re: DR says Heaven is real

Just another crackpot.

Usually education = lower incidence of belief, but there's always exceptions.

Just because he's a Doctor doesn't mean he's got his smurf together. Doctors take money to hawk diet pills on infomercials too. He's doing the same thing, he's just hawking for religion (also a business) instead of diet pills and penis extenders.

Quoting MommyingWithGrace:" My opinion..... It's better to believe in God and Heaven, you die, and they dont exist rather than not believe, you die, and find out hell is real."

I'm sorry, but I've always thought this saying was ridiculous...

Why would someone force themselves to believe something, so that they can go to a place they don't believe in, with an entity they don't believe exists?
If a person truly does not believe in something, it would be a farce to pretend, correct? And doesn't this god of the Abrahamic religions require complete faith, not "I'm doing this so I can go to a pleasant place when I die" half-faith?
(Not trying to target any individual, including the person I've quoted. Just trying to add something to the discussion.)

Quoting ProginoskesII (SuperKink):" I'm sorry, but I've always thought this saying was ridiculous... Why would someone force themselves ... [snip!] ... (Not trying to target any individual, including the person I've quoted. Just trying to add something to the discussion.)"

All your questions are answered in said quote.

Not all Christians are sure God exists. It's called faith.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ma ♥:</b>" The article isn't loading on my computer... but I believe there's a god & a heaven & I think people who don't believe so.. live a sad life. JMO!"</blockquote>




I'm sure the billion hindus, including myself, are leading happy fulfilled lives without heaven.

Quoting MommyingWithGrace:" All your questions are answered in said quote. Not all Christians are sure God exists. It's called faith."

I understand that part... I meant people who don't/can't truly believe: should they fake it, forcing themselves to "believe" something that they don't, just in case it's real?
That's what I was trying to get at.  

<blockquote><b>Quoting ProginoskesII (SuperKink):</b>" I understand that part... I meant people who don't/can't truly believe: should they fake it, forcing ... [snip!] ... it, forcing themselves to "believe" something that they don't, just in case it's real? That's what I was trying to get at.  "</blockquote>




With respect to Christians most, including my own mother, just want to 'save' us Agnostics, Atheists and non-Christians from 'hell'.
How can you save someone from some place that doesn't exist? Once again, not trying to show disrespect.

Quoting ProginoskesII (SuperKink):" I understand that part... I meant people who don't/can't truly believe: should they fake it, forcing ... [snip!] ... it, forcing themselves to "believe" something that they don't, just in case it's real? That's what I was trying to get at.  "

I believe in God and believe in Heaven, but I think everyone should do what they feel is right. If you live a good life and are kind to others, then that makes you a good person in my book. I do live my life in such a way that I *try* (try being the keyword because I am not perfect) to do things according to the Bible. I dont go to church, but I dont feel it's neccessary to have a relationship with the Lord. I am also not going to preach and judge those whose views are different from my own. I was just stating my opinion, but by no means do I believe anyone should be forced to do anything. I also dont think it makes you a bad person. It just means we live our lives differently and there isnt anything wrong with that.

Quoting Monique and Dominic's mom:" <blockquote><b>Quoting ProginoskesII (SuperKink):</b>" I understand that part... I ... [snip!] ... from 'hell'. How can you save someone from some place that doesn't exist? Once again, not trying to show disrespect."

I have my reasons for believing they do exist. But even if they didnt...I wouldnt want to find out. I dont think you can save anyone from hell. If they dont believe, then there is nothing you can do to change that. Something in life would have to change drastically in order for their views to be any different. Mine started when I was 10. For me, that was the moment when I just knew. But it's also not anything I can sit and explain to people and try to make them understand. It is nothing you can understand unless you have been given a reason to believe.
My husband has no particular religious belief. I talk about God. My husband will say something like "Why dont you do this or that...?" I have said "It's a sin". But never do I preach to him. He hasnt been given a reason to believe God exists. His 2nd child was born dead. That is his reasoning for questioning God's existence.

<blockquote><b>Quoting MommyingWithGrace:</b>" I have my reasons for believing they do exist. But even if they didnt...I wouldnt want to find out. ... [snip!] ... been given a reason to believe God exists. His 2nd child was born dead. That is his reasoning for questioning God's existence."</blockquote>




I was very religious for a long time, then when I was 16, I had an epiphany. I woke up one morning and decided to stop lying to myself. I hadn't actually believed in ages, I knew in my heart of hearts that there is nothing after this. It was very freeing for me. My mom tries to sway me, she even attempted to try to preach to my DD. I explained to her that there were just some boundaries you just don't push and that's one of them. I explained that when DD is older, she can discover these things herself, without anyone else's views to push her. I have a bible, the Quran (sp?) and I will be adding to my religious text collection so my kids can look through and educate themselves. I will never push my non-belief on them.

Quoting packersgirl + 3:" Isn't that what Mormons believe too?"

no, not quite.

My father is 100% convinced I died and went to heaven as a child. He said I woke up and started talking about Heaven and God. I don't remember waking up and telling him this, but I remember the dream I had prior. I was really sick (pneumonia). Yeah, the dream... still very vivid in my mind. If anyone's interested, I'll share. I still don't know if it was a dream or if I really died.

Quoting bbbt:" My father is 100% convinced I died and went to heaven as a child. He said I woke up and started talking ... [snip!] ... still very vivid in my mind. If anyone's interested, I'll share. I still don't know if it was a dream or if I really died. "

I'm interested! I would love to hear it.  

Quoting MommyingWithGrace:" I'm interested! I would love to hear it.  "

*deep breath* okay.  

Well, like I said, I was really sick. I was about 6 or 7 at the time. I had been bedridden for days. I fell asleep, and according to my dad (who was beside me), I bolted up and shouted "GOD!" then I passed out. My dad, freaking out, called 911. All the while, I was having this vivid "dream." I was soaring over my house, naked, and I felt incredibly light. On one side of me, everything glowed blue. On the other, was fire. I remember being afraid of the fire, so I turned to the blue. It felt like water. Then, I was in this huge dining room. The table was set for over a hundred, with magnificent food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, casserole... kind of like a Thanksgiving. Everyone was naked. They beckoned me to join them, but I told them I didn't want to do. I told them I wanted to go back. They told me, if I wanted to go back, I would have to speak to the Farmer. They told me to close my eyes, and I would be taken to the Farmer. So I do, and then I'm on a farm. This old man with bright green eyes asks me why I want to go back. I told him I missed my family. He said I could go back, but I would have to always remember him. I promised him I would. Then I was falling backwards, backwards... and then I woke up. According to my dad, when I woke up, I told him I was in Heaven with God. Then the paramedics showed up.

Quoting bbbt:" *deep breath* okay.   Well, like I said, I was really sick. I was about 6 or 7 at the time. I had ... [snip!] ... and then I woke up. According to my dad, when I woke up, I told him I was in Heaven with God. Then the paramedics showed up."

And I promise you I'm not crazy. I'm completely aware of the possibility that my fever was so high that I hallucinated. My father is completely convinced that I died and went to heaven, though.

Quoting bbbt:" *deep breath* okay.   Well, like I said, I was really sick. I was about 6 or 7 at the time. I had ... [snip!] ... and then I woke up. According to my dad, when I woke up, I told him I was in Heaven with God. Then the paramedics showed up."

That's very interesting. It does have some resemblance to other stories I have heard about Heaven.