Do you have the hope of going to heaven

[JehovahsWitness]

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I do not have a hope of going to heaven (when I speak of "heaven" I mean the spiritual abode/realm where God lives).

- Do you personally entertain the hope of going to heaven to spend eternity with God when you die? (if this question is too personal I respect if you do not want to share this information)

- If so, do you believe such a literal spiritual realm exists?

- Do you believe that Jesus is presently in heaven where God exists?



* My question is for people that do believe that a God exists, since I presume that those that do not believe in God do believe he exists anywhere and therefore there is no "heaven" where God is.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 286 by Claire Evans]

They can be considered delusional but it is not a far out concept to be able to communicate with the spiritual world through prayer. People meditate.

Meditation is a method to remove yourself from the three-dimensional world and initiate communication with the high realms of Heaven of in the Spirit World. The purpose of meditation is to discover our true selves – a spiritual being residing in a physical body; and experience true happiness by feeling free from the restrictions of this physical world."

Many who meditate claim to have spirit guides and it could lead to demonic possession.

I meditate all the time and nothing like what you describe has ever happened to me.

That is an extremely fine thing, that you haven't been approached by demons. Many people have been, and they are fooled into thinking that they have communicated with good angels or even Christ or God Himself. The good spirit persons of the heavenly realm do not speak to humans today. Demons do on many occasions.

If the reason that we meditate is to "discover our true selves---a spiritual being residing in a physical body," we are barking up the wrong tree. We are not spirit beings residing in a physical body. There is no such thing as a separate personage, fully conscious on its own, that lives within us and leaves the physical body at death. The spirit that returns to God is His own power, so to speak, that kept that person alive. It's not a person.

God created humans to always have a physical body and live on the earth forever, taking care of it and enjoying it.

"As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men." (Psalm 115:16)

"For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, the true God, the Former of the earth, the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it to be inhabited..." (Isaiah 45:18)

"The earth remains forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4b)


.

[Joe1950]

The only demons that have ever approached me were the false prophets going door to door trying to force their strange religious beliefs down my throat.
I meditate every day. It iis not "spiritual". It is a physical exercise.
It is quite possible that meditation, like jogging, releases endorphins or produces other chemical reactions in the body.But it is all physical in the end.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 284 by Joe1950]

Last Xmas I received a number of gifts marked "From Santa", so I know for a fact that he exists. I have solid evidence in the form of his signature on the gift. I have no such evidence for the existence of Yahweh, Allah, Jesus, etc.

So, Santa exists. No one can prove me wrong. I believe. Perhaps some of you no longer gets gifts from Santa because you have lost your faith? REPENT !

The hand written note argument for the existence of Santa

Now I have to change my group affiliation: "Does NOT believe in Santa", and I don't know how to do that. But I believe in my santasoul.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 287 by Claire Evans]



[center]
I'm going to have to find out how to change my group.
Now I believe in Santa.[/center]

The Father did not drown the world, for starters.

Only MOST of it.
Right.

He left a boatload.

Weird about the fishes, though.
The Bible says all the living creatures in the world save the ones on the boat.
Fishes were alive.

OH WELL whataryagonnado?

Do we have historical documents arguing the case for the existence of a supernatural Santa?

Yes, and TONS of it. ( Literally tons and tons )

We have hand written notes from Santa.
Oh, and gifts.

For example, was he accused of witchcraft like Jesus was?

I'm not saying that Santa was accused of something or not..

Just that he's real.
Repent or no gifts for you.

Only good little boys and girls get toys from Santa.

Are there 5000 pieces of documents recording the life of Santa?

There are MILLIONS more.

Truly you don't believe Jesus and Santa are in the same league?

Not at all, Claire.

We have empirical evidence for Santa.
We just have stories about Jesus.

Not in the same league at all, Claire.

[onewithhim]

The only demons that have ever approached me were the false prophets going door to door trying to force their strange religious beliefs down my throat.
I meditate every day. It iis not "spiritual". It is a physical exercise.
It is quite possible that meditation, like jogging, releases endorphins or produces other chemical reactions in the body.But it is all physical in the end.

False prophets, eh? What is your proof of that?

(And meditation is spiritual for many people. It has involved Hindu rituals, like repeating "Ohm." I know, however, that it need not be spiritual, and to do it for the exercise is beneficial.)

BTW, the people going door to door are not "trying to force their strange religious beliefs down your throat." You don't have to answer your door, or, if you do, you can say "no thank you" and close the door. Jesus did the same door to door work, sending out his disciples by two. You would shut the door on him, undoubtedly.

What on earth is "strange" about what they teach? They're the only people who don't combine pagan teachings with pure Christian faith. They are also unique in doing what Jesus did---going door to door to tell people about the Kingdom of God. (Matt.24:14; Matthew 10:11-14) If that seems "strange" to you, you've been sitting in the wrong pew.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 292 by Joe1950]



[center]is there a case to be made for other kinds of spirituality that don't include superstitious beliefs?[/center]

I meditate every day. It iis not "spiritual". It is a physical exercise.
It is quite possible that meditation, like jogging, releases endorphins or produces other chemical reactions in the body.But it is all physical in the end.

Ok, so why not take back the word "spiritual" and use it in a purely PHYSICAL way?

I also meditate ( in my own special ways ) , I don't believe in any ghosts or demons, and STILL, I find a use for the word "spiritual". Too BAD if people want to attach the word to silly superstitions. I don't have to.

The meanings of words can CHANGE, you know.
Think of the word "gay".

Now.. think of the word "spirit" again.

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 281 by OnceConvinced]

People who claim they communicate with a god through prayer are often seen as delusional too.

Not by everyone.
Some people prefer to just believe a claim like that.

Amen.

[Joe1950]

[Replying to post 287 by Claire Evans]



[

Only MOST of it.
Right.

He left a boatload.

Weird about the fishes, though.
The Bible says all the living creatures in the world save the ones on the boat.
Fishes were alive.

Although it is not specifically mentioned in the Bible I have my own interpretation of the "fish" problem. It is quite likely that Noah built a big aquarium and put it on the ark, with 2 fish of every species (actually, all he needed was on pregnant fish of every species). That would save them from drowning in the flood and preserve the authenticity of the Biblical account.

[Joe1950]

[Replying to post 292 by Joe1950]



[center]is there a case to be made for other kinds of spirituality that don't include superstitious beliefs?[/center]

I meditate every day. It iis not "spiritual". It is a physical exercise.
It is quite possible that meditation, like jogging, releases endorphins or produces other chemical reactions in the body.But it is all physical in the end.

Ok, so why not take back the word "spiritual" and use it in a purely PHYSICAL way?

I also meditate ( in my own special ways ) , I don't believe in any ghosts or demons, and STILL, I find a use for the word "spiritual". Too BAD if people want to attach the word to silly superstitions. I don't have to.

The meanings of words can CHANGE, you know.
Think of the word "gay".

Now.. think of the word "spirit" again.

I am happy with the word "gay". And I am gay about being happy.
I don't care if people want to use the word "spiritual" only as a religious reference. It has no effect on my own physical experience of meditation. Although it would be quite exciting to be approached by a demon or two.
So, in what sense, if not religious, do you use the word "spiritual"?

[Elijah John]

The only demons that have ever approached me were the false prophets going door to door trying to force their strange religious beliefs down my throat.

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