Non-Poll Poll: The Afterlife

[qos]

I don't have time to play with LJ's poll maker -- so please just respond in comments, anonymously if you prefer.

What do you believe about the afterlife?
What happens after we die?
Where do we go?
What choices do we have, if any?
Or do we simply cease to exist?

And are the answers to those questions an important part of your spirituality/religious beliefs?

Personally, once I grew up and discarded my childhood beliefs about heaven and hell, I haven't had strong beliefs about what happens after death. While I could experience the Divine in my present life, I didn't believe there was any way to really know what happens after. I'd also come to resent the degree to which religion has been peddled as "afterlife insurance." But Lohain's death had a radical impact on the importance of these questions to me.

I'm not interested in debating anyone about their beliefs, but I am curious.

Will you share with me?

Comments

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

"I particularly like the closing lines. They certainly resonate with what I've been feeling about Lohain."

Suggest you download the song and listen to it with headphones. You'll no doubt cry, but I think this may be Todd's best love song. It is written in an altered state and the music may well put you there too (well, it does me). It's visionary, visceral and beautiful, and perhaps the heavens will open and show you the answers to your heartfelt questions.

Recently, as you know, I've had a chance to reflect upon the death of a friend. As I travelled to his memorial, I was listening to music when nearing his home. As I travelled close to the edge of his town, suddenly my friend was in the car. I tried to pretend not to notice, but my no-nonsense friend would not tolerate any coyness. (So like him!) After adjusting to his presence I connected in what might be called the psychic or soul way that we could in life. He knows me, and cutting to the chase I asked - well, what's it like? The answer was instant - "more wonderful than you can ever know". I started crying and the chills ran up and down my spine. I then asked something that I wouldn't normally tell you, except I think you need to hear it. Sometimes I wonder about moving on from the world sooner than later, and asked if/when/how/should it be my turn. The answer again was instant, surprising and matter of fact - "when your mission is complete". I think I laughed out loud because I knew he was exactly right and started smiling. I'm not finished yet! I thanked him for the reassurance. The rest of the exchange was about his family.

" have things I would like to do that take more than our normal lifetimes."

:) As Kate Hepburn as Queen Eleanor noted "The needlework alone...." :)

"One more question: how much of this reflects the specific theology of your church, and how much goes beyond?"

When I was three I had a NDE and can remember visions on the edge of my mind. When the missionaries came at 9 I already knew all they had to teach. Later when I had the formal initiation I also already knew what was happening. The closest I can come to explaining it is a kind of intuitive remembering.

Beside studying sacred text, my real heart influences are Todd and Robert Heinlein (!). The core of my faith is based on God (pick your model), love and freewill. Most of the things I have written here can be found in the formal theology of my religious upbringing, but have been simply written so as to be hidden until one was ready to understand and know that truth. (Thank you Valentine Michael Smith!)

The formal theology only recognizes the concept of Christian resurrection and translation into immortality as happened to the Enochians, John the Beloved and the 3 Nephites and as will happen to those who live into the millenium after the return of the Messiah. As to reincarnation, I think there are only 2 possible scenarios - everyone gets one chance, or everyone gets to go on the ride as often as they want. I can not conceive of a loving father/mother God who would tell me no if I asked for another learning opportunity, but they might counsel me. I suspect the theology doesn't want to deal with past life experience because it is very focused on HERE and NOW in terms of direction and that is a very proper message from God.

I had an interesting discussion with a professor teaching Healthy People/Healthy Places about reincarnation, health and transcending. He asked if it is possible to basicly immortalize the body and skip all the reincarnations. A captivating question, a fascinating thought which lead to many hours of contemplation. It would require the discipine of a holy person, and the strength to conquer bodily weakness. I hope I can talk to him more about it.

A Bishop once told me that "the veil is thin" for me. If you want to know, you too can part it and look, but the spirit must be willing to accept the truth that rushes in...

[qos.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely download the song.

Thanks again for sharing so much.

Hopefully you'll get to come up soon -- or I can visit down there. I'd love to share some of my recent experiences with you.