not being truthful to themselves, or others IMHO.
There are some things that we will never know about this universe, as proven by the famous Godel incompleteness theorem, so I stand optimistically but not expecting of an afterlife.
Would I like for Heaven & Hell to exist? In a way, yes, I struggle to imagine anyone who wouldn't.
C
Crazy Flakes
[No message]
sisterofmercy
Ray of Sunshine..
Nope. I'm very much an anti-realist in that I don't believe in anything metaphysical like heaven or hell. As an atheist it would seem strange to do so really. I think that when you die you just 'go,' i.e. your organ shut down, etc. not anything like transcending to heaven.
It's a nice thought and if it brings comfort to people then I'm all for it, but it's just not for me. I like the harsh reality of death, makes you focus on getting things right in life and making the most of the time you have (for we're all insignificant in the grand scheme of things).
---------- Post added at 10:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 PM ----------
I agree. I do think he's got some incredibly insightful ideas though, I just hate the smugness he tends to use when articulating them. It doesn't do much to further his cause really.
It's a nice thought and if it brings comfort to people then I'm all for it, but it's just not for me. I like the harsh reality of death, makes you focus on getting things right in life and making the most of the time you have (for we're all insignificant in the grand scheme of things).
---------- Post added at 10:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 PM ----------
I agree. I do think he's got some incredibly insightful ideas though, I just hate the smugness he tends to use when articulating them. It doesn't do much to further his cause really.
The complexity of the human body needs the complexity of the human mind. Meaning, Humans needed to be designed, and if humans didnt exist, then the universe couldnt exist.
S
sisterofmercy
That doesn't really logically follow though. Big leap to assume that the universe couldn't exist without us.
Lets remember that this is a discusSion on belief about heaven and hell, not the origin of man, memes or ID.
Also Mr Giles, for someone who doesnt care for Dawkins 'know it all' or superior tone I would watch my own if I were you, we're all entitled to our own opinion and this thread is not for determining any theological facts 😉