this is to the atheist but open to anyone.
if there is no heaven and there is no hell, what happens to your soul when you die?
better yet. if the belief is there is no "after-life" then do we even have souls? if there is nowhere for them to go then why have them?
About Me
- ryan
- Richmond, Virginia, United States
- i reside in RVA (Richmond VA) and love my city. my heart is for this city that God would be preached and taught in Spirit and Truth. That love would prevail and conquer all things that hold us back.
6 comments:
if there is no heaven and there is no hell, what happens to your soul when you die?
You have assumed a soul.
Why?
Where was this soul before you were born? What was it doing?
When did this soul come into existence? At what point? Do I get half my soul from my mother, and other from my father? (As is true for my physical characteristics)
better yet. if the belief is there is no "after-life" then do we even have souls? if there is nowhere for them to go then why have them?
That's more like it...
Lee
Why even have this discussion? Either side picks the opposite extreme. Who really knows either way?
I once traded one absolute for another, each the opposite of the other. God for Rationalism. Rationalism for God. Each side struggling for the acceptance of every individual. Faith, Rationalism, belief, humanism: juxtaposed as if in an epic battle to win our hearts, minds....souls. One labled by the other as an emotional void, the other labled as rationally bankrupt.
Why must there be such black/white, you're wrong - I'm right? Instead, let us embrace what we know and what we do not know. We should live a life that beckons us to expand our horizons of faith and culture.
In the words of the famous theologian William Cantwell Smith:
"The time will soon be with us when a theologian who attempts to work out his (sic) position unaware that he does so as a member of a world community in which other theologians, equally intelligent, equally devout, equally moral, are Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, and unaware that his readers are likely perhaps to be Buddhists, or to have Muslim husbands, or Hindu colleagues; such a theologian is as hopelessly out of date as one who attempts to construct an intellectual position unaware that Aristotle has taught, or unaware that the earth is a minor planet in a galaxy that is vast only by terrestrial standards."
Follow the URL below for a description of faith closer to mine and that of our Founding Fathers:
http://eswow.org/display_node.php?node=74&node_date=1178397658&node_user=11&case=platform
Hi florboard7
Why even have this discussion?
Not much of a discussion at the moment - the question was asked, I replied... then nothing from the author.
Either side picks the opposite extreme.
What extreme have I chosen?
I only asked question, so in fact you have chosen your own extreme.
Who really knows either way?
Indeed - I see no reason to believe in the teapot orbiting the sun, and so I see no reason to believe in the soul.
Evidence and reason could change my mind though.
Lee
Sorry for the delay. My mind has been on overload as of late.
By taking a stand in middle of this issue you adopt an extreme. By what you are saying here it seems to me that you desire everyone, or at least for everyone, to take the stance that everyone is right. And if I am wrong please disregard everything I am about to say.
If everyone is right or even thought to be right, then there is no "wrong". So the Hindu, the Buddhists, Christian, Taoist, Christian and Atheist alike are correct, or right, in there thought, philosophy, faith and outlook on life. How can this be?
If a person is convinced that everyone is right then they have no idea of wrong, so they cannot know, or understand, what the concept of right is. In order for me to fully understand what heat feels like I have to have an understanding of what cold feels like.
Just the same. In order to understand right you have to know what's wrong and visa versa.
I do greatly enjoy learning about other religions and about philosophy; however I do not "embrace" them. When you willing embrace something you are denoting the fact that you accept the other belief system. I do not accept nor do I embrace other views. These sounds very close minded but remember that I said I do enjoy learning. I have friends and family who I passionately disagree with and I love them dearly. The distinction is made here; I dislike their beliefs but not them.
Hi Ryan
Are you talking to me? I just ask you questions, how does that make me an extremist?
A position of non-belief, open to change when shown otherwise, is not an extreme position.
I do not accept nor do I embrace other views.
These sounds very close minded but remember that I said I do enjoy learning.
Can you change your mind on your views?
OK… I will wait until you answer some of my questions. Your last response missed the target with me
Cheers
Lee
No lee I was talking to florboard7, sorry for not specifing on that one. I do apologize bro. Have a good one.
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